FREE CoSuaffoslk t & Heaths Autumn/Winter 2018/2019

Enjoy our Outstanding Landscape and Help Us Care for It s n n i M

Learn about conservation projects such as GeoSuffolk p2, Healthy Estuaries p4, n i t s u J

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Undergrounding electricity cables p7, the future of farming p9 and Swifts p13 e l t s a C

d r o f r O Beachwatch in and the Blue Planet Effect

lue Planet II has worked wonders more on the horizon. Suffolk Coast & removed from our beaches. Obviously in raising the issue of plastic Heaths AONB have been supporting various factors are involved, but it Bpollution amongst the public, the Marine Conservation Society for would be wonderful to think that industry and government, and the last many years in their anti-litter people are disposing of their rubbish few months have seen some campaigns and Beachwatch more responsibly. It will be interesting monumental changes to begin programme. We are now seeing lots to see what the 2018 Results identify… addressing the problem, with much more volunteers and organisations signing up to the scheme prompted by Anyone can take part in Beachwatch the ground-breaking BBC series. and the annual Great British Beach Clean. Volunteers carry out surveys of The Beachwatch Suffolk Results 2017 100m of beach or foreshore at summarise another year of fantastic quarterly intervals through the year, or achievements by our Beachwatch and as part of the annual international Great British Beach Clean volunteer event each September. More teams in the AONB. Compared to information www.mcsuk.org and 2016, there was an increase of just AONB website. over 200 volunteers participating, but interestingly there was a significant Lynn Allen, AONB Countryside reduction in the amount of litter items Projects Officer

www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 1 Your AONB A Message from Square Jawed and Craggy!

ach year since 2014 has seen the incredible Suffolk Coast & Heaths Volunteers undertake Work Parties to achieve valuable Our Chairman geological conservation work. All this work has been achieved under the expert guidance of GeoSuffolk, the county’s very own Eorganisation that works hard to promote understanding and appreciation of Suffolk’s fascinating landscape and geology. Through our connection with GeoSuffolk AONB Volunteers and staff have explored the bumps and hollows of the AONB . As GeoSuffolk website says: ‘We’ve explored subtropical seas and an ancestral River Thames and discovered how deeply Suffolk was refrigerated by the Ice Age. We have wondered at the beautiful shingle beaches of our coast and marvelled at the fossil teeth of the world’s largest shark, found in Suffolk 'crag'.’ www.geosuffolk.co.uk

Recently much effort has focused on Red Crag sites. We’ve dug out a small pit close to the wonderful Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Rockhall Wood, Sutton. An article on this ‘geosite’ is published in a past volume of Earth Heritage Magazine . ‘ Clearing the Crags at Sutton Knoll ’ chronicles the clearance of the Coralline Crag exposures at the SSSI to create what must now be one of the finest soft rock exposures in the south of .

In January 2018 we cleared vegetation from part of one of the Red Crag pits in . The strata were am proud to chair the AONB Partnership, who provide rich in phosphate nodules and there were two shelly an ‘outstanding’ level of service to people, landscapes beds from which we collected examples of the fossil Iand wildlife within the designated landscape. Yes these mollusc fauna. are ‘interesting times’. On page 8 the manager of the staff team tells us more about the Defra Review of The spades of the AONB Volunteers will be biting into Designated Landscapes, and the review of our southern the Crag again soon. Do join us! boundary of the AONB. AONB and GeoSuffolk at Ramsholt cliff Neil Lister, AONB Countryside Projects Officer We continue to focus attention on the growing planning and development pressures on our landscapes. Not only are there major infrastructure developments such as C, Scottish Power Renewables and interconnectors, but Releasing the Sutton Hoo Story ongoing proposals for housing developments have a visual impact and add recreational pressure. We have responded he National Trust’s Sutton Hoo will be closing until Spring 2019 in to this increase in workload and have recruited a full-time order for major transformative works to take place across the site. AONB Planning Officer following a prioritisation survey of TA £4million project is being made possible by a £1.8million grant funding partners and a subsequent rejig of our resources from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and thanks to the generosity of (meet her on page 7). National Trust members and supporters through donations and fundraising. We are saddened to report the death of Sue Allen, Vice- Chair of our Partnership, this year. My abiding memory of The project, called ‘Releasing the Sutton Hoo Story’, will enable the her is in our Partnership meetings, enthusiastically National Trust to create an experience that helps visitors discover more supporting our activities but also challenging us to do about this internationally significant site and how its stories have more. captured the imaginations of people the world over.

Sue would have been helping us with the completion of During the closure period volunteers and staff will be out and about the 2018-23 AONB Management Plan. We’ll talk more around Suffolk with the Sutton Hoo Roadshow visiting supermarkets, about this in the next issue, but while working on the new libraries, schools and other venues. There will also be talks run by the plan we find ourselves reviewing the previous five years. I volunteer community talks team and a selection of children’s talks and am proud, as Sue would have been, of the many things we activities being organised by the Sutton Hoo education staff and s d

have accomplished, such as: completion of the £1.1m HLF volunteers. r a h c

project Touching the Tide; undergrounding cables at Sutton i R

Hoo and Shotley (see more on page 7); several saltmarsh The stunning replica helmet, buckle and shoulder clasp will be on n e s s restoration projects; hundreds of beach cleans (see front display and the team will be on hand to talk about the site – both its i N

