Wangford Warren is the best surviving example of a once extensive sand dune system. As its name suggests the site was originally used to rear rabbits and their grazing, along with sheep, still plays a crucial part in its conservation today. An evening visit is particularly rewarding with silver birch glowing pink in the setting sun, providing a contrast against the dunes and fast fading blue sky.

Breckland soils are a mix of glacial silt, sand and gravel which vary in both depth and acidity. When Neolithic people cleared the original woodland this light, mobile soil was exposed and has developed into an active dune system. Sand sedge now binds these dunes together but in many places the soil is so poor that little more than lichen and moss can grow.

Open disturbed soils are an important feature of Breckland heaths and have resulted in a specialised range of plant and animal life, rare or absent elsewhere in Britain. Wangford Warren one a handful of inland UK sites where the beautiful grey hair grass can be found. Many other rarities occur including shepherd’s cress, bearded fescue and reindeer moss lichens. Areas of open sand are important for rare spiders and insects which frequent Breckland.

		STAR SPECIES Breckland lichens
Grey hair grass	Rabbit grazing helps create ideal conditions for Breckland flowers to thrive