2l8 



The Breckland 



Work began in the district in the winter of 1921-22 south of Brandon 

 and at Cockley Cley near Swaffham. Since that time, the acquisition, and 

 planting, of land have gone on steadily, and at the present time the 

 Commissioners are in control of an area of 52,807 acres almost wholly in 

 Breckland proper (see Fig. 56). There are tliree Forest units — Thetford, 

 Swaffham, and the King's Forest; and details of these are given in the 

 following table. 



Thetford Forest is now the largest planted area in England. It is composed 

 of a central block which extends from Methwold, on the north, to Elveden, 

 and from Hockwold, on the west, to Croxton, together with outlying 

 areas at Hockliam, West Harling, and Mildenhall. Swaffham Forest 

 consists of various blocks to the south-west and south of the town of 

 Swaffham, as well as of an area at Didlington, north of Mundford. The 

 King's Forest lies to the north of Bury St Edmunds. It was acquired in 

 1935 and owes its present name to its selection as one of the forests chosen 

 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. 



In all three forests planting has been carried out mainly with coniferous 

 species, among which Scots pine and Corsican pine preponderate. There 

 are several reasons for this concentration on conifers. In the first place the 

 Commissioners must pay attention to the type of timber that is most 

 required in industry. At the present time, more than 90 per cent of the 

 timber and wood products used in this country comes from softwood or 

 coniferous trees, and there is no sign that in the future there will be any 

 marked change in this proportion. It is reasonable therefore that most of 

 the planting, not only in Breckland, but all over the country, should be 

 done with conifers. 



In the second place, the soils of Breckland are generally suitable for the 

 growth of conifers. These soils, it is true, vary widely and form, roughly, 

 a series running from a very thin sand over chalk, to deep, podsolised 

 sands on some of the heaths where chalk is a long way from the surface.' 

 On the last type, conifers are the only choice. On soils where chalk is at a 

 moderate depth, and where sufficient soil moisture is available, good crops 

 of oak could be raised; while on the thin soils, immediately over the chalk, 

 beech would grow, although it is nowhere very vigorous in this district. 



' See p. 223 below. 