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fascinating history and its exciting future – as well as discussing their t

cover); grant support for projects that meet the aspirations s u r

of the Management Plan, worth an average of £75k per experience of volunteering at Sutton Hoo and the large variety of T

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year (updates on page 12-15); producing AONB Partnership volunteer roles available. Information at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ n o i suttonhoo . t Position Statements, including on obtrusive lighting and a N

developments in the setting of the AONB; plus numerous © publications to promote the outstanding place that is east Allison Girling, Property Operations Manager Artists impression of the Sutton Hoo viewing tower Suffolk! Visitor numbers have increased significantly too, boosting the economy in the last couple of years by an additional 6% to £210m. Sue Allen I was glad to be re-elected as AONB Chairman and look forward to another three years of championing the work of llr Sue Allen, who died suddenly in April 2018, was a great supporter of the AONB. She served as the AONB Partnership’s Vice the AONB and Partnership and being part of our 50th Chair since 2015 having first become a & local councillor 14 years ago, and Mayor. She was a very active anniversary since AONB designation in 2020. We are Ccommunity supporter and ran businesses in and around Southwold, after a career that included the BBC in London. already thinking about how we should celebrate this landmark by doing something that could be in place for Amongst her achievements during her time as a councillor were successfully pushing for major funding to rebuild the Southwold another 50 years – ideas welcome! Harbour walls, negotiating the development of affordable housing projects and raising extensive funding for Southwold amenities. She always saw the environment as important to her own and others’ wellbeing and was an active representative on Southwold Councillor David Wood, Chairman Suffolk Coast & Harbour and River Blyth Estuary Users Association and the East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board. Heaths AONB Partnership Simon Amstutz, AONB Manager

2 • Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Your AONB A New Lease of Life

arsh Farm in is a floodplain grazing marsh along the banks of the River Alde. MWhile carrying out an assessment of the area for Langmead Farms (who own the site), put together a plan to improve the marsh for wintering waders and wildfowl as well as improving its general biodiversity.

The plan from Suffolk Wildlife Trust suggested creating scrapes and gutters and improving the existing ditch network. This would enable water to be held on the land for longer periods and create better connectivity between the floodplain and the River Alde. Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust secured £7,500 from the Environment Agency to fund the improvements and the work was carried out in May 2018.

The created scrapes and gutter have once again blended in with the surrounding area as plants begin to colonise the bare earth and will now provide a great habitat for birds this winter. Langmead Farms have been very supportive of this project and all the partners are very pleased to see it completed and increasing the diversity of the East Suffolk Catchment area. We look forward to working in partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Langmead Farms on similar projects in the future.

Jane Herbert, Essex & Suffolk Rivers Trust

Next Steps for the England Coast Path

p-to-date research shows that people made 29.2 million walking trips on English coastal paths in 2017 – and that they contributed an extra £351m to local economies. UThe England Coast Path will provide new and improved access around Suffolk’s coastline as part of a new National Trail around the coast of England. This will add to the access network in the AONB opening up new areas for walkers wanting to enjoy anything from a short stroll to a long trek. This work is being undertaken by , the Marsh Farm Blaxhall government’s adviser for the natural environment.

The Natural England local team in Suffolk is talking with local organisations, landowners and managers who know the area ensuring the route provides the best outcomes for both the public and wildlife. In late 2018 the proposals for the coast from to Hopton-on- Sea and also the Stour Estuary will be published. This will be the first step in establishing the path around the entire Suffolk coast. There will be an opportunity for anyone with an interest in these proposals to give their comments on them. When the route is approved by Government will prepare it for opening, and manage and maintain it into the future as part of the family of National Trails in England.

If you want to find out more about the England Coast Path in Suffolk you can check progress at www.gov.uk/englandcoastpath , email [email protected] or phone 0208 026 1753.

Jonathan Clarke, England Coast Path Delivery Team d n a l g n E

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© Family on the Suffolk Coast Path

www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 3 Marine and Estuary News What is the Value Striving for Healthy Estuaries

