Natural England - Broads ESA
Broads ESA
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme has now closed to new applicants and has been superseded by the Environmental Stewardship scheme. Some existing agreements will, however, continue until 2014.
The Broads ESA was the first of the ESAs, in 1987, and followed on from the experimental Broads Grazing Marsh Conservation Scheme. The ESA extends over 43,200 ha of river valley, marsh and fen in Norfolk and north Suffolk. The lower parts of the valleys and the floodplains, notably in the area known as the Halvergate Marshes, have a unique character and are renowned for their remoteness and sheer visual expanse.
Description
The area forms a network of wetland that is unique in Europe in terms of both ecology and landscape, forming one of the few remaining large areas of lowland floodplain grassland in Britain. The 'Broads' are shallow lakes, probably the result of medieval peat workings, concentrated in the valleys of the rivers Ant, Bure, Thurne and Yare and often fringed by fen and reedbeds with associated areas of carr woodland. In addition, a long history of settlement has left a legacy of historical and archaeological features. As well as being generally rich in wildlife, the mosaic of wetland habitats in the ESA supports many rare and interesting species of plant, invertebrate and bird life.
Significant habitats and species
The national importance of the area for nature conservation is recognised by various statutory designations. National Nature Reserves within the ESA include the Bure Marshes and Hickling Broad. There are 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The Broads, and associated river valleys, are of international importance for birds, and most of the area is designated as a Special Protection Area and Ramsar site. Over 1,300 pairs of wading birds (such as lapwing, redshank, snipe and oystercatcher) nest on ESA land. The Broads also provide habitats for other endangered species such as the swallowtail butterfly, fen orchid, sharp-leaved pondweed, Desmoulin’s whorl snail, fen raft spider, water vole, otter and crested buckler-fern.
ESA management options
The management options that were available within the Broads ESA include:
Maintenance of permanent grassland by traditional grazing management, including restrictions on stocking rates and the use of inorganic fertilisers and herbicides. There are also requirements to carry out rotational dyke maintenance. Enhancement of features, such as dykes, hedgerows, gates and historic features may also be eligible for funding through Conservation Plans. These capital grants may also be negotiated for the other land tiers.
Maintenance of extensive grassland by managing water levels between April and October, and restricting winter grazing.
Enhancement of wet grassland by raising water levels to benefit breeding waders, and further restricting grazing periods and agricultural inputs.
Arable reversion to permanent grassland.
Grassland margins to buffer wet ditches from arable run-off.
Maintenance of fen by traditional management techniques.
Contact
Natural England's Norfolk office
