19 GVCG members met with Alex from the Dersingham United Charities who manage the local commons and Fen on a hot and humid day. During the tour she explained the issues needed to improve the fen, to obtain grants from the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. including cutting the reed which were surrounded by water and large tussocks of grass, making it difficult to deal with manually. It was agreed that mechanical excavation would be needed. A varied landscape of woodland and scrub around the fen gave the group some welcome shade.
The group crossed the old main road to the Open Common which raised up to look over the fen area and distant views to the coast. Onwards then to the larger Closed Common, where the group had previously assisted in Rhododendron removal. There was a rapidly developing mono culture of birch, which will need removing as well to restore areas of heathland. Some members of GVCG have been instrumental in surveying the commons for the NWT Commons project and also for the United charities for their grants. Alex was thanked for her time to show us round.
