Hickling Broad

Ecology

It has the largest reed-bed in England and supports rare waterweeds such as the holly-leaved naiad and three rare species of stonewort. Amongst the rare insects is the Swallowtail butterfly, subspecies Papilio machaon brittanicus which feeds on milk-parsley (Peucedanum palustre), the Norfolk hawker Aeshna isosceles and Emperor dragonfly. Birds that visit the reserve during the winter include cranes, common goldeneyes, shovelers and teals, while Eurasian bitterns, marsh harriers, common pochards, water rails and Cetti's warblers stay for most of the year. There is a waymarked walk around the broad.

Sea planes

Hickling Broad was used as reserve station for sea planes by the RNAS, in the period 1916–1918, as an escape for RNAS South Denes. It was known as RNAS Hickling Broad. Contractors started building a concrete slipway, but this was never completed. Eventually, Hickling was only used for two emergency landings. A separate arrangement allowed seaplanes destined for Great Yarmouth to land on the calmer waters of the broad if the sea were too rough (this arrangement stands to this day). RNAS South Denes was located in the area which is now the South Denes Camping and Caravan site. There is a commemorative Blue plaque in Regent Street in Great Yarmouth, it reads "Headquarters of the Royal Naval Air Service Occupied these premises during WWI April 1913-November 1918 Flying land & sea planes from South Denes, Hickling Broad[s] [sic], and heavily involved in anti Zeppelin warfare."

References

References

1. "Hickling Broad". Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
2. "Designated Sites View: Hickling Broad". Natural England.
3. "Designated Sites View: Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes". Natural England.
4. (1977). "A Nature Conservation Review". Cambridge University Press.
5. "Norfolk Coast AONB Management Plan 2014-19: Other Conservation Designations within the AONB". Norfolk Coast AONB.
6. "Designated Sites View: Broadland". Natural England.
7. "Designated Sites View: Broadland". Natural England.
8. "Designated Sites View: The Broads". Natural England.
9. ''Inland Waterways of Great Britain'', Jane Cumberlidge, (2009), Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson, {{ISBN. 978-1-84623-010-3
10. [http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/nature-reserves/reserves/hickling-broad Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Hickling Broad NNR], accessed 2010-03-13
11. [http://www.edp24.co.uk/features/great-yarmouth-s-air-aces-who-took-on-the-zeppelins-1-5306354 ''Great Yarmouth’s air aces who took on the Zeppelins''; Trevor Heaton; Article] in the [[Eastern Daily Press]]; 16 december 2017
12. "The Blue Plaque (4918) in Great Yarmouth on the Blue Plaque website".