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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is a two stage cache. Not too taxing for my first multicache. The coordinates are for the first stage of the cache. Here you will find a microcache, which has the coordinates for the final stage. The final stage (stage two) is a traditional cache, containing items, etc, see the main description for further details. Please note the hints for both parts are on this page only.
This is a lovely area close to Knettishall Heath.
Once you have achieved part one, type in the coordinates for part 2 when you have mobile phone signal, as I find that Knettishall is a complete dead zone.
Creation of the Brecks
The landscape of the Country Park and the Brecks has been formed through past human activity. About 10,000 years ago, the natural landscape would have been dominated by birch, lime and oak trees. Stone Age man started clearing the woods to provide farmland. At Hut Hill, look at the ancient burial mound. This typical feature of the Brecks dates back to 2000BC.
The heath was maintained by sheep and rabbits grazing the heather and grass; while local people cut bracken for animal bedding. Over thousands of years, plants and animals evolved to live in this habitat, created by a unique mixture of management, climate and geology. Now there are some very rare plants growing only in the Brecks.
In the Middle Ages, rabbits provided valuable food and skins. Special rabbit warrens were built for breeding. On the heath, there are remains of a circular warren.
By the 1950's, sheep grazing had declined throughout the Brecks. Rabbit warrens were no longer used and myxomatosis, a fatal disease, killed all the wild rabbits. Because there were fewer animals grazing, trees began to grow on the heath.
Heaths for the future
Careful management is needed to maintain the heath habitat and its variety of plants, insects and animals. It also prevents the country park reverting to woodland.
Bracken and scrub are like a strong invading army. They are more competitive than rare heath plants. The rangers clear the scrub during the winter and cut the bracken in the summer.
To prevent the heather dying of old age and to encourage new growth, the rangers regularly cut the heather. The cycle of heather growth supports a range of insects and birds.
Exmoor ponies at Knettishall Heath
On the heath and meadows, you may see the herd of semi wild Exmoor ponies. These ponies are descended from Britain's natural wild pony of 130,000 years ago.
All Exmoor ponies have a similar colour and markings. Despite being small, the ponies are sturdy and hardy. Their thick coats insulate them against harsh weather. Their large teeth have adapted to biting tough plants. Regular grazing by the ponies helps prevent the invasion of scrub.
Hebridean sheep are also used for grazing. These black, thick coated sheep are hardy and originate from the Scottish islands.
On the wild side
The Country Park is a "Site of Special Scientific Interest", with its unspoilt heath, grassland and intricate mosaic of acid and chalky soils.
Heather, bracken and wavy hair grass grow on the sandy, acidic soils. Heath bedstraw is one of the commonest white flowered plants, contrasting with the yellow flowers of tormentil.
In some areas chalk lies close to the surface, and very different plants grow here. Dropwort develops a frothy mass of white flowers in June.
In summer, common lizards bask in open, sunny spots on the heath and skylarks sing above the gently swaying grasses.
Foxglove and bramble grow under the shade of the tree canopy. You may be lucky enough to see roe and fallow deer in the woods. White admiral butterflies drink the nectar of the bramble flowers, while their caterpillars feed only on honeysuckle.
Please leave the flowers for everyone to enjoy!
The cache was placed due to once happy memories spent here. The cache is a small clippable sandwich box. Original contents are two Geocoins, notebook, stone gargoyle, magic pebble, picture and song lyrics. Please do not remove the picture and the song lyrics, but have a good read of them.
Huge congratulations go to Weston Wanderer for the FTF. Who got the published email at 20:15 and managed to find and be back home by 20:45. I shall be eternally impressed! I'd probably be looking for the first part for over an hour! There is much to be learned from you!!! :)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
FGNTR 1: "Znxr vg rnfl. Znxr guvf rnfl. Vg'f abg nf urnil nf vg frrzf. Jenccrq va zrgny. Jenccrq va vil. Cnvag vg va zvag vpr pernz." Lbh'er ybbxvat sbe n svyz pnavfgre. Fubhyq or uvqqra va gur gerr, fb unir n tbbq ybbx. Rafher gb uvqr pnpur ntnva bapr qbar.
FGNTR 2: Guerr Xvat gerrf fgnaq urer. Guvf bar unf znal nypbirf nebhaq vg'f onfr. Unir n ybbx gurer. Rafher gb uvqr pnpur ntnva bapr qbar.