Scarning Water Meadows
Scarning Water Meadows is one of Scarning’s recreational areas. Apart from the children’s play area and the adult exercise equipment mentioned elsewhere on the website, this is also a great place to just take a stroll or walk your dog. This lovely area is maintained by Scarning Parish Council and conservation volunteers. If you would like to help preserve these beautiful water meadows, please consider offering your services – it is not very time consuming or hard work but is very satisfying and sociable.
What to look for: During a Norfolk Wildlife Trust survey, over 300 different species of flora and fauna were found! Amongst the many wildflowers, you should be able to find Great Willowherb, water mint, Marsh Woundwort, Greater birdsfoot trefoil, Water chickweed and Spear plume thistle, along with many others.
Directions: Scarning Water Meadows is to the west of Dereham and just inside the Scarning Parish Boundary. There are three footpaths leading to the Meadows from Scarning, leading from Ted Ellis Way, Blackthorn Drive and Gorse Close. There are also two footpaths from Dereham, via Washbridge and Vicarage Meadows.
Did you know? Adjacent to the Meadows is Vicarage Park which was first laid out in 1678 and covered eight acres but by 1815 it had expanded several times and covered over a hundred acres. Seventy acres were planted as parkland with walks to the church and to the southwest. Tree belts were added in 1838 and the watercourse was straightened in 1844. Beech hedges were planted within a moated site in the park by 1889. Part of the area is now built over, part a public open space and part private gardens.