atural England has recently published of Nature? Healthy Estuaries 2020: An Assessment of NEstuary Morphological Equilibrium , which espite every effort, the natural looks at Alde-Ore Estuary, Deben Estuary and environment has progressively Hamford Water. Ddeclined over the past 70 years. Conservationists refute environmental Heathy Estuaries is an approach that produces a degradation is necessary or acceptable, comparison between the current shape of the with many seeking to halt or even estuary, against what theory suggests the reverse this alarming trend. In recent estuary should look like. It looks at the shape years, the ‘natural capital approach’ has from the mouth to its head and the processes emerged as a potential ally in the fight that are acting on it. The work enables an for environmental endurance. appreciation of the longer-term sustainability of estuary systems to address coastal squeeze and My role is to understand what the inform other important management decisions. ‘natural capital approach’ is and how it It provides a tool which when used in might work in practice. Of primary combination with local knowledge, historical concern is the need to place the environment higher in the minds of decision analysis and expert interpretation can provide makers to ensure the beauty and functionality of our natural world will be useful insights into the possible outcomes of nurtured rather than eroded. future changes such as sea level rise on sensitive areas. This is a complex problem that necessitates questioning; ‘What should be done about a declining environment?’ and ‘Why is action necessary?’, but also ‘How Coastal squeeze is intertidal habitat loss, notably can we value nature?’ and importantly, the question of ‘Is valuing nature right ?’ saltmarsh, but also inter-tidal mud, shingle, dunes, etc, that arises when they are caught Decision making is based on weighing up economic arguments. The option with between rising seas and fixed, man-made flood Havergate Island to Shingle Street the greatest net benefit often wins out. Currently, nature doesn’t have a readily defences. In these situations habitats can't assignable value and so it struggles to ‘win out’ in the decision making process. migrate landward, as they would do naturally, so are 'squeezed' out, either by direct loss to advancing We know the environment underpins our way of life but this value is hard to wave action or by 'drowning' under rising tides. ascribe because the benefit (natural capital) is offered without money changing hands. Use of air quality, clean water, wildlife and landscape have allowed all Estuaries are inherently complex, with uncertainty attributed to appreciating all the intricacies of intra- humans to better ourselves without direct cost, whether directly (farming for estuary health. The Healthy Estuaries work is not a panacea for understanding estuary health however it example) or indirectly through sense of place. does help the advancement in our understanding of these systems. It is one part of a range of instruments to help understand estuary health at a landscape scale, as well as appreciating natural and human It is uncomfortable for us to think about the environment in monetary terms, constraints on estuary shape and potential locations to make the estuary shape more sustainable. principally because we have never had to pay for natural capital. This is not to say the natural world is for sale, rather that there is a need to recognise its place in It provides an analysis of current data in an objective way, thus allowing for a more focused and evidence- our economy. The issues we face, and the relative lack of success with other based discussion with relevant stakeholders including the Alde-Ore Estuary and Deben Estuary Partnerships. initiatives to date, have prompted these questions and we ask if it is possible to consider the natural environment in economic terms and to make a stronger Full report: publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6740319341379584 argument in decision making. Emma Hay, Land Management & Conservation Adviser, Natural England There are no easy answers, with debate in the national press between, amongst others, Tony Juniper (head of WWF) and George Monbiot (Guardian Columnist). One point of agreement is that the awareness of the issue needs to be broadened. Regardless of your perspective, each argument raises interesting points that are being explored right here in the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB. East Suffolk Priority Catchment new initiative by the Environment Agency is Further information on Natural Capital and the project exploring these ideas are focussing on waterbodies in East Suffolk, many at: www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org/projects-and-partnerships/suffolk- Aof which are failing their targets for water marine-pioneer . quality. A combination of diffuse pollution from farming and point source pollution from sewage Peter Cosgrove, Suffolk Marine Pioneer treatment works are thought to be responsible. To address these issues, the Environment Agency has deployed two Priority Catchment Officers to the area - Nicola Robinson and Trevor Bond. Our focus is upon catchment-scale working to deliver multiple benefits, bringing together partners within the Priority Catchment to tackle common problems. We’re also keen to raise the profile of the waterbodies in the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB, many of which are inconspicuous to the general public.

Eroded soil entering the River Tang through surface water drains We’ve now walked the length of the Tang, on Church Road. The Tang discharges into the Butley River near RSPB Boyton and Hollesley Marshes. and Butley rivers, and identified measures to improve them. We’ve investigated suspicious discharges, mapped in-stream structures that are impassable to fish and monitored water levels across this very dry summer. Over the next six months we plan to build on their existing projects in the area, most notably the Yellow Fish campaign with Groundwork East, which will hopefully be extended into the AONB. The campaign has the tag line “only rain down the drain” and aims to reduce the amount of pollution entering freshwater drains and ending up in our rivers and estuaries.

We are always looking for new opportunities and would love to speak to you if you have any ideas about how to improve waterbodies within the AONB. You can get in contact by email [email protected] or phone 020 3025 8510.

River Deben Trev Bond, Environment Agency

4 • Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Coastal Books The Coast Isn’t Just Ferry, Yesterday, for Summer ... Today and Tomorrow

ifteen years ago Julia Donaldson he small village on the mouth of and Axel Scheffler published ‘ The the River Deben is a magnet for FSnail and the Whale ’. The classic Tday-trippers, and many readers of tale of adventure and friendship tells this new book will themselves have the story of a tiny snail who hitches a happy memories of crabbing from the lift around the world on the tail of “a jetty, buying fish from the fish stall, great big, grey-blue humpback crossing the river on the ferry, or eating whale”. Together they go on an and drinking in the pubs and cafes amazing journey, past icebergs and there. It is a popular place with sailors volcanoes, sharks and penguins. The and golfers. little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world but when The book celebrates the ramshackle disaster strikes and the whale is charm of Felixstowe Ferry, known locally beached in a bay, it’s the tiny snail’s as ‘The Ferry’, and peels back the layers big plan that saves the day. of history behind many different aspects of life in this unusual and much-loved To celebrate this anniversary Natural community. The book reveals an England has worked with the Marine unusually long and rich documented Management Organisation and history, using interviews with residents Macmillan Children’s Books to produce and the contents of their personal photo albums and scrap books to bring the history of the place to life. an activity booklet. It can be used on any visit to the coast – be it high Elizabeth Setchim moved to the Ferry 15 years ago and soon fell in love with the haunting beauty, crisp dawns and summer or a blustery autumnal day that huge skies that are characteristic of the place. Liz did the writing and I curated around 100 photographs and images. ends with a visit to a warm café. I’ve lived in the Ferry since 1968 and amongst other things, am Chairman of Suffolk Coast Against Retreat (SCAR) and served as Commodore of Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club twice. The booklet can be downloaded from marinedevelopments.blog.gov.uk/ The book has been three years in the making and started out as an update to a previous publication from 1990 - ‘ The 2018/08/01/a-coastal-adventure- Hamlet of Felixstowe Ferry ’ in the popular ‘ Pictures from the Past ’ series. Liz says it has not been a hard book to write with-the-snail-and-the-whale because of the willing participation of local people who shared their memories. The book costs £10 and is available from Stillwater Books and local locations at The Ferry. Jonathan Clarke, England Coast Path Delivery Team Graham Henderson

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www.suffolknorfolklifemagazine.com or call us on 01728 622030 www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 5 6 • Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org News from the AONBs Going Underground

ith thanks to UK Power Networks and landowners in the two AONBs an impressive 22 miles of overhead Wpower lines and their poles have been removed in the last ten years. Through a process called ‘undergrounding’ 10 miles have been removed from Dedham Vale AONB and 12 miles from the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB protected landscape – and more is planned!

