Geograph - photograph every grid square

On the edge of Swardeston Common. Up until about 40 years ago the common was grazed by cattle. When the cattle were removed, the scrub was free to grow to maturity, forming the thick areas of scrub and nowadays the South Norfolk Council and the Norwich Fringe Project cut back the scrub to stop it from encroaching onto the grassland. The grass is cut each year. The grassland contains large numbers of grass species, including sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella); common bent (Agrostis capillaries); common twayblade (Listera ovata), bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) and southern marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa). The Common is privately owned, but managed by Swardeston Common Steering group.