LOCATION:
Silvergate Stream rises from the chalk aquifer in Oulton and travels through the Blickling Estate, joining the lake before entering the Bure. It has supported life on the estate by providing fresh water, fertile land for farming and water meadows for grazing for many years.
The name Blickling comes from the Old English term ‘Bekeling’ meaning a water meadow around a stream. As the stream runs from grazed water meadows into a wet woodland the microphone picks up the sounds of the water trickling over natural wood in the stream. The stream supports sticklebacks and dragonfly larvae as well as water voles on its banks. Snipe, wren and yellow hammer can be seen visiting the water logged meadows and surrounding hedgerows.
The National Trust have been working with farmers to ensure the water quality of the stream is improved, supporting improvements in biodiversity of the stream as well as the receiving lake. Restoration works have been completed on the stream to restore its natural sinuosity and the meadows are currently undergoing improvements to support flower rich meadows.
MICROPHONE:
A stereo microphone sited on Silvergate Stream which runs through the Blickling Estate. The left channel was a mono air microphone, the right channel a hydrophone. The microphone is no longer broadcasting but you can hear extracts of the acoustic habitats it shared by clicking the link below.
