Nature enhancement is a key part of our ongoing work to conserve and enhance the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape.
Here is a round-up from all of our nature enhancement projects and volunteer work parties for October 2024.
For more information about any of our nature enhancement work, you can email [email protected].
1 Blackthorn hedge coppicing
Our volunteers really got stuck in coppicing some challenging leggy blackthorn hedge that was leaning into the wood from the field boundary.
The coppicing will help to rejuvenate the old hedgerow stimulating new growth that will make the hedge thicker and even more inviting for a range of wildlife including Nightingale.
2 Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)
Both our National Landscapes lie partly within Essex so we were very pleased to submit our responses to the Essex LNRS public consultation.
Our responses were largely positive with some constructive feedback too. Our full responses will be published on the Essex LNRS website once all of the responses have been analysed
3 Norfolk and Suffolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)
We have been busy mapping the areas that we would like to see prioritised in the Suffolk and Norfolk LNRS. We are particularly keen to see new habitats created and restored on land that is currently alongside our Nature Recovery Core Zones to make them bigger and more resilient.
4 Suffolk Wader Strategy Update
On the 16th October I attended the biannual Suffolk Wader Strategy meeting which was held in Boyton. Breeding wader success on and off reserves and future funding opportunities for the group was discussed alongside many other things.
I was lucky enough to visit a fantastic habitat creation project being carried out by the RSPB at their Boyton Nature Reserve. It was incredible to see their humungous new 35-hectare man-made scrape.
This will be additional feeding habitat for spoonbill that fly over from the nearby RSPB Havergate Island in addition to a vast array of other wetland loving species that will benefit too.
5 Suffolk Wader Strategy Update – Stanny Marshes
The Suffolk Wildlife Trust have been busy using the Farming in Protect Landscapes (FiPL) funding we secured earlier on in the year. Here is an amazing new scrape that has just been dug out at SWT’s Stanny Marshes reserve.
This is one of the first steps in making the floodplain grazing marsh suitable for breeding waders such as lapwing and redshank.
6 Suffolk Wader Strategy Update – Snape Marshes
The new FiPL funded rotovators have been in action on some reserves in the Suffolk Wader Strategy network. They create the perfect muddy edges that waders love to feed on.
The photos above are taken from SWT Snape Marshes Reserve. Since these photos were taken the rotovators have been deployed used at RSPB Abbey / Snape Marshes and then they will be moved onto SWT Trimley and Stanny Marshes.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Excell (SWT)
7 Heathland management at Bixley Heath
In partnership with Ipswich Borough Council our volunteers helped to rake up cut sedge as part of their annual sedge management. In addition, they helped with heathland management work that predominantly involved clearing encroaching vegetation such as gorse and tree saplings.
The heathland management will potentially help the Coast & Heaths National Landscape Priority Species: The Silver Studded Blue.
8 Sighting of the Month – Upright Coral Fungus (Ramaria stricta)
Probably the most impressive stand of Upright Coral Fungus I have ever seen. This was at a site in Mistley. ID hasn’t been verified by a fungi expert so I’m not 100% on the species.
9 Project Scoping: Acorn Village Mistley
I met with a representative from the Acorn Village and began scoping out potential habitat enhancements on the grounds for the management to consider.
There is lots of potential for hedge planting, wildflower meadow creation and very small-scale rewilding.
10 Upcoming tasks
| 08.11.24 | East Bergholt Lodge | Rhododendron control |
| 15.11.24 | Trimley Marshes | Plantation Thinning |
| 22.11.24 | Arger Fen | Hazel layering and coppicing |
| 29.11.24 | Trimley Marshes | Plantation Thinning |
| 06.12.24 | Tiger Hill | TBC |
| 13.12.24 | Sizewell | Heathland Management |
| 20.12.24 | Tiger Hill | Tree Planting |