Suffolk Barn Owls Breeding Success – see page 14 © Chris Courtney

January - April 2018

A news and events Produced by the diary from wildlife and conservation groups in the Ipswich area FOR SALE Beanpoles, peasticks, bagged logs and loads and other woodland produce, and wildlife homes including hedgehog houses, bird boxes and insect homes.

Available (by appointment) from the Greenways Project office on Stoke Park Drive.

Contact [email protected] or 01473 433995 to discuss your requirements.

All produce from the sustainable management of nature reserves in Ipswich and proceeds to help fund management of the reserves and other wildlife projects.

2 Welcome by James Baker New year, new look! We hope you like the fresh image of was the first local authority to sign the Woodland Trust’s Local Wildlife News. I’d like to thank Colin Hullis for his new Charter for Trees. The Council’s Chief Executive, continued wonderful commitment to the magazine, which Russell Williams, attended the national launch of the I hope you will agree is excellent. Charter and spoke about Ipswich’s commitment to wildlife and trees. As well as continuing to manage our tree stock The short winter months are the busiest in the conservation and seeking to increase the overall canopy cover in the year – most wildlife is dormant, migrated away or at least town, there will be two Councillor Tree Champions. not breeding – so almost all the habitat management work You can read more about these initiatives elsewhere in this is crammed in to four months. This makes it a great time edition, or please do contact the Greenways Project if you to get active and involved as a volunteer! Why not join in would like any further information. with one of the Greenways ‘Megabash’ events at Purdis Heath or Martlesham Heath – or any of the other regular Mailing lists – Please note site work parties in the events listing. All of the groups are We are aware that some who are members of several very welcoming and are always delighted to have extra conservation organisations may well receive more than one help. If you’d like to find out more about an activity before copy of the newsletter. If this is the case we would be very going, please contact the person in the event listing and grateful if you could pass on the spare copy. they will be very happy to help. If on the other hand you don’t currently receive LWN regularly, but would like to, please consider joining one of Ipswich continues to be in the forefront of wildlife the groups that distributes LWN to its members (i.e. Suffolk conservation effort – not only do we have the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Ipswich Wildlife Group, RSPB etc). Wildlife Trust Hedgehog project (a national first), and the LWN is available online at www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/ Buglife ‘Urban Buzz’ project, but Ipswich Borough Council greenways/

Contents Page Suffolk Wildlife Trust 4 Ipswich Wildlife Group 8 Ipswich Council Wildlife Rangers 9 Greenways Countryside Project 10 Friends of the Dales 12 Wild Ipswich 13 Friends of Christchurch Park 14 Friends of Holywells Park 15 RSPB Ipswich Local Group 16 Butterfly Conservation 17 Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group 18 Friends of Belstead Brook Park 19 Portal Woodlands Conservation Group 20 Snippets 21 Events Diary 22

Local Wildlife News is published by Greenways Countryside Project. Editor: James Baker [email protected] Tel 01473 433995 Production Editor: Colin Hullis [email protected] Tel 01473 728674 Artwork production: Chris Saunders [email protected] Tel 01473 721550 Printed by The Five Castles Press Tel 01473 718719 Paper produced from well-managed forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council The opinions expressed in Local Wildlife News are not necessarily those of the Greenways Project. 3 Chairman’s Farewell Dave Munday © Dave Fincham As I found it increasingly difficult My special thanks also go to my to attend the evening meetings and committee who have been so supportive. committee meetings on a regular basis due to my health, I have resigned as Many thanks too for all your kind Chairman and committee member. wishes. Dave Munday This is done with much thought and (Ex Chair!) sadness but feel it is only fair for my committee. I’ve been in post believe it The committee would like to place on or not, for 12 years so it is about time record their deep appreciation of the somebody else had a go out front! service to the group Dave has given over the years, often in the face of difficult I have thoroughly enjoyed my stint and health. He has struggled manfully to you have been a lovely friendly and overcome these problems, and we all tolerant audience and now you may wish him renewed vigour and pleasure even find that my successor presents the in his new home for many years to AGM without any mistakes ! come. © Duncan Sweeting

Ipswich Group Newsletter Chairman: David Munday 01473 217310 [email protected] Secretary: Wendy Brown 01473 259674 [email protected] Treasurer: Tony Clarke 01473 741083 [email protected] Newsletter Editor: John Ireland 01473 723179 [email protected]

We are the Ipswich Group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. We offer an interesting range of monthly meetings with guest speakers. Trust members and non-members are equally welcome. During the summer months we offer a variety of trips, some local, others by coach. Details of these and our monthly meetings can be found in our “Dates for your Diary” section or on the website, www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org. March 21st meeting ‘Ipswich Hedgehog Update’ © Colin Hullis

Relocation Eight days before our September meeting St Margaret’s school informed us that they would be unable to accommodate us as their caretaker had left. So your committee spent the next week frantically looking for an alternative venue. Fortunately St Matthew’s Church in Portman Road came to our rescue, and our meeting was transferred there. It later transpired that St Margaret’s problem was to last into the new year, so the kindly staff at St Matthews agreed that our October, December and possibly January meetings could take place there as well. St Matthews Church is a warm and comfortable building, so we were pleased to take up the offer. We hope to return to St Margaret’s in the near future, but that depends on the appointment of a new caretaker. January 17th meeting ‘Garden Bird Watch’ 4 Dunwich Heath Nature Trail July 2017 Margaret Appleby

It was pleasing to have some young people in the group which set out from the Coast Guard Cottages at the top of the Dunwich Cliffs in July.

The trail started through a vast area of flowering heather and gorse with views of the sea off to our right. However, the minds of some of us were focused on finding the answers to questions on our worksheets. The first question was straightforward as we managed to find three types of heather in flower. But then despite knowing that Dartford Warblers live on Dunwich Heath all year round, it did not help us to spot a single one that day. We were able to hear what they sounded like though due to the wonders of modern technology. Just before we left the area of open heath land favoured by this elusive bird, we gathered in a tight group around Heather and gorse surround Dunwich Coast Guard cottages someone’s mobile phone which had a bird song app including the song of the the aid of signs disguised as wooden Dartford Warbler. So we will know what logs. The final part of the walk bordered to listen out for next time we are there. Docwa’s Ditch, a six feet deep body of water dug by volunteers in 1970 Possibly the most observant member and named after the first warden of of the group was also the youngest. the Nature Reserve. On a sunny day Being in front most of the time, he this area would be a haven for insect was the first to spot beautiful spider’s life. Although a few damsel flies were Ipswich Group Newsletter webs, interesting fungi and colourful spotted, we were lucky that the drizzly caterpillars. The distinctive black rain did not dampen our spirits or our and yellow striped cinnabar moth worksheets. caterpillars were so numerous they had point. We were grateful for the bench stripped the leaves from large areas of this area would be a halfway up the slope from where ragwort. we had excellent views of Sizewell, haven for insect life Minsmere and the North Sea. From the open heath land we gradually An enjoyable morning was had by all. descended through woodland where ten Docwa’s Ditch was the lowest point of varieties of trees were identified with the walk so it was quite a climb from It was particularly heartening to see the where it ended at Centenary Pond back enthusiasm for wildlife demonstrated to the top of the cliff and our starting by the younger members of the group.

Cinnebar moth caterpillars on ragwort Docwa’s Ditch 5 Annual Coach Trip May 26th 2018 To Rainham Marshes and Thurrock Thameside Nature Park

RSPB acquired the site in the butterflies, birds of prey such deck) and café with 360° year 2000. It has a long history as hobbies and peregrines, views over the Thames and of neglect. grass snakes, marsh frogs and mudflats. The area is an maybe even a wasp spider. avian hotspot, there are The Ministry of Defence Look out too for bearded tits, internationally important used it for nearly 100 years, sand martins, reed buntings numbers of ringed plovers but the RSPB is working to and maybe even a wheatear and avocet, and nationally Ipswich Group Newsletter restore important habitats and passing through. There are important numbers of grey improve their biodiversity. also many scarce wetland plover, dunlin and redshank. The Ipswich Group’s Coach There are three trails to follow plants. Other birds include skylark Outing this year will be to round the reserve. and cuckoo. It is important for RSPB Rainham Marshes, There is a café at Rainham, other species too such as shrill followed by a visit to The circular route is the selling hot and cold food or carder bee, adder, brown hare Thurrock Thameside Nature longest at 2.4 miles, there are of course you could bring a and water voles. Park (Essex Wildlife Trust) three bird hides and several picnic. viewing platforms overlooking Harbour porpoise and Rainham Marshes, part of reedbeds, marsh and areas of Our next stop takes us to common seals are often seen the landscape of the Thames water. If you are lucky you may Thurrock Thameside Nature from the visitor centre. There Estuary, sits on the urban catch sight of a water vole, for Park, which is also on the are two miles of footpaths and fringe of London. It is the last which Rainham is famous! Thames Estuary. This 120 acre a bird hide. stretch of ancient riverside nature reserve managed by marshland inside the M25. It There is also a woodland Essex Wildlife Trust is a former is an international stopover walk of half a mile, and a landfill site. Eventually it will for thousands of migratory riverside walk which will take be 845 acres. birds, as they navigate along you alongside the Thames. the Thames Estuary each year, Hopefully at this time of year There is a spectacular visitor from all over the world. The there should be damselflies, centre (with rooftop viewing

BOOKING FORM Coach Outing to Rainham Marshes and Thurrock Thameside Nature Park 26th May 2018 8.30am

Please reserve

………. adult places at £25/£30 (if not RSPB member) Total £……………

………. places for 16 years and under at £15 Total £……………

Total sum enclosed Total £……………

Please note if you are not an RSPB member then the price is £30, as the cost to enter Rainham Marshes is £5. Join coach at Crown Street or Ipswich Village Car Park (delete as appropriate).

