Hawk and Owl Trust under fire over overgrown land at Fakenham Gogg's Mill Meadow, Edmundson’s Acres and Bacon’s Piece

When the council handed over several acres of meadows on the edge of Fakenham to a leading wildlife charity, it hoped they would become havens in which nature could thrive and locals could enjoy.

Alas, it does not seem to have turned out that way.

Instead, Fakenham town councillors say they are being inundated by members of the public complaining that the land, which is leased to the Hawk and Owl Trust, has become an “overgrown mess”.

Members are concerned the charity has let Gogg’s Mill Meadow, Edmundson’s Acres and Bacon’s Piece fall into a “dreadful state”.

They are now demanding more to be done to improve the upkeep of the sites, which the council says were once beautiful wildflower meadows but are now a “monoculture of overgrown reed.”

But the Hawk and Owl Trust say they are meeting their contractual obligations and that it is doing the best it can with “limited resources”.

The Hawk and Owl Trust was formed in 1969 and has its main headquarters in Fakenham, located at the Sculthorpe Moor nature reserve – a sprawling 200-acre wetland and woodland.

The charity also manages the three problem pieces of land – Gogg’s Mill Meadow, Edmonson’s Acres and Bacon’s Piece – around the town, which it has leased from Fakenham Town Council (FTC) since 2017.

The sites are dedicated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England.

Where wildflowers used to flourish, the sites have now become “a monoculture of overgrown reed,” according to FTC.

An annual report was recently produced by the Hawk and Owl Trust, detailing how it is managing the sites, which has spurred dissatisfaction among councillors.

This is due to a lack of updates on future improvements to the land, which requires permission from Natural England.

At a recent meeting, David Hunter, a FTC councillor, said: “These areas are in a dreadful state. This is not rewilding.”

Tim Duffy, another councillor, added: “This inadequate maintenance has been going on for years. We allowed them to have this land, we should be more robust.”

However, the Hawk and Owl Trust say their land management has been commended by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and that it is meeting its contractual obligations.

It is also currently developing a longer-term strategy to boost biodiversity at the locations.

A spokesman said: “We welcome the interest in our work and are open to further engagement within the practical realities of what can be achieved as a charity with limited resources.

“We look forward to reviewing any constructive proposals the council may wish to put forward to support the long-term success of this valuable green space for the community and local wildlife.”

This is not the first time the Hawk and Owl Trust has attracted the ire of people living in Fakenham.

In 2022, a petition was launched by frustrated locals, calling for Gogg’s Mill Meadow to be restored as a wildflower meadow.