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In 1984 Litcham Common was declared a Local Nature Reserve under the terms of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. A management committee was appointed to oversee and implement a management plan; the committee currently comprises representatives of Lexham Hall estate (the freeholder), Norfolk County Council, Litcham Parish Council and an additional three residents of Litcham (one of whom is the volunteer warden of the common).

The twenty-one year management agreement for Litcham Common which was signed in 1984 between Lexham Hall estate and Norfolk County Council came up for renewal in February 2005, and both parties agreed that this should be renewed.

Litcham Common is particularly important as an example of lowland heathland, a habitat which has declined significantly across the country as a whole in the last sixty years. The objectives of the management plan include maintaining and increasing the areas of open heathland and reducing the areas of scrub (particularly birch) and bracken. However, many of the established trees will be kept so that there is a balance of wildlife habitats. The importance of the common to local people is also recognised with the provision of the car park and benches, and the maintenance of footpaths.

The following work has been carried out on the common over the past year:-
Due to concerns about poor visibility from the car park onto the Dunham road, the vegetation in the areas around the car park has been kept cut short all year round.

A new interpretation board has been erected in the car park, to replace the one which was vandalised.

The heath restoration programme is now in its fourth year of a Countryside Stewardship Scheme Agreement, from which funding is received. Thinning and clearance of trees has been carried out over the winter in an area to the west of the road. The Litcham Common Conservation Group has cleared scrub, particularly birch and gorse, from several other areas.

Funding is received through the Woodland Grant Scheme which is presently in year four of a five year agreement. Over the winter the Conservation Group carried out limited thinning and cutting of trees on the wetter western side of the common in order to create an irregular boundary where the woodland meets the heathland; this should be of benefit to the wildlife.

A scheduled ancient monument is situated on the common, and at the request of Norfolk County Council's archaeology department this has been cleared of scrub and brambles.

One issue which arose during the year was the loss of thirteen sheep by the grazier of land adjacent to Litcham Common, due to dogs which were out of control. The dogs in question were being let loose by their owners from the common's car park, and allowed to roam at will. The problem was resolved when the owners were identified and the dogs put down. In view of these events, the Management Committee felt it appropriate to remind all dog owners that under the bylaws in force on the common dogs must be kept under close control at all times.

Looking to the future, the intention is that management work will be carried on more or less as now, but with the possible reintroduction of grazing by sheep, cattle or ponies at some point, which is the ideal way of maintaining the heathland habitat. However, various practical problems, such as the security of the livestock, would need to be addressed before grazing could commence.

Tim Angell