Name ……………………………………………...... ……………………...... ……………

Address …………………………………...... ……………………………………………

Postcode ………...... ……… Telephone ……...... Mobile ……......

Email address ……...... ………………………………………………...... …………

Please return this form together with a stamped addressed envelope and cheque made payable to Suffolk Wildlife Trust to: Susanne Renshaw, 51 Brookhill Way, Ipswich, IP4 5UL. Tel 07720604842. If you give an email address you do not need to enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

6 Dates for your Diary

The January meeting will be held in St Matthew’s Church, Portman Road IP1 2EX. Parking is available in the School car park, at the Fletcher Centre opposite the church, and there is also plenty of street parking nearby.

We hope to return to St Margaret’s School, Bolton Lane IP4 3BT as soon as possible. Please look at the SWT web site What’s On section for latest information.

Wednesday January 17th Claire Boothby ‘The Garden Bird Watch’ Claire’s main interest is in garden wildlife, she is currently the Garden Bird Watch Development Officer for the BTO, having previously worked for the National Trust. Her talk will focus on Garden Bird Watch, who takes part, and what they do. She will also explain how the data provided is used by the BTO. She will talk too about ways to attract birds into your garden, and tackle a few identification challenges.

Wednesday February 21st Chris Gibson ‘Menorca. Its Wildlife and Wild Places’ Chris, a freelance author, photographer and tour guide leader, who formally worked for English Nature, has led many excursions to this small, quiet Mediterranean Island. With its rugged coast, lagoons and fresh water lakes, it has an abundance of bird life. Its variety of habitats provide a home for 900 species of plants, some of which are endemic to the Balearic Islands. Google ‘Chris Gibson Menorca’ to learn more about this island he loves. Ipswich Group Newsletter

Wednesday March 21st Ali North ‘Ipswich Hedgehog Update’ Ali is the Ipswich Hedgehog Officer for the SWT and is continuing the work to make Ipswich the most hedgehog friendly town in the UK. Her talk will outline how to attract hedgehogs to your garden and how to protect them once they arrive.

Wednesday April 18th Peter Maddison ‘Butterflies in Suffolk. A Feast for the Eyes’ Peter is chairman of Butterfly Conservation in Suffolk and editor of the Suffolk Argos, its county newsletter. We will learn about Emperors and Admirals, Peacocks and Painted Ladies and many others which we may be lucky enough to see in Suffolk. He will also help us to identify other Suffolk species, and tell us when and where we are likely to see them. This meeting will be preceded by a short AGM.

Saturday May 26th 8.30am to 6.00pm Coach Trip to Rainham Marshes, and Thurrock Thameside Booking Essential. Details and booking form on page 6.

April 18th meeting Peter Maddison ‘Butterflies in Suffolk. A Feast for the Eyes’

A full listing of all Groups’ events can be found from page 22

7 Ipswich Wildlife Group News Colin Hullis

John Welsh retires Ipswich Local Plan John Welsh has retired from submission the committee after serving As part of the public for over 25 years, John is an consultation, IWG submitted inaugural member of the comments on Potential Group, and a past Chairman. Development Sites within John was instrumental in the Ipswich Borough Council setting up the Group in Local Plan. Our comments the late 1980’s when along were in relation to the with some other Ipswich- environmental elements based members of Suffolk of the proposed plan that Wildlife Trust they wanted to concerned conservation areas concentrate their practical within the Borough, green conservation work on corridors and the Ipswich wildlife sites exclusively Ecological Network. Our in the Ipswich area. John comments on the various remains as a Group Trustee. points ranged from pointing out the importance of natural A super session of bug box making with the 32nd Ipswich Scouts environment sites and the existence of wildlife habitats a programme of Wildlife Events to look out for include to the suitability or not of Homes events that ensures we the East Anglian Potato Day development sites and the shall have another busy year at Stonham Barns on Saturday desirability of green spaces, in 2018. 10th February where we will play areas and parks. Our be promoting IWG to the comments will be taken into More activities with our hundreds of people buying consideration as the updated partners their seed potatoes. Ipswich Chair: Ray Sidaway 01473 259104 Plan goes through its various We have also been involved Beanpole Day will be held www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/iwg stages of adoption. with many other activities on Sunday April 29th at facebook.com/ipswichwildlifegroup with our partners, the Millennium Wood, 11am Wildlife Homes activity Greenways Project and – 3pm, but we will have Ipswich Wildlife Group is a registered charity, relying entirely on volunteers, Led, as ever by Martin Cant, Friends of Belstead Brook Beanpoles and pea sticks for that promotes interest in, and conser- we have had another busy Park including Belstead sale from February 2018. For vation of, wildlife and habitats in and period making nest box kits Megabashes in November more details phone Gerry around Ipswich. We seek to inform and taking them to events and December and Donlon on 01394 547263. and educate the local communities around the town and beyond Martlesham Common Open See the Events Diary pages for of Ipswich about the wildlife and for people to construct Day. We also attended the all our events. habitats that can be found in the area, hedgehog, bird and bug launch event for Ipswich and the issues affecting them, as well boxes for their gardens. We Urban Buzz at the Maidenhall Smart way to support as involve local people in practical have again been guests of the allotments and Community IWG wildlife conservation. We carry out Avenues Group who support Garden. The IWG wildlife We have signed up to practical conservation tasks, bid for grants to improve wildlife and green handicapped people through allotment continues to be ‘giveasyoulive’ an online areas around Ipswich and work closely illness, injury or disability, developed. We now have a service that raises funds with the Greenways Project, Friends of joining one of their therapy pond and a wild flower area. for us every time you shop Belstead Brook Park sessions in St Peter’s Church. Hopefully the Spring will online. Please go to www. and other local groups with We have also had a super see more activity with the giveasyoulive.com/join/ similar aims. session making bug boxes planting of nectar-rich plants ipswich-wildlife-group where with the 32nd Ipswich Scout and fruit bushes. all is explained. Group at their Stoke Park The committee would like to Drive headquarters, with a express their sincere thanks to group of youngsters at the John for all his conscientious Whitton Fellowship and the work for the Group over the pupils of Chantry Primary years. School.

The largest order we have had to date was completed in October when we supplied a total of 48 boxes including Swift, Sparrow and Owl boxes to Ufford Park Golf Club who will erect them around the course as part of their efforts to gain an environmental award for IWG Chairman Ray Sidaway the Club. We thank them thanks John Welsh on his for their generous donation. retirement from the committee. Martin Cant has compiled The newly-installed wildlife pond on our allotment 8 Wildlife Rangers winter work update Sam Chamberlin

The wildlife team are management, patrolling, currently a fraction of the ecological surveying and way through the annual environmental education. winter work programme which focuses on habitat During the months of management in our parks, September and October open spaces and nature the team have combined to reserves (though by the monitor translocated reptiles time you read this we will in Chantry Park and have hopefully be almost done!) completed the required and this is just a little amount of survey visits summary to date. The annual in order to report on the cycle of jobs is going full condition of the population. circle and we have already Specific habitat improvements been able to tick off some are scheduled in the County of the more expansive jobs Wildlife Site and other such as cutting and removal areas of the park over the of reed mace and common winter months to renovate sedge in the greater tussock- hibernacula, top up compost sedge bed at Bixley Heath piles and reduce lower Volunteers lend a welcome hand at Pipers Vale Local Nature Reserve (SSSI). canopy spread from certain trees which are beginning made on some sites that are but other opportunities are In addition, the recent to shade out log piles – managed in conjunction with periodically available. recruitment of part-time important basking sites for Higher Level Stewardship rangers has created a pool of viviparous lizard and slow- funding and with the hard skills and experience which worm. work and dedication of has been harnessed for the volunteers. Recent effort has implementation of habitat This winter progress has been been spent at Pipers Vale LNR in the northern section of mature oak woodland, making good use of our ‘Tree-Popper’ tool to remove increasingly dominant sycamore saplings from the shrub layer. Some areas we Wildlife Rangers hope to keep open for wildlife Office : 01473 433998 education activities, while in [email protected] others we hope to encourage Stable Block, Holywells Park, development of a denser Cliff Lane, Ipswich IP3 0PG understorey to benefit wildlife The Wildlife & Education Rangers are such as nesting birds and responsible for the management of hedgehogs. wildlife areas within the town’s parks and other green spaces. As well as If you are interested in carrying out practical management, the team runs an events programme volunteering with the IBC and works with many local schools to Wildlife Team please call engage and inspire the public about 01473 433998. Our regular the wildlife Ipswich has to offer. Common lizards basking in the sun work party day is Thursday,

