Mousehold Heath

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Mousehold Heath is a nature reserve within the city of Norwich. It is now mostly covered by broad-leaf semi-natural woodland, although some areas of heath remain and are actively managed.

[edit] History

In the Tudor period, Mousehold Heath stretched as far north as South Walsham and was 35 km (22 miles) round. 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.

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.

By the early 1900s, Mousehold Heath was open countryside with virtually no 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.

The area is now mostly pleasant woodland with a range of wildlife and the Heath is much appreciated by Norwich people as a public open space. Now the original Rangers house has been bought for renovation and restoration.

Any visitor to the city should make a point of taking a stroll through this area of `A fine City`.

The area between the Salhouse and Plumstead roads outside of what is now the outer link road was Calavlry training ground and then became the Royal Flying Corps Mousehold Heath aerodrome where Boulton Paul among other manufactuers passed over the aircraft they made for service. After the First World War Boulton paul continued to use the site which then became the first Norwich Airport. The whole area became the Heartsease Housing Estate.

[edit] External links

• Flying on Mousehold Heath