In 2005 Ofgem, the electricity regulator, began granting electricity network operators a special allowance to replace overhead lines with underground cables where possible, to enhance the appearance of protected landscapes in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks.

UK Power Networks, which operates the electricity networks in biggest electricity distributor, keeping the lights on for more with wider stakeholders such as the local authority, Historic both AONBs, has been working in partnership with local than eight million homes and businesses across London, the England, Natural England and Environment Agency. Assuming landowners and the AONB team on 11 schemes: six schemes East and South . full landowner support has been achieved and no totalling £2.24m have been delivered in Suffolk Coast & Heaths insurmountable constraints have been identified by AONB whilst five schemes totalling £1.88m were delivered in The AONB team is now working with AONB based landowners stakeholders the AONB return to the regional steering group Dedham Vale AONB. UK Power Networks is the country’s and UK Power Networks to deliver seven further potential for further scrutiny and a decision. Once approved, the AONB schemes totalling over £3.2m, assuming full landowner pass the scheme to UK Power Networks to progress. This support. See map for locations: red is complete and green is in includes negotiating wayleaves with each landowner and progress. obtaining all required consents. Once everything is in place UK Power Networks then provides the manpower and expertise to How does Undergrounding Work? carry out the work. Although proposals to underground overhead lines can Shaun Barrell from UK Power Networks, oversees the originate from parish councils, community groups or private undergrounding projects. He said: “ Our power lines are individuals all are scored and assessed by the AONB team. needed to deliver electricity to homes and businesses, and they Highest scores are afforded where electricity lines impact on are often visible from public viewpoints and rights of way. landscape character, landscape features and visual amenity Replacing the overhead lines with underground cables makes and/or where undergrounding could benefit the setting of such an immediate and permanent improvement to these historic features and biodiversity. The feasibility of the proposal protected landscapes. It helps restore uncluttered open views is then assessed by UK Power Networks and, if viable, the that will be enjoyed by visitors and residents alike. We are AONB present the scheme to a regional steering group chaired pleased to be playing our role in enhancing the local landscape by Natural England to decide which proceed to the next stage. for future generations. ”

If approved the AONB then work with all affected local Simon Buckland, UK Power Networks and landowners to get in-principle support, as well as consulting Claire Cadman, AONB Projects Officer

Claire Cadman Beverley McClean AONB Projects Officer AONB Planning Officer was delighted when I was offered the AONB was very pleased and excited to join Planning Officer job as I felt that the new role the AONB Team in July. I have always would enable to me to make use of not only my viewed the AONB as people I I planning skills but also the other experience I had delivering great projects in genuine built over the years. After joining Colchester partnerships – and I really want to be Borough Council’s Local Plan team in 2006, I part of that. First impressions haven’t qualified as a Chartered Planner in 2008 after disappointed. People are friendly and completing an MSc in Town & Country Planning. welcoming, our partners are positive Prior to retraining, I had worked on an EU Coastal and our landscapes are... outstanding! Management Project and before that I worked in Countryside Management at Essex County A few highlights so far have been: Council for 14 years. working alongside the Stour Valley Volunteers; walking along the historic These first few months have been pretty busy but Sailors Path through flowering it has been a great privilege to meet the various heathland; and, attending a national project and partnership members all helping to conserve and enhance the AONBs. gathering of AONB representatives to share our experiences and look to the future. I was and still am a little surprised about the sheer level of and diversity of development pressures In the immediate future I am picking up the delivery on a few existing projects, such as within the AONBs, from National Infrastructure Projects to single dwellings in the countryside. working with local landowners and UK Power Networks to improve our visual landscape by undergrounding electricity cables in both Dedham Vale AONB and Suffolk Coast & As well as responding to planning applications I provide comments on emerging Local Plans and Heaths AONB. After visiting several sites I’m eager to get things moving and make a Waste and Mineral Plans. For example, with Council we are preparing a Statement difference. of Common Ground covering AONB related issues which will be presented to the Planning Inspector during the Waveney Local Plan Examination in October 2018. Over the longer term I’m looking forward to getting more familiar with the two AONBs – learning about the places and their people. By listening to those who live in, work in It isn’t all just about responding to planning applications though. At the time of writing I am or care for these areas I hope to make connections with the aims and ambitions of the finalising arrangements for an exciting AONB Planning Event on Friday 25 January and starting on a AONB - looking to see how we can work together with partners on some super projects briefing paper on the Stour Valley as a Valued Landscape to help support decision making related to that really deliver. planning applications in the Project area.