Log piles are important basking sites for lizards and slow worms Juvenile Slow-worm recorded 9 Focus on Local Nature Reserves – Millennium Wood James Baker

Millennium Wood, as the and ‘natural regeneration’. species we planted, we could In 2010, a volunteer looking name suggests, is a recent Natural regeneration is the be confident that any other to ring chicks in bird boxes addition to the wide range simple process of allowing species growing have arrived in the wood, discovered a of valuable wildlife habitats local trees to drop their seed naturally and are locally dormouse nest and dormouse in the Belstead Brook Park into an area to ‘naturally’ native – and thus the most in one of the bird boxes. – an informal country park create a new woodland. In suited to growing in the local We hadn’t previously found around the south-western the case of Millennium Wood, soil conditions. evidence of this species in edge of Ipswich. it was the obvious technique the area, but were delighted to use as the lovely Ancient In order to make the new to discover their presence The wood was created by Woodland, Spring Wood, is area look, feel and act more in a 10 year old woodland! a mixture of planting (all located immediately to the like a woodland, we added Dormice are a European by volunteers and local south west – so the prevailing piles of dead wood and piles Protected Species (effectively community organisations wind would blow local tree of woodchip – helping to the highest level of species during public planting days) seed into the field. Once the encourage in a wide range protection), due to the loss crop of wheat was harvested of invertebrates and fungi of suitable habitat (and from the field in 1999, and for example. The naturally particularly connected we started to prepare for seeded trees grew extremely habitat) and arguably planting and rabbit fencing, quickly and effectively, soon competition from species we discovered 10 species of outperforming the planted including grey squirrels (that tree already growing as tiny oaks and hazels! tend to eat all the hazel nuts saplings in the tractor wheel under-ripe, before dormice ruts and between the wheat In the early years, willow can use them!). stems – proving straight away species tended to dominate Scout Headquarters (next to St Peter’s that natural regeneration and grow fastest and so had Regular surveys of the Church), Stoke Park Drive, Ipswich, would be a success. to be coppiced to slow them dormouse population in Suffolk, IP2 9TH Office: 01473 433995 greenways.project@ up. Under the powerlines the Millennium Wood and ipswich.gov.uk Rabbit netting fences fast growing willows have Spring Wood (carried out www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/ protected the natural often been treated to prevent by wonderful volunteers greenways regeneration in a strip 50 regrowth – not something including Margaret Regnault metres wide from the edge of we like to do, but essential who has the requisite survey The Greenways Countryside Project Spring Wood, and within a or else we would have to cut licence), have helped us exists to protect and enhance the few years a dense thicket of hundreds every year! to understand the spread countryside, landscape and open mixed species was flourishing. space across an area of about 100 Outside of these fenced areas, square kilometres in and around the we planted a nursery crop of town of Ipswich, and home to around one quarter of the population of oak trees, as we knew oaks Suffolk, for the benefit of wildlife and had been planted in Spring local people. The project relies on Wood in previous centuries. © Margaret Regnault © Margaret volunteers to complete much of its We also planted hazel shrubs practical conservation work. under the sets of power lines The Greenways Project is a very that cross the site, again successful and well-established because we were confident partnership between Ipswich Borough this species had been planted Council, Suffolk County Council, before, and it is ideally Babergh District Council, Suffolk suited to regular coppicing, Coastal District Council and the local community. preventing it reaching the wires above! By limiting the

First Millennium Wood Dormouse discovered in 2010 © Margaret Regnault © Margaret

A variety of well-established tree species and glades throughout the wood Dormouse nest of leaves and grasses 10 and numbers of the species in the wood is carried out by present. Dormice famously our wonderful volunteers, and live at very low densities, includes: coppicing, building so a highest survey count in dead hedges, mowing 2017 of around 25 animals meadow areas and glades, sounds low but is good and path clearing and surfacing, hopefully sustainable. The litter picking and other surveys cannot achieve a general maintenance. total population figure, but the count is comparable from The Belstead Brook Park one year to another as the ‘megabash’ event in same number of boxes are November attracted around surveyed. 30 volunteers, and saw some coppicing under the Management work in powerlines, a lovely bonfire Millennium Wood has to for cooking baked potatoes James gives instruction on the safe use of tools before the Megabash take into account the needs and re-construction of dead of dormice (along with many hedges. The dead hedges other woodland species), we build in most of our so if you visit, you will reserves are multi-functional notice we leave overhead branches across the paths and rides – this allows the arboreal dormice to access as much of the woodland as possible without having to travel at ground level, where they are much more susceptible to predators. We also aim to have plenty of feeding opportunities for – they provide a ‘use’ for dormice, including bramble the cuttings from the work, (flowers in the spring and they provide a strong linear The Megabash fire well underway, ready for the baked potatoes then blackberries in late micro-habitat ideal as a summer) and hazel (critical corridor for invertebrates, for the nuts that allow them to small mammals and birds, store fat to survive the winter and they can help to steer or hibernation). Coppicing limit access by people and/or is also vital to long-term dogs to minimise disturbance dormouse survival – a cycle to vulnerable species. of freshly cut areas, open but re-growing areas, and dense A great day to visit Millennium thicket provide the range of Wood is our annual ‘Spring conditions for many species Wood Day’, this year on bank to thrive. holiday Monday 7th May 2018 – please see the notice Most of the management work on page 24.

Wayne gets stuck in

Coppicing the hazel is an annual job for volunteers during the winter Peter Scotcher demonstrates the finer points of coppicing 11 Notes from The Dales Local Nature Reserve Jessica Allen

The wildflower meadow is currently looking rather bare and sorry for itself. Five strips of the existing meadow have been stripped off in order to plant wildflower seeds as part of the Urban Buzz project. This bare look is only temporary though as we are expecting a magnificent display of wildflowers in the spring. Other wildflower plugs were planted in the grass after it had its annual cut to remove the nutrients that inhibit the more sensitive flowers from growing.

Volunteers continue to work caring for and maintaining the area for the benefit of wildlife and people. The pond was cleared of logs and litter by volunteers with a tool called a chrome as we do not have access to a boat and the pond is too deep to wade in. Unfortunately Bare strips ready for wild flower seed there are still some people who throw litter or just dump it anywhere they feel contain non-natives that will spread at the seeing fox, sparrowhawk, grass snake and like it and often in pretty areas. Both our expense of our native plants. slow worm. Muntjac deer have also been volunteers and the IBC Park Patrol work heard calling in the night. hard to keep the site as safe and clean as We have two scrapes that were dug out possible. Some of the litter comes from to help amphibians, although there is children and picnickers but some appears no water in them at present because the to come from gardens that back onto the weather has been so dry. We are now Dales. We are especially worried about hoping for some rain in the following vegetation coming over fences as it could months to make sure there is enough water in the scrapes for amphibians to breed when things get warmer in spring.

The new football pitch near the children’s area is being installed by Ipswich Borough Council’s Landscape Team this autumn. This will be a great improvement for the local children as the old goalmouths Friends of the Dales could be described as ropey at best! We hope that the children’s area will be The Dales is a small Local Nature Reserve renovated in the spring. This project is situated off Dales Road in Ipswich. also delivering a new footpath in from the Baronsdale Close entrance to the site. For details of the Friends Group please contact Jessica Allen at [email protected] or find us on Facebook by searching The nature reserve is a pleasure and Friends of the Dales delight as always. At the last meeting of the Friends in October, members reported

Wild flower plugs ready for planting Its a Nature Reserve not a dumping ground for dead zebras! 12 Urban Buzz Project Update David Dowding

