Sadly, this year has seen a huge increase in Heritage Crime across our sites in Norfolk.

NAT sites have been the victims of theft, criminal damage, anti-social behaviour, nighthawking, wildlife crime, livestock worrying, and tipping. Sadly, our team have also experienced inexcusable verbal abuse whilst they are trying to do their job in protecting and caring for our sites. All crimes are reported to the Norfolk Constabulary, who we are working closely with to prevent these situations occurring again in the future.

We have taken a number of measures to prevent further crime at our sites this includes:

  • Increasing our staff and volunteer presence on our sites. We have a new ‘meet and greet’ volunteer team who welcome our visitors, give them a little history of the site and give directions if needed.
  • After a number of reports of livestock worrying by our graziers, the deaths of lambs and sheep and regular reports of wildlife being disturbed, we ask all visitors to keep their dogs on a lead whilst visiting our sites.
  • We are launching our own Heritage Watch scheme – where all our team will be trained in what to do when Heritage crime is or has taken placed. Provided by Historic England and supported by the Norfolk Constabulary.

Heritage Event – We are holding a Heritage event on Saturday 4th September at Caistor Roman Town with the Norfolk Constabulary and other partnership organisations to raise awareness of Scheduled Monuments and how they are protected, plus find out what you can do to help.

There will be the opportunity to meet with NAT, Norfolk Constabulary, The Portable Antiquities Scheme (who are happy to do any find identification on the day – just bring them along), Historic England, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, and RSPCA.

Free children’s activities – leaf printing, bead making and a trail.

Free guided tours and a chance to collaborate on a painting of Caistor Roman Town with local Artist Adrian Simpson.

Notes:

NAT is a local conservation charity that saves and maintains Norfolk’s irreplaceable historic sites, and shares them with everyone. We take monuments into our care, repair them, provide interpretation, and open them for everyone to enjoy. We look after 10 important sites across Norfolk, including Burgh Castle Fort, Caistor Roman Town and St Benet’s Abbey. These are all places of historic significance and natural beauty, and free for everyone to enjoy.

Of these ten sites, nine of them are listed as Scheduled Monuments. If a site has been identified as a Scheduled Monument it means it has been selected as a nationally important archaeological site by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Scheduled sites are closely managed so that they can be handed on to future generations in the same condition as they are now. To help achieve this, Scheduled Monuments are protected by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979.

Heritage Crime – Any offence which harms the value of England’s heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations.

Contact: nataliebutler@norfarchtrust.org.uk

www.norfarchtrust.org.uk