Barnham Cross Common

{{Short description|UK Site of Special Scientific Interest}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox SSSI

|image= Track on Barnhamcross Common - geograph.org.uk - 319919.jpg

|image_caption =

|name= Barnham Cross Common

|aos= Norfolk, England

|interest=Biological

|gridref={{gbmappingsmall|TL 865 813}}

|area= {{convert|69.1|ha|acre|abbr=off}}

|notifydate= 1986

|map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000547%27 Magic Map]

}}

Barnham Cross Common is a {{convert| 69.1 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the southern outskirts of Thetford in Norfolk, England.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1000547&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Barnhamcross Common | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 6 June 2018}}{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271000547%27|title=Map of Barnhamcross Common |series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 6 June 2018}} It is owned by Thetford Town Council and is registered common land.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1000547.pdf |title=Barnhamcross Common citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 6 June 2018}} It is also a Local Nature Reserve{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1008760&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: Barnham Cross Common |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England |access-date= 21 May 2018}}{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=Ref_CODE%3D%271008760%27|title=Map of Barnham Cross Common|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| access-date= 6 June 2018}} and a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 1.{{cite book|editor-first=Derek |editor-last=Ratcliffe |title=A Nature Conservation Review|volume=2 |page=136 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=1977|isbn= 0521-21403-3 }} It is part of the Breckland Special Area of Conservation{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0019865&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Breckland | series= Special Area of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 25 May 2018}} and Special Protection Area.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9009201&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Breckland | series= Special Protection Area|publisher=Natural England|access-date =25 May 2018}}

This grassland and heath common has diverse habitats and a rich flora, including several nationally rare plants. There are nearly a hundred species of birds, including sixty which breed on the site, and a wide range of invertebrates.

The common is open to the public. Part of the land designated as Barnham Cross Common SSSI is owned by the Ministry of Defence.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-06 |title=Mapping the habitats of England’s ten largest institutional landowners |url=https://whoownsengland.org/2020/10/06/mapping-the-habitats-of-englands-ten-largest-institutional-landowners/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Who owns England? |language=en}}