Urban Buzz is an ambitious project and form a valuable oasis for the local project which has a large plant nursery aiming to create over 100 ’buzzing pollinators with extensive glass houses. hotspots’ in and around Ipswich for our much loved bees and other pollinators, Sidegate School has been a real pioneer providing additional feeding and shelter in wildlife education here in Ipswich. opportunities. With a wildlife pond, and a series of log piles already in place, the school Urban Buzz Ipswich is now well was keen to expand out into the playing underway. July through to September was fields by planting some young trees very much a communication phase for and sowing a wildflower meadow. We the project. October and November has teamed up with the Ipswich hedgehog been a groundwork phase preparing and project on in November to do a joint seeding sites ready for pollinators. We activity with the school’s Wildlife have been working closely with Ipswich Ambassadors. The pupils took turns Borough Council’s Grounds maintenance sowing seeds and building hedgehog Wild flowers growing in the ActiveLives team, who are well geared up for site hotels tucked away along the woodland glasshouses preparation. This has consisted of a edge. With help from the teachers we mixture of turf stripping over-seeding and discussed the topics of pollination as Targets rotavation. Smaller areas have usually well as lifecycles, habitats, and food The target for Buzzing hotspots was 100, been dug over by hand. chains. This enabled the pupils to spanning across 25 hectares. So far 96 understand how a wildflower meadow sites have been identified but the more On the 8th of November we had would benefit hedgehogs as well as the the merrier. So far we have successfully an organised work party with the pollinators. completed the preparation of 16 sites Friends of the Dales LNR. The area totalling 4.4 hectares with a further had recently been cut and a few areas eight scheduled in before the end of the were stripped down to the subsoil. This year. On top of this 53 volunteers have enabled us to sow and plant a good portion of the meadow. We also planted some primroses in some of the damp woodland areas. Some members have also come out to plant wildflowers on Wild Ipswich nearby areas such as Broom Hill and All the conservation organisations working Valley road. together to inspire local people to help wildlife throughout the town and beyond. Landseer is one of the Project’s flagship www.wildipswich.org sites. It is already a great wildlife site Sidegate School’s Wildlife Ambassadors sowing with lots of meadow but the project will seeds focus on improving the less diverse areas attributed 154 hours to the project. for pollinators. On Landseer we have The Activlives organisation has always The feedback thus far has been now planted and seeded around two been involved with wildlife conservation incredibly positive. Meadow creation acres of meadow with the help of some in Ipswich. They were keen to help with causes initial change and the results are keen volunteers. One large section (0.75 the project and hosted our Launch at not immediate so this response from the acres) of coarse grass has been entirely their Community Garden but this has public in particular was very pleasing. stripped off and covered from corner since progressed. They have agreed to to corner with wildflower seed. By the cultivate wildflower plants for the Urban summer this should look a real spectacle Buzz project through their ActivGardens

Signage has been put in place to aid consultation

If you have any suggestions for Urban Buzz sites within the Ipswich area or would like to get involved with the project, please get in touch David Dowding, Ipswich Urban Buzz Conservation Officer 07464 828624 [email protected] Volunteers at work on Landseer Park 13 Christchurch Park then and now... Reg Snook Colchester and Ipswich Museums, Ipswich Collection, Borough IPSMG: R.1939-98

The Suffolk Show in Christchurch Park by John Duval from Colchester and Ipswich Museums: Ipswich Borough Council Collection

how our Park looked then. Many viewers many other species. From my notes I will surely be surprised that the setting see that our Dawn Chorus walks now was Christchurch Park; it could easily contain much less variety of bird song. be interpreted as a rural idyll in deepest We are fully aware of habitat loss in our Suffolk. Surprisingly, this prestigious countryside but Christchurch Park appears county show used to be held in our Park, to be very similar to how it was in John very close to the centre of Ipswich. At Duval’s day. So what has changed? Friends of Christchurch Park that time Christchurch Park was owned Certainly the wear and tear on the Park Secretary: Sylvia Patsalides 07971 467042 by Thomas Neale Fonnereau who lived has changed as have the numbers of Membership Secretary: Robert Fairchild in the Mansion. John Duval really knew staff who are employed to look after it. 01473 254255 his horses and was commissioned to Horses and carts have been replaced by www.focp.org.uk Follow us on Facebook@ illustrate The Suffolk Stud Book in heavy vehicles carrying generators and Christchurch Park and Twitter@ChristchurchPk 1880. He was also a very fine portrait fairground equipment compacting the

painter commissioned by royalty and the grassy areas of the Park often leaving deep The sole purpose of the Friends Group is to help look after the Park for the public good, and to aristocracy. ruts and occasional tree damage. Our promote its welfare. Anyone who shares this aim Park receives much less respite than it is welcome to join. For a small annual fee of £5 Change in those days came slowly. A once did. you can join in Friends activities all year round, friend of mine was a local farmer whose including Illustrated talks and discussions, Guided father had bought his first tractor in 1934, With the increase in the population Park walks and Practical conservation work. You a Fordson from America which speeded of Ipswich since those times we must, will also receive an informal seasonal newsletter. up the ploughing somewhat from when however, take into account the fact that Suffolk Punches were used to pull the thousands of people get much enjoyment I suppose that as we grow older it plough. These heavy horses ceased to be from the events held within it. After is inevitable that we reminisce and used in 1958. Although my friend never all, the Park was a gift to the people of compare now with ‘as it was then’. I kept records he recalls great numbers of Ipswich from Thomas Fonnereau for am not that ancient (that’s my view) finches, thrushes and especially house their use and enjoyment. I realise too, but luckily, since a very early age, I sparrows. In fact the farm employed when I walk through the Park on a sunny have kept records of my findings in local boys to trap the sparrows as there autumn day, when the colours are at the countryside. Those early notes are so many of them, because these their best, that its wonderful contours were written in cheap exercise books birds were considered to be a nuisance. remain. Its gorgeous trees silhouetted and it is interesting to browse through Of course other ‘winged vermin’ was against the skyline are a joy to behold these early scribblings. I was reminded also destroyed. With the advancement and unchanged at that. To this end, the of this when I visited the Mansion in of modern machinery, use of herbicides Friends of Christchurch Park have, over Christchurch Park and stood in front and pesticides there has been a steady the past few years, been quietly adding to of a painting by John Duval (1815- decline of bird life on the farm with house the tree content throughout the Park and 1892) entitled “The Suffolk Show in sparrows completely disappearing. particularly in the Arboretum. You see, Christchurch Park”. This magnificent although our Park will always benefit from painting dated 1869 depicts people and Similarly, today there are no house some ‘TLC’ some would say that it can horses in a landscape of mature trees sparrows in Christchurch Park and a take whatever is thrown at it since Nature and grassland a most visual reminder of massive decline has been recorded in doesn’t take long to cover up any scars. 14 Always lots of activity in Holywells Robin Gape Chair of FoHP

By the time that you read this, winter will be well under way. It’s time to look back and to look forward. FoHP were delighted to receive a report from Carol, one of the garden volunteers, of seeing Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillars, as photographed in the previous Local Wildlife News, munching away on rose bay willow herb near the Holywells Park Conservatory. Adding to the report was a video of a Privet Hawk Moth, also having a good munch, all of which shows the power of, and the fun to be had with, just keeping one’s eyes open.

Every so often, one tempts, knowingly or unknowingly, fate. There must have been a great deal of temptation in relation to Privet Hawk Moth capterpillar munching away October’s Apple Day, which featured on the cover of the previous issue. To start In winter, there is much less daylight, and and the last to hatch in Autumn. When with, the forecast wind on the appointed rather less temperature. But this does not fresh, the colours are sharp, but after day resulted in IBC calling all park events mean that Holywells Park closes down. a couple of days the colours fade, and off. And so FoHP postponed the event A lot of the wildlife is dormant, but on become better matched to the Speckled by a fortnight, in to November. Again, a warm day insects are to be spotted Wood’s woodland surroundings. So even a we did the preparation and looked at flying, or otherwise moving, around local usually dingy, easy-to-miss, quite common the weather forecast. The God of Wind suntraps. Even in January, I have been insect has a fascinating story to tell! was in our favour, but Rain took over surprised to see hoverflies around sheltered bushes. There are dog walkers, and their canine companions, to be seen on pretty much any day of the year. The café is open year round, though the opening hours are rather more restricted in winter. But warm food and beverages are especially welcome when the weather’s brisk! And what better way of justifying a quick visit Friends of Holywells Park than a bracing stroll, with or without the The Group aims to work in partnership kids, a dog, or some other companion? with Ipswich Borough Council to improve and promote the Park. Apple pressing is hard work The lack of leaves during winter is a Contact: [email protected] www. harbinger of the coming of spring, and holywellspark.org.uk facebook.com/ where Wind had left off! In the event, new life appearing in Holywells Park. holywellsparkipswich we had what might be termed a hard Many years ago, when out walking the core of around 100 visitors to the event, dog in Essex, I fell to chatting with a local Work parties and a great deal of mud in The Orchard! naturalist. He explained that the yellow FoHP work parties continue, do come Thankfully, a good time seemed to be spotted butterflies to be seen in the glade and make your positive contribution to had by all. There was no shortage of were freshly hatched Speckled Wood Holywells Park. Wednesday mornings, folk for food and drink, and in spite of butterflies, which species is pretty much 10am, meet near the Stable Block. Further the rain the storytelling in the woods the first to appear in Spring, around March, details from Martin Cant 07858 436003. held the audience, select though it was, spellbound.

