Nature recovery is a key part of our ongoing work to conserve and enhance the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape. Our Nature Network Officer, Alex Moore da Luz, provides a round-up from all of our nature recovery projects and volunteer work parties for December 2023.

1 Footdrain creation

In the neighbouring Dedham Vale National Landscape, 0.1 hectares and 265m of footdrain habitats have been excavated at a site in Boxted, Essex. The hope is the new water features will help to hold water in the field for longer during the winter and into the spring to boost wader numbers.

Fingers crossed it could help to provide new feeding habitat for breeding lapwing that inhabit arable fields nearby. The contractors did a fine job of working round the waterlogged conditions to ensure the onsite archaeologist could monitor the excavations effectively.

All permissions are now in place for another scrape and footdrain creation project which will take place in Dedham in the early New Year.

The project will focus on enhancing the site to create better and more habitats for wet grassland species such as snipe and lapwing.

2 Volunteer Work Parties

Nature Recovery Volunteers helped to clear the last remaining pocket of heathland on the Shotley Peninsular of brambles and tree saplings.

Nightingales inhabit the site so a balance of removing vegetation to make sure the rare heathland habitat can thrive but ensuring islands of bramble thicket remain for nightingale and whitethroat to continue nesting in is essential.

Thanks to Dave Mason from the National Trust for hosting this work party. The heathland management work sits alongside some fantastic woodland restoration work the Trust are doing to boost biodiversity

3 Hedgerow Heroes Project

Hedge saplings are ready to be planted out in both National Landscapes. Additionally, a new site in Bawdsey has been identified for hedge planting in January 2024.

4 Nature Recovery Volunteering Opportunities

There are more opportunities for volunteers to help us with nature recovery volunteer work parties in January 2024:

• Friday 5th January – East Bergholt – Rhododendron clearance
• Friday 12th January – Ash Street – Tree planting
• Friday 19th January – Sizewell – Wet grassland management
• Friday 26th January – Tiger Hill, Assington – likely Woodland management