www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 7 News from the AONBs Climate is What You Expect, Weather is What You Get

he difference between weather and climate is generally or extreme events. agreed to be a measure of time. Weather is what • Coastal change will see further erosion and reshaping of Tatmospheric conditions are over a short period of time, sections of this coast will inevitably occur over time. and climate is how the atmosphere behaves over relatively longer periods of time. If seasons consistently seem hotter, Every year during the last ten has been hotter (or almost colder, wetter, drier, windier, then the recent climate may have hotter) than the previous one. Plants, animals etc. in the changed. AONBs have evolved in a temperate climate and generally are adapted to a higher level of rainfall and cooler temperatures The AONB Management Plan recognises the evidence throughout the summer than we experienced this year. suggesting there are changes to global climate. The Plan seeks Drought can be extremely challenging. Organisms race ahead to highlight the potential impact of climate change on the area in development if the water supply holds out. and how negative impacts can be reduced or mitigated against. Although difficult to predict, as ecological interactions are Among the changes due to climate change listed in Natural complex, the dry spell is likely to leave wildlife winners and England’s National Character Area Profile for Dedham Vale (No losers. Barrow, near was touted as the driest 86: South Suffolk and North Essex Clayland) and (No 82) for the place in UK this summer. It did not rain for 50 days. For insects, Suffolk Coast are: the general view is that the hot weather has been a boon.

However, there is evidence that some insect populations have Migrant Hawker Dragonfly • Changes to rainfall patterns and timings, higher still not recovered from the drought of 1976, so the higher temperatures and prolonged periods of drought, will impact numbers of some insects we have seen on the wing this Among these ‘regenerators’, the ferny leaves and pink and on wetland features and habitats such as grazing marsh, fen summer, may be misleading. Nevertheless, it has been a treat white flower heads of Yarrow have been prominent. type habitats and ponds, and impacting species diversity. to see lots of dragonflies and damselflies on the wing! • River valleys prevented from naturally evolving may have We advise you to do what you can personally to limit your increased flood risks if climate change increases rainfall and Our grasslands were brown and ‘sere’ by the time the rains personal impact on climate change whilst enjoying the natural subsequent flow volumes in rivers. came in August. It has been interesting to note that only sights and sounds of the AONBs. • Historic woodlands and native species may not be the most certain plants ‘regenerated’ and some seem to have put in an resilient and therefore unable to survive reduced soil moisture incredible spurt to flower and seed before it gets too cold. Neil Lister, AONB Countryside Project Officer The State of the AONBs

n a speech in 1966, Robert F Kennedy said: There is a Chinese curse which National Policy Statements and local policy should influence development says, 'May he live in interesting times.' It is certainly decisions to ensure the purposes of the nationally designated AONBs are Iinteresting times for the nationally designated AONBs. not overlooked. There is an unprecedented national review of designated landscapes, revisions to the National Planning Policy With many of the issues above in mind, the AONBs have Framework and the launch of the Government’s 25 Year commissioned reports into the State of the AONBs. This Environment Plan. That is before you might consider what report will give baseline environmental information on the the impacts of Brexit may be on the land management of AONBs that will help improve understanding of them. It AONBs. will also be a useful indicator of what significant decisions that will be made over the coming months and years have At a local level we are seeing previously unseen levels of on the state of the AONBs. development pressures on the Dedham Vale and Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONBs. This includes proposals relating to The AONBs themselves have never been so important in the ‘Suffolk Energy Coast’ that includes a new nuclear terms of their economic and health contributions. The power station, massive offshore wind energy production volume and value of tourism are up in both AONBs, with associated on shore and off shore infrastructure and creating more jobs and promotion of healthy lifestyles. proposals for at least two interconnectors to connect However, the AONB team and its associated Partnerships Great Britain with continental Europe. If delivered the are acutely aware of the need to retain the natural beauty proposals for Suffolk’s Energy Coast will lead to a and special qualities of the AONB and not look to promote requirement to strengthen National Grid’s infrastructure mass tourism. We continue to promote low impact across the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley. tourism and visits outside the peak season.

With these proposals hovering over the nationally designated AONBs, the We live in interesting times and I urge you all to support the aims importance of the AONB management plans have never been so great. This of the AONB in whatever way you can. statutory document, along with national policies contained within the revised National Planning Policy Framework and the soon to be revised Simon Amstutz, AONB Manager 5 9 3 3 2 0 0 0 1 A L

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Nigel Chapman (Chair Dedham Vale AONB JAC), David Wood o C (Chair Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Partnership), Simon n