A Pumpkin Bee! Sending the orchard’s trees to sleep 15 Venomous snakes, data protection and waxwings Tim Kenny

Readers of my September 13 points on ‘The venomous magazine so please take a calls of the migrating redwings article will remember that snakes of the world’, although moment to look at these and at night overhead (a thin I was a contestant on BBC some slight brain fades on the send them back. “tseep” as they keep in contact TV’s Mastermind that was General Knowledge round with one another). Should recorded back in July. Well let me down a little. Nobody This migration season hasn’t we experience hard weather finally it aired on November mention ‘marzipan’ please! been a vintage one rarity this winter (remember 2009- 10th and I can talk freely wise in our 2010? I ended up with a ten about the result. I came Like many organisations the part of the foot icicle on my house) then second with 23 points and RSPB will be subject to new world, but these birds, along with their no passes, to the winner, a data protection regulations it’s always relatives the fieldfares, will quizzing juggernaut named being introduced Europe- nice to come into urban areas to find Alfred Williams who scored wide and we will be asking listen food. Even more excitingly, the 31 points! I sincerely hope members to opt in and advise to the prospect of waxwings rears its he goes on to win the series. us of their preferences. head, although whether we

Still, pretty pleased to get © TimKenny will come close to matching These new regulations come last year’s “waxwing winter” into force in May 2018 and is another question. There was unfortunately if any existing a decent flock at Hollesley in supporters have not opted in March this year of around 30 by this date, the RSPB will birds, which commuted to and only be allowed to contact from a holly bush to gorge on them in regard to their the fruit at regular intervals, Ipswich Local Group membership. The pertinent giving wonderful views. forms are in your latest RSPB Waxwing, Hollesley Group Leader Tim Kenny Tel 01394 809236 [email protected] www.rspb.org.uk/groups/Ipswich Suffolk barn owls breeding success

Ipswich RSPB Local Group is for everyone Chris Courtney interested in birds and other wildlife in the Ipswich area and beyond. Come For the past five or six years out. However, their recovery peninsula brings this total to along to our indoor talks, held monthly I have volunteered as a barn was being hampered by a lack 485, a new Suffolk record. between September to April at Rushmere owl monitor under the Suffolk of nesting sites. However, despite these record St Andrew Church Hall, or (throughout Community Barn Owl Project, numbers, productivity was not the year), get out and experience nature first hand on one of our regular field (SCBOP), looking after a This gave rise to the inception high last year, largely due to meetings, visiting some of the best spots number of boxes around of the SCBOP in 2006 which the inclement weather, with for wildlife in the area. Three times a Ipswich and on the Felixstowe since that time has helped many eggs failing to hatch and year the ‘Orwell Observer’, keeps readers peninsula. facilitate and advise on the frequent failed broods. A cold abreast of the latest developments fixing of over 1800 barn owl snap in late April, early May at nearby RSPB Reserves as well as From 1945 Barn owls declined boxes across the county. was then followed by a very news of Group activities, along with nationally by almost 70% and wet June. This hampered male members’ photographs and accounts of in Suffolk by the millennium In 2016 SCBOP succeeded in birds from provisioning their birding exploits from home and abroad. there were only around 100 monitoring 83% of its 1,800 brooding females, or newly Membership costs £3 per year (£1 for pairs left mostly in the north- boxes logging the presence of hatched chicks with voles. Juniors). For more information see the Events Diary in this magazine, visit our east of the county. By 2005 it barn owls in 476 of them. A (Barn owls have no water- website or write as per details above. appeared that the decline in further 13 boxes not monitored proofing in their feathers so barn owls had begun to even last year, on the Shotley therefore are unable to hunt in wet weather as their feathers become water-logged in the rain).

Despite this, a total of 483 chicks were produced from 206 boxes occupied at the chick stage during July to October.

One of the chicks from one of the boxes I monitored in Levington in 2016 was found this year breeding in a box in Alderton. However, another chick ringed from the same brood last year, displayed even greater wanderlust when it was recorded this summer with its own brood in a box more than Outside and inside a successful owl box 400kms away in Cornwall! 16 Butterflies boom on Belstead’s Nature Reserves Kev Ling

It is always nice to have a Kiln Meadow is owned by nature reserve on one’s Ipswich Borough Council and doorstep. So, I am blessed to officially opened in 2013. have a large area to explore in It comprises a mixture of the Belstead area of Ipswich. grassland, hedgerows and woodland and supports a Belstead Meadows, Kiln range of butterflies. On the Meadow, Spring Wood and 30th April I recorded my first Bobbits Lane nature reserves Green Hairstreak of the year, are nestled side by side, on Hawthorn. The following providing acres of fantastic day was the annual Spring wildlife habitat that includes Wood Celebration event where Insects, Birds, Mammals, the Suffolk Branch of BC attend Amphibians and flora. It is the and provide guided walks. The Butterflies that I will focus on weather was not kind to us this in this article. year, but we hope to see you there in 2018. My year kicked off along Bobbits Lane, examining The next event at Kiln Meadow Comma on Kiln Meadow hedgerows for Brown was the BioBiltz on 11th June. Hairstreak eggs. The larval Good weather provided a On June 29th, an afternoon foodplant is Blackthorn and variety of species including the walk saw butterflies reaching the eggs are laid singly on the emergence of Meadow Brown, their peak at Kiln Meadow, bark. Look early in the year Ringlet and Skippers. Other with over 500 seen in one third before new growth makes it sightings included Brown of the reserve, including 234 more challenging. A number Hairstreak and Comma larvae skippers and 215 Ringlet. The were found, but later in the as well as adult Brimstone, summer highlight for me was year, the adults proved elusive Small Copper, Red Admiral, the Comma. On this walk 26 Butterfly Conservation Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell to me. were counted. I also found Saving butterflies, moths and our and Whites. larvae and pupa of this species. environment The Orange Tip is one of the first species to appear. Into July and an explosion Membership Secretary It provides welcome colour sightings of both of Gatekeeper. After a 01379 643665 after a long winter and helps Silver Washed disappointing 2016, this www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk kick start spring. Given the Fritillary and species bounced back with a email: [email protected] mild temperatures my first vengeance and sightings would Butterfly Conservation is dedicated sighting this year was at White Admiral remain constant for weeks to to saving wild butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK. Belstead Meadows on 2nd come. All Butterfly Conservation members April, my earliest on record. I who live in Suffolk are automatically would return there regularly By mid-June there were single As the summer progressed, members of the branch and receive to observe the early stages of sightings of both Silver Washed so did the number of visits our newsletter, the Suffolk Argus, the next generation of Orange Fritillary and White Admiral. made to this beautiful area of three times a year. The Suffolk branch Tips. Later, I also observed my The White Admiral was not Ipswich. I could not remember is run by volunteers and we would be earliest recorded Holly Blue, such a surprise as these are seeing so many Butterflies very pleased to hear from you if you along with a further six species present a short flight away at for some time. Small Copper would like to get involved. (Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Wherstead and Cutlers Wood. numbers increased along Speckled Wood, Comma, As for the SWF, is this another Bobbits Lane and on a good Brimstone, Small White). A example of how this species day I would find 15+ species good omen for the year to has spread across the county along this stretch. At Kiln come. recently? Meadow a plum tree started to shed its fruit, inviting Comma and Red Admiral to a feast, whilst good numbers of Large White began to be seen.

As winter beckons, mild days, still produce small numbers of Butterflies, with the hibernating species feeding themselves in preparation for a long winter Suffolk Branch ahead. That is just about it for are offering 2017. I look forward to that Buckthorns for moment when the Orange Tip Brimstones again! heralds the start of Spring and For more details we can look forward to doing see page two or it all again. visit our website First Green Hairstreak of the year 17 Driven Grouse Shooting campaign in focus Gi Grieco © Gi Grieco In the last issue we made mention of the inaugural Derek Moore Memorial Lecture, a joint event between Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group and Suffolk Wildlife Trust that took place in November. The evening was a great success with around 130 people present in the Great Hall at Ipswich School, to hear an impassioned, and sometimes humorous talk by leading conservationist, wildlife campaigner and author Dr Mark Avery.

