Village sign in Fritton Common, Norfolk. Fritton Common is a good example of the precious survival of old grassland supporting cowslip, meadow saxif rage, hay-rattle, cuckoo-flower and green-winged orchids. The existence of the Common is in part due to the heavy clay soil which made it less suitable for arable farming. Common lands were nevertheless of great value to the rural economy of the Middle Ages; they were sources of clay for house building and marling for fields, as the Fritton ponds indicate. These ponds both natural and man-made are very important to the wildlife of the area. The Common is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is currently used for village events and outdoor services in the summertime.
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