Amstutz (AONB staff team manager) at Cattawade, where the w o r

two AONBs meet C

8 • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org News from the AONBs Farming and Landscape New Use of Colour at a Policy Crossroads Guides for the AONBs f all parts of our society it’s unlikely that there is any other sector as dramatically affected by he AONB team recently OBrexit as farming. Policy has been made at an commissioned Jem EU level in Brussels for the last forty years, and in the TWaygood, of Waygood last twenty years this has expanded from just Colour, to complete a Use of covering production agriculture to policies marrying Colour study for the Dedham the needs of food production and the environment. Vale AONB and Stour Valley and the Suffolk Coast & The environment covers many things including Heaths AONB. water, air and soil quality and biodiversity; but also, most importantly for our AONBs, landscape. The The study was commissioned landscape that we love and cherish - and for which to provide guidance for the Dedham Vale and the Suffolk Coasts & Heaths developers, landowners, gained their AONB designation - has largely been Rob Wise (third from right) and speakers at the Dedham Vale Forum June 2018 planners and architects about shaped by centuries of agricultural practices. the sympathetic use of colour We have been working with the Broads Authority in new developments within Sample colour chart in the Use Of Colour Guides Coming on top of Brexit the government has now and other interested environmental NGOs to the AONBs. The document will announced that it wishes to review and take stock of develop a new fit for the future version of the old help those who value and care about the AONBs, to ensure that potential the current farmed and designation landscapes. ESA scheme. This has been offered to Defra to pick negative impacts of development on the character of the AONBs are minimised up as one of their ‘tests, trials and pilots’ to design a and a sense the place enhanced. Here in East Anglia, the National Farmers Union new agri-environment scheme for when we leave (NFU) has been focused for some time on certain the EU. If picked up by Defra, we’d hope to be able The colour palettes of soils, water bodies, and vegetation typical of each of the specific inadequacies in current policies. This is to roll it out into the AONB areas as well. landscape character types across both AONBs were recorded, analysed and particularly true for the support available to lowland mapped. This work was carried out in winter to capture the truest array of grazing - a key feature of the Dedham Vale and the On the wider stage the NFU continues to stress to colours found within each landscape character area. Information about ‘existing river valleys of the coast and heaths. For years government the need to design policies that support palettes’ – the dominant colours, tones, and colour associations – found in the farmers were encouraged to protect this vital both viable farm business, and maintenance and two AONBs and the range of colours against which new development is component of landscape-maintaining practices by enhancement of the environment. What has been viewed, were assessed. Using the existing palettes, a developed colour palette the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme. uplifting in the debates of the recent past is the was prepared, which demonstrates the range of related colours that can be This scheme started as pilot in the Norfolk and amount of common cause there is between the used harmoniously with the existing recoded colour palettes within the AONBs. Suffolk Broads and expanded nationwide. farming and environmental communities. While we bemoan the lack of an appropriate current national The Use of Colour Guides for the AONBs, as well as being very beautiful However, in the last two sets of updated agri- scheme, we mustn’t forget the contribution the documents to look at, include useful and practical information on the use of environment schemes - first ELS and HLS and now AONBs make themselves. Through their own colour in new developments, and aim to conserve and enhance the character of mid-tier and higher-tier - the focus and appropriate Sustainable Development Funds, Stour Valley the AONBs. options available for extensive lowland grazing have Environment Fund and other conservation funds, all but disappeared. With no scheme to turn to, the AONBs have been playing an important part in The Use of Colour Guides will be formally launched at a Planning Event being farmers are on a cliff edge of potentially intensifying helping fund smaller scale projects that directly organised by the AONB team on Friday 25 January 2019. their livestock production or reverting grassland back affect landscape quality. to arable to maintain viable businesses. This could Beverley McClean, AONB Planning Officer have major consequences for our AONB landscapes. Rob Wise, National Farmers Union (NFU) Barn Owls Suffer at the ActivLives CommuniBees

fter finishing my volunteer placement with the Hands of “The Beast” AONB and joining the ActivGardens Team in AApril 2017 little did I know that I would become uffolk is bracing itself as this year’s a beekeeper. Sixteen months ago I vividly remember breeding season is likely to be the worst visiting our bees for the first time, donning the bee suit Sfor Barn Owls since the founding of the and armed with the smoker, feeling the bees knees (!). Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project in 2005. Once the lid was lifted and the bees took flight, I In the past six years, an average of 450 of our couldn’t believe the hum of the bees flying past my t t specially-designed boxes has played host to e visor. I gradually became familiar with what to record n n

nesting Barn Owls, a ten-fold increase on the u and look out for, and to understand bee jargon. I also D

n 45 occupied nests that was recorded in the i remember the multiple stings I received whilst v a delivering a session at our Big Garden Party. late-1980s. Another bumper year was G

witnessed in 2017 with 379 broods being © site. A huge thank you goes to my mentor Betsy Reid reared from 469 occupied nests. However, Barn My highlights are holding a frame covered in bees for ( & East Suffolk Bee Keepers Association), Owls rely heavily on good short-tailed vole populations, which peak and the first time, spotting the elusive queen bee, whose calm nature, knowledge and delivery style has trough on a three to four-year cycle and, by the end of the year, there was a harvesting and sampling the glorious honey (a pooh given me the confidence to really enjoy our bees. decline in vole numbers, resulting in high mortality amongst late broods. bear moment), creating a shallow pond for the bees, observing people’s reactions whilst offloading facts ActivLives have had schools, colleges, pupil referral The vole population could well have recovered quickly if last winter had about our honey bees, seeing first-hand how our bees units, prison services, community groups, corporate remained mild, but this was not the case as Britain was hit firstly by “The have built confidence in so many of our visitors, and groups, individuals from the community as well as Beast from the East” and then “The Mini-beast”. Female Barn Owls need to being successful in placing a queen cell into a nuclei. regular volunteers, visit our apiary. We have some attain a weight of 340-360g to be in a condition to breed, and she makes a The joys are endless. great ideas to further develop our apiary as a real judgement on the amount of food brought to her nesting chamber by the ‘CommuniBee’ education and wellbeing resource. I feel male. With a shortage of voles, food was hard to find, so most pairs appear Our yield of honey rose from forty-eight jars last very privileged to be able to share the ActivLives apiary to have skipped a breeding year. Most adults are present in the boxes, but summer to one hundred and five jars this season. As with all walks of life from our local community and sadly few have produced broods. our five hives quieten down for the winter, we are witness the benefits that it brings: activlives.org.uk . creating a wild flower meadow bordered by a hedge Steve Piotrowski adjacent to our apiary, and repairing our fire damaged Danny Thorrington, ActivLives

www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 9 Across the AONBs Working Hard to Tackle AONBs Planning Event 2019

he aim of the Planning Event is to re-emphasise and highlight the legal responsibilities Rural Crime in Suffolk organisations have who work within the AONBs, to remind people about why about the AONBs Thave been designated and to promote new guidance that the AONB team has commissioned. The half day event, at the University of Suffolk will take place on Friday 25 January 2019, and will look at various themes across both AONBs: • Duty of Regard • Natural Beauty & Special Qualities • Tranquillity • Use of Colour in new developments (see article p9)

