Dick Buck's Burrows - Cromer

Site Description

Dick Buck’s Burrows is 2.9ha mature broadleaved woodland dominated by oak, sweet chestnut, sycamore and beech with a hazel/hawthorn/bramble under storey. The wood is situated in a rural part of Norfolk, close to a National Trust property (Felbrigg Hall) just south of the seaside resort of Cromer. It’s situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is an important feature in the local landscape.

The wood was severely damaged by the storms of 1987 when many of the mature trees fell down. The affected areas were replanted in 1989 with native broadleaved trees, reflecting the existing species mix. A small part of the southern half of the wood was damaged by fire in 1996, this has also been replanted. As a consequence of these ‘natural’ events, the wood is now well structured with a good age and species mix. Approximately 30% of the canopy is made up of mature trees. Standing deadwood has been left where it does not compromise safety.

The woodland which is situated on two valley sides, dissected by Hall road, has open public access to it. The northern half slopes down to the south-east and the southern half to the north-west. Parking is provided for up to four cars in a lay-by on the northern side of the road. From this entrance point a way marked path goes up the steep bank to the northern corner of the wood where it joins The Weavers Way, a popular long distance footpath, which runs outside the site along the western boundary. The southern part of the wood slopes down towards the road with steps feeding into a path that runs along the flatter land at the top. Management access is available from the roadside, however, given the topography of the wood, access internally is extremely limited.

The land around the wood is used for arable farming except for a triangle of unimproved grassland between Hall Road and Metton Road. There is a grove post in the southern part of the site.