Council Services
Mousehold Heath
Mousehold Heath is the largest local nature reserve managed by Norwich City Council's green spaces team.
Mousehold Heath
About Mousehold
In Tudor times, Mousehold Heath stretched as far north as South Walsham and was 22 miles round. The surviving remnant of the heath was given to Norwich City Council (then known as the local corporation) to look after on behalf of the citizens of Norwich in 1880.
Gilman Road, 1910
This was officially recorded by Parliament in an agreement called the Mousehold Heath Confirmation Act. In 1884, Mousehold Heath Conservators, an independent governing body for the heath, was formed.
Up until the early 1900s, Mousehold Heath was open countryside with few trees - a classic heathland landscape. The area was kept open by grazing animals and by local people collecting bedding and feed for livestock and fuel for the winter. As the way people lived changed, these traditions disappeared. This resulted in a gradual loss of open heath to scrub and woodland.
Aerial view, 1988
The site is now mostly covered by broad-leaved semi-natural woodland, although some areas of heath remain and are actively managed.
Heather regeneration
Mousehold is part of north Norfolk's Heathland Heritage Project and has been funded through the Heritage Lottery Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage Project. The project aims to re-establish open areas of heather and gorse.
Heathland under restoration
Mousehold Heath management plan
Following extensive public consultation in early 2008, a new management plan has been produced for Mousehold Heath on behalf of the Mousehold Conservators and Norwich City Council. The plan is intended to guide the management of the site over the next five years and beyond, and it covers a wide range of issues including nature conservation and public use of the site.
Mousehold Heath management plan (2.13MB pdf)
Wildlife
There is a wealth of wildlife on Mousehold Heath, including birds, lizards, butterflies, dragonflies and small mammals. As well as common woodland birds, there are green and greater-spotted woodpeckers and sparrowhawks and kestrels are sometimes seen. In early spring, mating frogs gather around the Vinegar Pond and on warm summer days lizards can often be seen in the open heathland areas.
The heath is very well used, and is particularly favoured by dog walkers.
Events on Mousehold
Mousehold is used for a variety of events. Amongst these are concerts, guided walks, conservation initiatives, football matches and fundraising events.
Mousehold Heath Conservators
The Mousehold Heath Conservators was created in 1884 after Norwich City Council took responsibility for Mousehold Heath in 1880.
It is the official independent group, made up of city councillors, representatives of professional bodies and members of the public which meets four times a year, that oversees the management and protection of Mousehold Heath.
If you would like to become involved with initiatives to benefit Mousehold Heath, please contact the green spaces team.
t: 0344 980 3333
e: info@norwich.gov.uk
Mousehold Heath Defenders
The Mousehold Heath Defenders is a voluntary action group set up in 1972 ' to protect Mousehold against encroachment on its area and its environment.'
The group is independent of the Mousehold Heath Conservators and Norwich City Council, although it is represented on the Conservators.
For further information about the Mousehold Heath Defenders, visit their website www.mouseholdheathdefenders.webeden.co.uk