The event is aimed at planners, elected Members, Parish Council’s and organisations with responsibilities within the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley and the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB. It will be Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) accredited so those attending can count it as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Event details are on the AONB website or contact the office.

uffolk Constabulary has a small but dedicated team determined to help Getting Active in Suffolk’s AONBs rural communities tackle wildlife and rural crimes. Rural crime is defined uffolk has witnessed a huge growth over the past as any crime of an agricultural, livestock, wildlife or heritage nature. S few years in the number of free to attend weekly running events taking place across the county, The team has an Inspector, a Sergeant, two Police Constables and three S consistently attracting more than 3,000 participants Special Constables. In addition there are seven police officers on the force who every week. Supported by Suffolk’s Most Active County , have also been trained to tackle wildlife crime. We use 4x4 vehicles, which are Parkrun and Great Run Local, events have been marked up in rural crime livery, as well as a small all-terrain vehicle (ATV). If established by local communities and volunteers who needed we have access to drones (small unmanned surveillance aircrafts) to come together each week to give participants the help with intelligence gathering and operational policing. opportunity to walk, jog and run through and along some of Suffolk’s finest parks, countryside and coasts. The team’s current priorities include rural thefts (machinery / plant / diesel and r e t technology such as GPS equipment), hare coursing, poaching, raptor l u

The AONBs currently play host to six such events with o

persecution, damage to habitat, policing of hunts and heritage crime, B

the most recent one being launched in August at k c including theft of lead from churches. We also deal with badger baiting, stag i N

Sizewell near in partnership with RSPB

hunting with dogs and other unlawful activities which can cause damage to © . Other events include: Haverhill, Clare, fields, property and vehicles. The team are also trained in CITES (Convention of Great Cornard, Holbrook and Southwold. Details of Inaugural Parkrun on Sizewell Beach International Trade in Endangered Species) offences, such as illegal ivory, Rhino all the runs can be found at www.parkrun.co.uk and www.greatrunlocal.org . horn etc, as well as live specimens of illegal animals. We find there is a clear link between the aforementioned crimes and serious organised crime groups As well as providing a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to come together to do some who are involved with other criminal activity such as drugs, trafficking and regular weekly exercise, the events provide a reason for communities to meet and socialise providing far reaching slavery. benefits. If your community is interested in establishing a run please contact me: [email protected] or 07515 188309. Tackling theft of oil, diesel, metals, fertiliser, plant and equipment from agricultural land and buildings and keeping a watchful eye on isolated farm Colin Grogan, Suffolk County Council properties with older residents. Offering crime prevention advice where we can is also a significant element of our work. In addition we work with a multiagency task force to try to clamp down on fly-tipping, theft of agricultural equipment and plant. Making Suffolk Happier, Given the large area of land the team cover it is essential that they Fitter and Richer receive good intelligence from the local community. Please help us. alkers came from as far afield as North Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cornwall to this year’s Suffolk Walking Festival (May-June 2018), making it the most successful event in its 11-year history. Over 2,000 people When to report: If you have been a Wattended 125 walks and events that spanned the whole county with everything from a Dawn Chorus victim of rural crime, or if you see Walk to a Twilight Safari. And those who came spent as well. The Festival pulled in a whopping £176,000 to the rural or wildlife crime taking place. local economy, benefitting shops, restaurants, cafes, and accommodation.

What to report: It’s great that the Festival has grown and grown over the last decade and is not only well established here in • Date, Time, Location Suffolk but is now well known beyond our county. The festival is well loved by all who take part and it seems to • Are the suspect/s alone or in a group? have inspired them too. People loved discovering and learning about new places or places they thought they • Are they trespassing? knew. “We discovered parts of Lavenham we • Do they have equipment with them? never knew existed” said a walker on the • Do they have dogs or firearms with them? Lavenham Blue walk, which explored the • Where are they going? town’s medieval heritage. “The most relaxed • Where have they been? and friendly walk I’ve been on to date!”, one • What do they look like? walker commented. • Have they any vehicles? • What are the number plates and vehicle models? Plans are now in hand for the 2019 Suffolk • Can you safely get a photograph? Walking Festival. New for 2019 will be a link up with the Orwell Challenge, more Fringe Festival Who to report to: If it is not happening at the time of reporting and is not events, and more family events throughout urgent call 101 or via www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report- half-term. Next year’s Suffolk Walking Festival something/report-crime . If it is happening at the time of reporting or is and Fringe will be mid-May to early June. urgent call 999. www.suffolkwalkingfestival.co.uk .

