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Brinton Nine Holes

Brinton Nine Holes

Brinton Nos 1 & 2 Nine Holes is a former surveyor’s allotment, owned by North Norfolk District Council and cared for by the Friends of Brinton. In September 2022 Felbeck Trust took on the lease of the site as part of our arrangement with NNDC. We will work with the Friends of Brinton to continue to improve the wildlife value of the site. 

Access

Post-code: Nearest post code is NR24 2QH (The Old School) 


What3Words: nightlife.starts.impulsive


OS Map Reference: TG 042 354


Directions: From St Andrew’s Church, take the Stody Road eastwards and follow the road south past the old primary school. The surveyor’s allotment is approximately a quarter of a mile south east of the school, and is accessed via a grassed track from the public highway.


Parking: There is limited car parking directly in front of the gate to the site.  Please do not park in the grassed track. 


Dogs: Please keep your dogs on a lead.


Accessibility: The site is accessed via a gate, and there is a fairly level path around the area. However, there are several pits, and as this is a natural site there are inevitably some uneven patches and tree roots etc. In wet weather the ground may be slippery and muddy.


Habitat

The site comprises an acre of mixed woodland and scrub, including mature trees, such as Oak, Sycamore, Hazel, Ash and Elder. Brinton Nine Holes is so-called because there are nine pits in the vicinity, and two of these are found within the site, neither of which appear to hold water. A mown grass area is surrounded by scrub, nettles and tall grasses. On the north-west side there is a gappy hedge with a very open base. The Friends of Brinton have erected a number of bird boxes including an owl box, as well as bird feeders.


Habitat Management

Habitat management work began in the autumn of 2022.


What have we achieved?

  • A programme of species monitoring has begun

  • Improvement of access to the site to allow volunteers to park to carry out habitat management work 

  • The programme of Hazel coppicing has been starte


What are our future plans?

  • We will continue with Hazel coppicing over a three-year cycle to let in light and encourage trees to regenerate, creating a succession of heights and maturity to benefit wildlife; protecting stools from deer damage by covering with brash

  • Selective thinning of weak saplings 

  • Pollard or coppice large Sycamore in centre 

  • Remove small Sycamores

  • Appropriate management of mature trees

  • Cut back Elders to allow in more light and encourage the plants to regenerate

  • Create log piles from felled saplings or coppicing to provide habitat for invertebrates

  • Other felled or sawn branches to be left in situ to encourage fungi and invertebrates

  • Lay hedge on northwest side to create dense hedge from the base, providing suitable nesting and sheltering sites for birds, and a wildlife corridor for mammals

  • Gap up hedge around perimeter where necessary

  • Reduce nettle area to encourage a wider range of flora and benefit a variety of invertebrates 

  • Scythe grassland and remove mowings to reduce fertility, thereby weakening the dominant grasses and favouring wild flowers

  • Continue to mow access paths

  • Leave some areas of longer grass

  • Remove garden escapes 

  • Resite Treecreeper box to a more suitable location

  • Erect additional bird and bat boxes as appropriate

  • Replace rotting gate post

  • Erect relevant interpretive signage, subject to funding and any approvals 

  • Continue species monitoring programme

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