Decoy Carr, Acle facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Norfolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 56.0 hectares (138 acres) |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Decoy Carr, Acle is a very important natural area located south of Acle in Norfolk, England. It covers about 56 hectares, which is roughly the size of 138 football fields! This special place is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its unique plants and habitats.
Contents
What Makes Decoy Carr Special?
Decoy Carr is a mix of different wet habitats. It has:
- Carr woodland: This is a type of wet woodland that grows on waterlogged ground.
- Fen: A fen is a wetland area that gets its water from groundwater, which means it's often rich in minerals.
- Reedbeds: These are areas covered in tall grasses called reeds, which are important homes for many birds and insects.
- Open water: There are also areas of open water, like ponds or small lakes.
All these different parts are fed by natural springs, which means the water is very clean and fresh.
Amazing Plants from the Ice Age
One of the most exciting things about Decoy Carr is its rare plants. You can find special Arctic–alpine mosses here, like Cinclidium stygium and Camptothecium nitens. These mosses are usually found in very cold, northern places. The fact that they still grow here tells scientists that this area hasn't changed much since the end of the Younger Dryas, which was a very cold period right after the last ice age! This means Decoy Carr is like a living time capsule.
There are also many small channels called dykes crisscrossing the area. These dykes have clear spring water and are home to a wide variety of water plants.
Why is Decoy Carr Protected?
Decoy Carr is protected under several important agreements to make sure its unique environment stays safe.
- Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): This is a special protection given by the UK government to areas with important wildlife, geology, or landforms.
- Ramsar site: This is an international agreement that protects wetlands that are important for water birds.
- Special Protection Area (SPA): This protection is given to areas that are important for wild birds, especially rare or migrating species.
- Special Area of Conservation (SAC): This protects habitats and species that are rare or threatened across Europe.
Decoy Carr is also part of The Broads, a large network of rivers and lakes that is also a protected area.
Access to Decoy Carr
It's important to know that Decoy Carr is on private land. This means there is no public access to the site. Its protected status helps keep it safe and undisturbed for the rare plants and animals that live there.