The evening was opened by SOG President John Grant who recounted some tales about Derek Moore, including Derek’s great passion for wildlife and conservation, that he believed should be enjoyed by all and, being a great raconteur, his love of a good story. John then introduced Dr Avery, whose lecture was entitled ‘Conserving our wildlife: Dr. Mark Avery at the inaugaral Derek Moore Memorial Lecture are we winning?’. Initially he talked about some of the species gains that hold more pairs. Birds regularly go of bird and wildlife enthusiasts and be missing with some found either poisoned awarded for their contribution to birds or shot. and wildlife. This is open to all Suffolk- based young nature enthusiasts, up to 25 The proceeds from the evening go to years old, who are involved in birding, the SWT Suffolk Broads appeal to fund conservation and the environment. The land acquisitions that will greatly extend closing date for nominations is January Membership Secretary Kevin Verlander, and enhance the Trust’s landholding 15th 2018. 9 Heron Close, Stowmarket, IP14 1UR at Carlton Marshes. This reserve was [email protected] created during Derek Moore’s time at SOG would like the form filled in on www.sogonline.org.uk Suffolk Wildlife Trust and was one of his their website - www.sogonline.org.uk/ Twitter: suffolkbirds1 proudest achievements. the-garrod-award/ or by email, and a SOG is the Group for people interested in the birds team will assess the nominees and select of Suffolk, and provides a network and a voice for The Garrod Award a winner each year. Winners will receive birdwatchers in the county. SOG has an award in memory of Ken a certificate, a year’s membership of Garrod. The idea has been expanded SOG, a SOG Tee -shirt and space within have occurred in the UK in recent years to have it as an annual celebration of the Harrier to write articles about their and the concentrated conservation effort the huge contributions made to SOG wildlife experiences. The Garrod Award to bring species like Bittern back from and Suffolk birding by both Ken and will be presented at each SOG Annual extremely low number of pairs to the his wife Jean. Jean wanted the award General Meeting, normally held in 164 booming males reported in 2017. to be presented to the next generation February. The contrast was from these successes, to the plight of other species, particularly farm birds such as Turtle Dove and Skylarks.

The remainder of the talk centred around Mark’s campaign for a ban on driven grouse shooting, with the ecological and environmental damage this system brings, not only to wildlife but also to creating flood risks from peat degradation and the inability of the peatlands to retain water. In areas such as Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire where peat burning has only begun in recent years, the number of floods in the area has increased. The other unsavoury aspect of intensive grouse shooting moors is the association with wildlife crime, particularly against birds of prey, predominately Hen Harrier. These birds are protected by law, but have declined greatly where, in reality, the areas could Ken and Jean Garrod 18 Many hands make light work - but more wanted Ann Havard

Our August work party saw four of 10 March – Spring clean / litter pick to us doing two hours work and picking tie in with Tidy Great Britain. Venue to up 10 bags of rubbish from behind be confirmed. Whitland Close and another two from 14 April - Spring Wood Day Stoke Park Wood. Ipswich Borough preparation (including viewing mound Council Park Patrol kindly took away and tower) Meet Bobbit’s Lane car the rubbish. park. 7 May – Spring Wood Day in place of On a very hot September day the our normal second Saturday. Friends met at Stoke Park Wood where we raked the meadow area which had We would love a few more people to previously been cut by volunteers from come out to our work parties as the more the Greenways Countryside Project. The the merrier. We do not undertake very cut vegetation was heaped in several difficult tasks and everyone can work at places to provide nice warm, winter hiding places for insects, reptiles and amphibians. the more the merrier

Danny at work their own pace. We always stop for tea and biscuits and a good old chat, so why not give us a try, we’d love to welcome you. Follow us on Facebook too.

The gang still smiling Friends of Belstead Brook Park Unfortunately our October work party Cleared and dead hedged Website: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/fobbp was cancelled due to several stalwart E-mail: [email protected] members being on holiday. Facebook: www.facebook.com/fobbp Friends of Belstead Brook Park (FoBBP) was set up in 2002 to help look after the 250 acres of In November we joined in with informal country park on the south-western fringe Greenways and Ipswich Wildlife Group of Ipswich. The group runs practical work parties, volunteers in a Megabash in Millennium helps raise funds for improvements and acts as and Spring Woods. With many hands ‘eyes and ears’, passing information back to the making light work, we cleared scrub and Greenways Project. used the cut material to add to the dead hedges. These help protect dormice and ground nesting birds and other creatures In April we will be holding a Drop-in from disturbance from dogs and help to for people to come and talk with us and keep humans to the paths. Some folk did Interesting fungi see what we do – everyone is welcome some coppicing in one of the rotational to attend – there will be cakes! Venue plots. This was all fairly hard work but to be confirmed but please check our baked potatoes from the bonfire at Facebook page nearer to that month. lunchtime gave us all added strength to carry on. Thanks to James and Peter from If you feel you could help us with our Greenways for organising and to all the work that would be wonderful. We are volunteers who worked hard. only a few, very busy people and many hands makes light work. In particular, if you have good Facebook skills and able to help keep our page up to date, that would be great. We also help deliver Local Wildlife News and again Beautiful birch bark a few more people to help would be appreciated. The organising group meets Our next few work parties for 2018 all quarterly in January (10th January – AGM meeting at 10am till 1pm are as follows: in the Scout HQ, Stoke Park Drive at 13 January – Coppicing / scrub 7pm, everyone welcome), April, July clearance Millennium Wood. Meet (often a walk about in the park to see Bobbit’s Lane car park. what needs doing) and October. We 10 February - Coppicing / scrub would be delighted to have new input clearance. Meet Bobbit’s Lane car into our group, get in touch with us using Old man’s beard park. the E-mail address in the panel. 19 Improving the Woods for visitors and wildlife Sam Cork Deputy Publicity Officer, Nature Explorer and Young Volunteer © S. Corley The Group’s last volunteer Katie’s favourite colour. The working party before the tree is a British native rowan summer break focussed on and the berries should provide the maintenance of the hazel a delicious treat for hungry area intended to eventually birds and other local wildlife. provide a habitat for dormice. The whole area was Returning after the summer completely overgrown with break, the Nature Explorers bracken, thorns and stinging group completed the final nettles after the recent wet installation of waymarker posts weather which all needed before joining the Working to be cleared to allow the Party who were clearing saplings space to grow. an area of debris, thereby enlarging a certain section Over the summer the working of the main path. We hope party volunteers took a break that many people will enjoy but completed a very special a stroll through the woods Wild cyclamen task. Planting a tree in memory and along one of the three of Katie Webb, a much-missed themed walks (historic, nature Members of the Group air. Please get in touch if you young member of the Group, and pond) marked by the new were happy to lead a would like to find out about by what she called the ‘Fire waymarkers (an aeroplane, an group of eighteen Guides the possibility of holding a Engine’ log which amazingly acorn and a dragonfly). and their leaders on a bat team building conservation walk through the woods in event in the woods. The woods flourished in the October. Unfortunately, due summer months and the to the fireworks and the cool We continue to look for new working party has found temperature, no bats were volunteers - all ages and much to do since returning detected. Hopefully they will abilities are welcome to join to work. At the pond the have better luck on a return us in improving the woods for Portal Woods vegetation had taken over visit during warmer weather visitors and wildlife as well Conservation Group so much that the entrance next year! as preserving local history. gate couldn’t be opened! Enquiries: Martlesham Parish Council Local community groups and 01473 612632 www.pwcg.onesuffolk. We have cut back branches We’d like to say a big thank teams that have a few hours to net or email [email protected] overhanging the pond, limited you to the BT team building spare to work on projects in The group was formed to conserve the surrounding hedging group that cleared the northern the woods, or young people the woodlands west of the Suffolk height to approximately tumulus from vegetation looking to work towards their Police HQ and alongside the A1214. six feet and cleared access meaning we are getting achievement badges or DoE Volunteers meet each month to work round the edge of the pond ever closer to being granted awards are accommodated on a variety of projects. Anybody is to allow sunlight to reach the English Heritage approval where possible. Please email welcome to join this friendly group. surface of the pond and the for the two tumuli that are us at pwcg.martlesham@gmail. Training and tools are provided. many pond plant species. in the woods. Conservation com if you would like more The removed vegetation was is a perfect team building information. survived for more than two put to good use, piled up as exercise because not only does decades. The ceremony and a new wildlife habitat. Our it enhance communication For more details of the Group’s unveiling was well-attended pond supports frogs, toads and and problem solving skills, it events, and to check for date by some of Katie’s friends and newts, including the protected also gives everyone a sense changes, please go to: www. family. The tree chosen was great crested newt, as well as of achievement to know that pwcg.onesuffolk.net or join an ‘Apricot Queen’, which is numerous species of water they have made a difference our members’ Facebook a variety of rowan that will mini-beasts, all waiting to be to the community at the same Group by messaging Duncan develop orange berries – caught by young pond dippers. time as keeping fit in the fresh Sweeting. © K. Corley

Volunteer Work Mornings (all ages welcome - no need to book) Meet at the Education Area from 10.00am – Noon. Saturday 20th January, Sunday 18th February, Saturday 17th March, Sunday 15th April

Nature Explorers (11 to 18 year olds) Meet at the Education Area from 9.00am - 11.00am. Booking essential, please email [email protected] Saturday 20th January, Saturday 17th March

Nature Watch Club (5 to 11 year olds) 2017 dates to be announced. Please email pwcg [email protected] for more information.

Katie’s tree planting ceremony 20 Surprise Dormouse encounter Did you know? MargaretSnippets Regnault 10 amazing facts Margaret Regnault A rat can survive longer without water happened upon this as compared to camel. delightful (aren’t they all?) The leg bones of a bat are so thin that no bat can walk and it is the only dormouse when removing mammal that can fly. tree guards along Bobbits Lane. This is adjacent to The average fox weighs 14 pounds. Kiln Meadow and Spring There is an average of 50,000 spiders Wood where there is a per acre in green areas. known dormouse colony similar habitat to the ‘dormice tubes’ Some male songbirds sing more than which we use to survey for presence or 2000 times each day. that Margaret, a licensed absence of dormice.” dormouse surveyor, has A group of owls is called a parliament. been involved with since its “Dormice hibernate on the ground in a small nest under the leaves, the Apple and pear seeds contain arsenic, discovery seven years ago. temperature in a tree guard would be which may be deadly to dogs. too variable for hibernation.” There is a butterfly in Africa with “This is a daytime nest, explained enough poison in its body to kill six “One of the reasons we have been Margaret, the dormouse was still active, cats! not torpid and I was surprised to catch putting dead hedges along the paths it. Although we have never found them in Millennium woods is because A woodpecker can peck 20 times per in tree guards before, I have always dead hedges restrict dog access to the second. suspected we would get dormice in woodland floor and hence reduce the tree guards because they create a disturbance to hibernating dormice.” We share 70% of our DNA with a slug.

Surprise Eagle encounter Colin Hullis Always looking for an distance a dozen birders with mighty what a magnificent bird, and right here zoom cameras, ‘scopes and tripods in Suffolk. I took a couple of dozen excuse to go birding, one akimbo. I tracked to a small clump shots then went back to the bins . . . fine Sunday morning last of heather where they seemed to be . wait a minute . . . what’s that a few November I decided to go focussed but could spot nothing. So I yards away from the Eagle - a couple of moved closer to the action and raised people, wearing long leather gloves! in search of Crossbills in the bins again. I couldn’t believe it - it an area of Tangham forest can’t be - yes, it’s definitely a Golden Oh no! Falconers! where I had been lucky Eagle!! enough to see a flock a couple of years earlier.

Not a Crossbill in sight but hold on a minute, what’s going on over there. Through my bins I spotted in the far

I scrambled frantically through my bag to get my camera before it flew off. I was still a couple of hundred yards Presumably taking their pet out for a away so had to use plenty of zoom to Sunday morning stroll - and birders get this shot. What a fantastic sight, like me for a ride!

21 For events covering a broader range of environmental issues go to www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/diary/ Events Diary diary.php

JANUARY FEBRUARY Sunday 18th February 10am – 12.30pm SWT Ipswich Education Ranger WILDLIFE Thursday 11th January 7.30pm RSPB Thursday 8th February 7.30pm RSPB PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING ‘Trinidad & Tobago, Swamps, Oil and Goats’ Stone Curlews by Tim Cowan, RSPB Brecks Christchurch Park for 11-16 year olds £10. by Andrew Goodall, Wildlife photographer. Project Manager. Sponsored by Collins Please Book. Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 Sponsored by ByPass Nurseries, Capel St Waste Solutions. St Andrews Church Hall, 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org Mary. St Andrews Church Hall, The Street, The Street, Rushmere St Andrew IP5 1DH. Wednesday 21st February 7.30pm Suffolk Rushmere St Andrew IP5 1DH. Details from Details from Tim Kenny 01394 809236. Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK Tim Kenny 01394 809236. Saturday 10th February 10am RSPB Ipswich ‘Menorca. Its Wildlife and Wild Places‘, Sunday 14th January 10am RSPB Ipswich Group FIELD MEETING Chris Gibson, a freelance author, Group FIELD MEETING Abberton Reservoir for wildfowl and winter photographer and tour guide leader. Please Manningtree and Mistley for waders birds. Meet at the Visitor Centre TL962177. see www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org What’s On and wildfowl on River Stour. Meet at Admission charge applies. Leader Stephen section for venue information. Manningtree Maltings TM109319. Leader Marginson 01473 258791. Thursday 22nd February 7.30pm Suffolk Stephen Marginson 01473 258791. Saturday 10th February 1.30pm – 3.30pm Ornithologists Group TALK Saturday 13th January 1.30pm – SWT Ipswich Education Ranger YOUNG AGM including raffle, quiz and bird review 3.30pm SWT Ipswich Education Ranger WARDENS of the year. University of Suffolk (Waterfront HOLYWELLS YOUNG WARDENS Holywells park for 11-16 year olds £3. building) More detail from Gi Grieco 07951 Holywells Park for 11 – 16 year olds. £3 Please Book. Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 482547 Please book. Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org Sunday 11th February 10.30am -12.30pm MARCH Tuesday 16th January 10am RSPB Ipswich SWT Ipswich Education Ranger CREATE A Group MID-WEEK WALK Holywells Park WILD FLOWER MEADOW Saturday 3rd March 10.30am – 2.30pm meet at the Stable Block TM176432. Leader A morning for families in Holywells Park. SWT Ipswich Education Ranger BRIDGE Kathy Reynolds 01473 714839. In partnership with The Urban Buzz WOOD DISCOVERY DAY Project. £4 child/£2 adult please book. A free drop-in event for families in Bridge Wednesday 17th January 7.30pm Suffolk Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 890089 Wood. In Partnership with IWG, IBC Rangers Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK suffolkwildlifetrust.org and Greenways. Contact Lucy Shepherd ‘The Garden Bird Watch’, Claire Boothby, 01473 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org Garden Bird Watch Development Officer Tuesday 12th February 10.30am – 12.30pm for the BTO. St Matthew’s Church, Portman SWT Ipswich Education Ranger BUILD A Thursday 8th March 7.30pm RSPB Ipswich Road IP1 2EX. NEST BOX Group INDOOR MEETING A morning for families in Chantry Park £6 ‘A Love Affair with House Martins’ by Martin Saturday 20th January 9am - 11am Portal per box. Please Book Contact Lucy Shepherd Tickler. Sponsored by Fenn Wright Estate Woodlands Conservation Group NATURE 01473 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org Agents. St Andrews Church Hall, The Street, EXPLORERS Rushmere St Andrew IP5 1DH. Details from Tuesday 13th February 10am RSPB Ipswich (11 to 18 year olds) Meet at the Education Tim Kenny 01394 809236. Area. Booking essential, please email pwcg. Group MID-WEEK WALK [email protected] Chantry Park, meet at the toilet block, Saturday 10th March 1.30pm- 3.30pm Hadleigh Road entrance TM138443. Leader SWT Ipswich Education Ranger YOUNG Saturday 20th January 10am - Noon Portal Kathy Reynolds 01473 714839. WARDENS Woodland Conservation Group WORK Holywells Park for 11-16 year olds £3. Tuesday 13th February 7pm Greenways MORNING All ages welcome - no need to Please Book. Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 TOAD PATROL BRIEFING book. Meet at the Education Area. For details 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org contact pwcg.onesuffolk.net If you would like to help with this year’s toad patrol in Bobbits Lane, do come along to Sunday 11th March 9.30am RSPB Ipswich Saturday 20th January 10am to 3.30pm get expert advice. The Scout Hall, Stoke Park Group FIELD MEETING Greenways PURDIS HEATH MEGABASH Drive IP2 9TH. For more information see Holbrook Bay for waders, wildfowl and Joint event with Butterfly Conservation and notice on page 2. winter birds. Meet at Stutton Church Ipswich Wildlife Group and others. Please TM162344. Leader Stephen Marginson Wednesday 14th February 10.30am- come and help with the essential winter 01473 258791. management of this wonderful, nationally 12.30pm SWT Ipswich Education Ranger important heathland. A great way to have WILDLIFE HOMES & GARDENS Tuesday 13th March 10am RSPB Ipswich a go at practical conservation work and A free family drop-in event in Holywells Park Group MID-WEEK WALK suitable for all ages. All tools and instruction Orchard. In Partnership with Greenways Bourne Bridge area and Park. Meet at Bourne provided, along with tea, coffee, biscuits and and Friends of Holywells Park. Details Park car park TM161419. Leader Kathy baked potatoes from the bonfire! Park in the from Lucy Shepherd 01473 890089 Reynolds 01473 714839. suffolkwildlifetrust.org informal lay-by on Bucklesham Road. More Thursday 15th March 7.30pm Suffolk information from the Greenways Project Saturday 17th February 10am to 3.30pm Ornithologists Group TALK [email protected] or call 07736 Greenways MARTLESHAM HEATH A trio of talks – Ed Keeble, Eddie Bathgate 826076 on the day for directions etc. MEGABASH Joint event with Martlesham and Edward Jackson ‘Red-breasted Geese/ Thursday 25th January 7.30pm Suffolk Conservation Group and others. Practical Crete/A Compact View of Aussie Birds’. Ornithologists Group TALK conservation work suitable for all the family, University of Suffolk (Waterfront building) £3 Steve Piotrowski - ‘Birding Deserts & with a bonfire and refreshments. All tools admission, other than students who are free. Mountains in SE Kazakhstan’ and instruction provided. Access to site via More detail from Gi Grieco 07951 482547 University of Suffolk (Waterfront building) £3 gate opposite the windsock on Eagle Way, with parking near the Douglas Bader pub. Saturday 17th March 9am - 11am Portal admission, other than students who are free. Woodlands Conservation Group NATURE More detail from Gi Grieco 07951 482547 For more information contact james.baker@ ipswich.gov.uk or call 07736 826076 on the EXPLORERS (11 to 18 year olds) Meet at the day for details, directions etc. Education Area. Booking essential, please Monday 29th January 7pm Ipswich Wildlife email [email protected] Group AGM and SOCIAL EVENING Saturday 17th March 10am - Noon Portal All members and prospective members are Sunday 18th February 10am - Noon Portal Woodland Conservation Group WORK Woodland Conservation Group WORK welcome to this social evening and short MORNING All ages welcome - no need to AGM at the Thomas Wolsey pub, St Peters MORNING All ages welcome - no need to book. Meet at the Education Area. For details book. Meet at the Education Area. For details Street. Further info from Ray Sidaway 01473 contact pwcg.onesuffolk.net 259104. contact pwcg.onesuffolk.net 22 Wednesday 21st March 7.30pm Suffolk Friday 27th April 4pm - 8pm For further details call Gerry Donlon Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK Friends of Belstead Brook Park 01394 547263 Ipswich Wildlife Group on ‘Ipswich Hedgehog Update’. Ali North is DROP-IN SESSION Facebook or see www.greenlivingcentre.org. the Ipswich Hedgehog Officer for the SWT. Scout Hall, Stoke Park Drive IP2 9TH. Come uk/iwg Please see www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org and meet the group and see how you can get What’s On section for venue information. involved. Refreshments supplied. For more information email fobpp@greenlivingcentre. MAY Saturday 24th March 12noon - 3pm Friends org.uk of Holywells Park SPRING AROUND Monday 7th May Bank Holiday 11am - 4pm EASTERTIME. For more information email Sunday 29th April 10am - 12.30pm SWT SPRING WOOD DAY - FAMILY EVENT [email protected] Ipswich Education Ranger Join the Greenways Project, Ipswich Wildlife WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS Group, Friends of Belstead Brook Park Chantry Park event for 11-16 year olds £10. and many others for a celebration of this APRIL Please Book. Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 wonderful area of Local Nature Reserve. Guided walks, woodland crafts, family Sunday 8th April 10.30am – 12.30pm 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org activities, demonstrations, music, food and SWT Ipswich Education Ranger CREATE A Sunday 29th April 11am - 3pm Ipswich much more. Parking at Bourne Park off Stoke WILDFLOWER MEADOW Wildlife Group BEANPOLE DAY Park Drive with free minibus to the event on A family event in Chantry Park child £4/ Come along and buy all your beanpoles and Kiln Meadow. More information from 01473 adult £2. In Partnership with The Urban Buzz peasticks produced from coppicing in Spring 433995 or 07736 826076 on the day and at Project. Please Book. Contact Lucy Shepherd Wood. Park at Bobbits Lane car park IP92BE. Ipswich Wildlife Group on Facebook. 01473 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org Wednesday 11th April 11am – 3pm WILDLIFE HOMES AND HEDGEHOGS Join Greenways, SWT, Ipswich Wildlife Group and IBC Rangers to learn about wildlife in Christchurch Park. More information at www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org Regular Events Thursday 12th April 7.30pm RSPB Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 10.30am THIRD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 10am AGM plus ‘Norwich Peregrines’ by Zoe - 1pm SPRING WOOD WORK PARTY Ipswich Wildlife Group/Greenways BOX Smith, Hawk & Owl Trust. Sponsored by Join Ipswich Wildlife Group and Friends of KIT MAKING Mid-Suffolk Fencing. St Andrews Church Belstead Brook Park for a morning of work Come and join in making the kits for bird, Hall, The Street, Rushmere St Andrew IP5 in the wood. Meet at the field gate at top hedgehog and insect habitat boxes for our 1DH. Call Tim Kenny 01394 809236. of bridleway in Kiln Meadow. Details from Wildlife Homes project. Only the most Gerry Donlon 07733 968481 rudimentary of woodworking skills needed. Saturday 14th April 9.30am RSPB Ipswich Thorington Hall Barn, Bobbits Lane, Ipswich. Group FIELD MEETING TUESDAYS 10am Greenways More information from Martin Cant 07858 Hazlewood Marshes SWT Reserve for CONSERVATION WORK PARTY 436003 [email protected] wildfowl, waders and heathland birds. The Project’s largest weekly work party – Meet at reserve car park TM448577. Leader carrying out a wide range of practical tasks FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 10am - Stephen Marginson 01473 258791. across the 50 or so sites that we manage. 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group RIVER WORK For all Greenways work parties, volunteers PARTY Saturday 14th April 1.30pm – 3.30pm need to be registered via a short informal A joint work party with the River Action SWT Ipswich Education Ranger YOUNG induction prior to joining us – please contact Group along Alderman Canal and the River WARDENS us for further details. Work party runs from Gipping, maintaining footpaths and making Holywells Park for 11-16 year olds £3. 10am to about 4pm. Contact greenways. these splendid waterways areas to be proud Please book. Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 [email protected] or call 01473 of. Meet at Bibb Way alongside Alderman 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org 433995. Road recreation ground. More information from Ray Sidaway 01473 259104. Sunday 15th April 10am - Noon Portal WEDNESDAYS 10am Friends of Holywells Woodland Conservation Group WORK Park HOLYWELLS PARK WORK PARTY FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 10am MORNING All ages welcome - no need to Besides doing positive work as part of a Butterfly Conservation WORK PARTY book. Meet at the Education Area. For details small team of volunteers your time will be (October to March) contact pwcg.onesuffolk.net matched by cash from the Lottery enabling Meet at Purdis Heath to help restore the Sunday 15th April 10.30am – 12.30pm further work in the Park. Meet at the Stable heath for the benefit of butterflies and other SWT Ipswich Education Ranger BEES AND Block located down the driveway from Cliff wildlife. Use the lay-by in Bucklesham Road. BEEKEEPING Lane. Contact Martin Cant for details 07858 More information from Helen Saunders Holywells Park for 11-16 year olds £10. In 436003 [email protected] Partnership with Friends of Holywells Park. SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH Please Book. Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 Friends of The Dales WORK PARTY 10am - 1pm Friends of Belstead Brook Park 890089 suffolkwildlifetrust.org Contact Jessica Allen for the details CONSERVATION WORK PARTY Tuesday 17th April 10am RSPB Ipswich [email protected]. Come and join us for a morning working Group MID-WEEK WALK in the fresh air. For further details visit our THURSDAYS 10am Greenways website: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/ Bridge Wood meet at Orwell Country Park CONSERVATION WORK PARTY car park TM188408. Leader Kathy Reynolds fobbp A smaller group than on Tuesday, but or email [email protected] 01473 714839. operates in the same way – please see details Wednesday 18th April 7.30pm Suffolk above for Tuesdays Work Party. MOST SATURDAYS 10.30am - 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group Northgate Allotments Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH ‘Butterflies in Suffolk. A Feast for the Eyes’, WOODCRAFT & WILDLIFE 8pm ‘Green Drinks’ Dove Inn, Ipswich Get involved in coppicing and woodland Peter Maddison. This meeting will be DRINKS AND CHAT preceded by a short AGM. Please see www. skills at the Wildlife area. Call Geoff Sinclair Join us at the Dove Inn for a drink, a to confirm dates 07860 595376 suffolkwildlifetrust.org What’s On section chat and a bit of networking with other for venue information. environmentally-minded people. Look out FOURTH SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH Thursday 26th April 7.30pm for the ‘Green Drinks’ sign on the table. All 10am - 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group Suffolk Ornithologists Group TALK welcome. Details from Gerry Donlon on WILDLIFE ALLOTMENT Joe Harkness - ‘Bird Therapy - exploring the 07733 968481 Come and lend a hand to help create our therapeutic benefits of bird-watching for wildlife friendly plot. More information from FRIDAYS 10am Greenways Ray Sidaway 01473 259104. mental health and well-being’. The Cedars CONSERVATION WORK PARTY Hotel, Stowmarket £3 admission. More Another opportunity to work on the 50 or so detail from Gi Grieco 07951 482547 sites managed by the Project – please see the details above for Tuesdays Work Party.

23 Spring Wood Celebration Day

A free event for all the family to enjoy the wildlife and nature of Spring Wood and Kiln Meadow

Fun activities and storytelling for kids Folk music and dancing Have a go at ancient woodcraft Guided walks in the woods Make your own bird box

Refreshments or bring a picnic

Bank Holiday Monday 7th May 11am to 4pm

Parking at Bourne Park off Stoke Park Drive with free minibus to the event. Please come on foot, by bike or bus if you can. Pedestrian entrance to Kiln Meadow off Marbled White Drive, Pinewood.

For further details call 01473 433995 (on the day 07736 826076). Email [email protected] or www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/greenways

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