Breckland

The Breckland as a landscape region is an unusual natural habitat of England. It comprises the gorse-covered sandy heath that lies mostly in the north of the county of Suffolk but also in the south of Norfolk. An area of considerable interest for its unusual flora and fauna, it lies to the south east of another unusual habitat, The Fens, and to the south west of The Broads. The typical tree of this area is the Scots Pine. The Brecks are one of the driest places in England.

The area of Breckland has been substantially reduced in the twentieth century by the impact of modern farming and the creation in 1914 of Thetford Forest. However substantial areas have been preserved, not least by the presence of the British Army on the Stanford Battle Area.

The Breckland is one of the few areas in England where the rare and shy (but non-indigenous) golden pheasant may be seen in the wild.

During the Prehistoric period the Breckland was mined for flint, evidence for which can be found at Grimes Graves just outside the town of Thetford in Norfolk. The word 'Breck' is medieval and was defined as being an area of heathland broken up for cultivation before being allowed to retreat back into wilderness. Up until 200 years ago, much of it consisted of open heathland. The Brecklands today provide a tourist attraction as well as an area of scientific and geographical interest.

Breckland District

Breckland District is a local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in East Dereham.

Breckland District derives its name from the Breckland landscape region, a gorse covered sandy heath of south Norfolk and north Suffolk. The term Breckland is ancient, and is found as early as the 13th century in the form Brakelond.

History

Breckland District was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the Borough of Thetford, East Dereham Urban District, Swaffham Urban District, Wayland Rural District, Mitford and Launditch Rural District, and Swaffham Rural District.

Composition

The district is entirely parished, and is made up of 113 civil parishes. At the time of the 2001 census, the district had an area of 1,305 km² (504 sq mi), with a population of 121,418 in 50,715 households.

The district contains the following civil parishes: