Magpies Meadow project takes off in Harleston

The Council awarded £10,000 to Harleston Greenspace CIC to transform an area of grassland off Rushall Road into a thriving natural habitat. The site, named Magpies Meadow in recognition of its previous life as the home ground of Magpies Hockey Club, is now beginning to take shape as a community led landscape for people and wildlife.

The funding is helping to support the creation of a fast growing Miyawaki forest alongside wildflower planting, bird, bat and owl boxes, bug habitats and rainwater harvesting measures. Plans are also progressing for a circular walking route with seating and information boards, providing an accessible space where residents can enjoy nature, learn about local wildlife and support their wellbeing.

South Norfolk Councillor Trevor Graham said:

Magpies Meadow is already becoming a brilliant example of how communities and volunteers can work together to create new spaces for nature to flourish. It’s exciting to see the project underway, I’m delighted we were able to support it through our Nature Conservation Fund.

Community involvement has been strong from the outset. The mini forest was divided into 25 What3Words squares and offered for sponsorship at £100 each; all 24 available squares were quickly snapped up by generous individuals, groups and businesses. Each sponsor will receive a certificate, be invited to plant the last tree in their square and receive an annual update on its progress.

The project has already delivered a bird box building session at the local library, with the finished boxes ready to be installed along the meadow’s developing ‘bird highway’.

Volunteers have been working alongside Waveney Volunteers for Nature to help clear and manage the land, and a nature themed quiz night has raised additional funds for ongoing work.

A series of future events are planned, including an introduction to wildlife recording workshop and a dawn to dusk day giving people the chance to learn more about the site and the wildlife that calls it home.

The project is a collaborative effort supported by Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the Tyndall Centre at the University of East Anglia, Waveney Volunteers for Nature and The Conservation Volunteers, all contributing their expertise to help Magpies Meadow develop into a rich and resilient natural space.

More information can be found by visiting Harleston Greenspace.