Search this site
Embedded Files
St Mary Magdalene, Norwich
  • Home
  • Room hire and parking
  • What's on
    • Yoga at St Mary Magdalene
  • About us
    • Contacting us
    • Parish map
    • Team Ministry
  • Supporting us financially
  • Safeguarding
  • Services and Life events
  • Parish magazine
  • The history of Pockthorpe
    • The history of our church
St Mary Magdalene, Norwich

Mousehold Heath

The history of Pockthorpe and the parish  |  St James the Less  |  Mousehold Heath  |  William of Norwich  |  St William's Chapel  |  The barracks  |  Pockthorpe Brewery  |  Old maps of the parish  |  Parish records

© SMM

About the heath

Much of Mousehold Heath, which is the largest Local Nature Reserve managed by Norwich City Council's Green Spaces Team, lies within our parish boundary. The heath is part of North Norfolk's Heathland Heritage Project and is funded through the Heritage Lottery Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage Project, with the aim of "re-establishing open areas of heather and gorse". 

The council has managed the heath since 1880, when it was given by the cathedral to look after on behalf of the citizens of Norwich. 

Mousehold Heath is made up of grassland, woodland, heathland and recreational open space.  It was once predominantly open heathland,  but is now mostly woodland. It has played an important part in Norwich’s history, being influenced by the way the heath has used for grazing livestock, gathering fuel, extracting gravel and brick making. There are a variety of plant and animal species. The Mousehold Conservators look after the site, with management work carried out by wardens, volunteers and contractors. 

Painting of Mousehold Heath by John Crome

John Crome, Mousehold Heath, c.1818-20 (Image via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

St James' Hill, Mousehold Heath

Image: St Mary Magdalene, CC-BY-SA 4.0 

Sources and further information

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mousehold_Heath

  • Information from Norwich City Council 

    • Mousehold Heath management Plan 2018-2028

©  2026 All rights reservedSt Mary Magdalene, Silver Road, Norwich NR3 4TFFacebookPoliciesContact us 
Google Sites
Report abuse
Google Sites
Report abuse