Kevin Stollery, Suffolk Rural & Wildlife Crime Unit Challenge Walkers 2018 at Orangery Holywells Park with Lady Mayor David Falk, Suffolk County Council

10 • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org A traditional quayside pub Locally sourced produce for fresh home cooked meals. • Peaceful Location Check Facebook and Twitter for events • Touring bicycle available • Ideal for exploring the Heritage Coast www.theanchorwoodbridge.co.uk • 3 miles from Woodbridge Tel: 01394 382 649 • Campsite has 1st class facilities inc. centrally 19 Quay Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1BX heated shower block and electric hook ups W The-Anchor/118217988200732 B @The_Anchor_Pub • Luxurious B&B accommodation • Family run business open all year • Caravan park (adults only) 01473 737520 (Booking Advisable) moatbarn.co.uk

Unplug and Unwind in Explore the Suffolk the Maharishi Peace countryside Palace ® Relaxation B&B Perfectly situated to enjoy the AONB

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www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 11 AONB Grants Help Communities

Luxury lakeside lodges to rent or to buy Coastal Plant Studies

rt Branches CIC ran Sizewell Coastal Plant Studies along Minsmere and Sizewell beach in June to August with kind thanks to Galloper Wind Farm Fund. Young children aged 5-9 Aand 9-13 were invited to the project as a day respite away from what can be a demanding role as a child carer, caring for an adult at home. For many it was the first coastal outing of the summer and Art Branches included a refreshing walk and environmental education in the day.

Plants were identified and recorded alongside a professional artist and all children went home with a field notebook to continue their observations over summer. Art Branches supplied a variety of Fully furnished lodges materials to record observations in different media and to All-new small luxury development encourage children to think and record creatively. Plastic waste Location in heart of Suffolk countryside was collected from the beach by all children and the fragility of the oceans and shingle beach were discussed alongside the plant sunnysuffolk.co.uk | [email protected] | 07720 387 367 studies. Welhams Meadow, Battisford, , Suffolk IP14 2HE By far the favourite plant was the sea kale and all on the workshops magnified the plants 60x to look for details. “The cabbage plants are like little swimming pools; the leaves catch and hold water which can feed the insects”, observed age 9 participant. Engineer a Stephanie Hartick great day out Friday 12-Sunday 14 October Real Ale and Music Festival Shingle Street Survey • Fine selection of real ales and cider e’ve been doing surveys of the vegetation on the shingle here • Local guest beers • Local musicians for several years now to record the changes to the fragile plant and bands • BBQ • Bar snacks Wcommunities that are adapted to this harsh and shifting SUNDAY 21 OCTober environment. With the help of an AONB Sustainable Development Fund FINAL FLING! grant we did another survey in summer 2018 and noted several changes. t t

• Grand entry by Garrett steam roller o n Consuelo Allen and the Suffolk Punch The sea kale has been very abundant and was a magnificent spectacle, y M

Steam Tractor • Models And Minatures stretching all the way from Shingle Street to East Lane, , like a y m

on-show • Vintage vehicles e

forest of huge cauliflowers sprouting unexpectedly from a desert of r e J stones. The sea pea has spread too and there are huge drifts of it in new longshopmuseum.co.uk / 01728 832189 © areas across the shingle. The clusters of its purple flowers fade to blue Shingle Street showing improved vegetation later and are then succeeded by succulent seed pods, which are said to have once staved off starvation on the Suffolk coast in the seventeenth century during a famine. Scattered amongst these are individual representatives of other shingle specialists like orache, sea beet, curly dock and the beautiful yellow-horned poppies (whose parts contain toxic hallucinogens, however).

The most striking change, however, is in the expansion of the grasses that now cover much of the central band of shingle and so helps to stabilise it. This comes with the further benefit that we now have skylarks singing over the shingle for the first time, exploiting the new grassland habitat that has emerged.

Jeremy Mynott The Long and the Short of Sheds

o you have a short shed in your garden? In beginners will tackle this simple craft and then use it on Woodbridge we have a long one. Your shed is the river. The Longshed has the woodworking facilities to Dprobably just right for one person’s dream projects safely introduce these young people to the challenge of … yours. Our community Longshed has to encompass the making their own craft and going afloat in it. dreams of the people of our town whoever they may be, the long, the short and the tall. Maybe you’d prefer something a bit bigger? Medium? There is a St Ayles Skiff already under construction. These Our shed is for boats. What size would you like? We have are 22ft long with seating for four rowers and a steers- short ones such as the 12ft Cajun Canoe to be built by person and are built from standard pre-cut parts. Whilst members of the local youth group Just42 . Woodworking youngsters do row them they are also ideal for people of a more elderly persuasion who prefer a little comfort with their exercise.

Our Longshed also does very large. Beginner, Improver or Expert? In Woodbridge we also do Expert. Our shed is long enough to hold our Longship at 90ft. This is a full-size reconstruction of England’s first warship that we are about to begin. Based on the Anglo-Saxon, Sutton Hoo burial ship, five years of research is about to culminate in the most exciting dream project ever to come out of any shed, whatever its length. Our dreams, our Sheds... www.woodbridgeriversidetrust.org .

Andrea Leech, Woodbridge Whisstocks Project – Sustainable Development Fund Grant

12 • Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Community Swift Groups Aldeburgh’s Amazing Swifts

he spring and summer weather certainly set some challenges for our wildlife during 2018. The late spring delayed the arrival of Tmany of our summer visitors, not least of all our Swifts for whom the hot summer was thought to have forced some of their young to leave the nest early before they were fully able to fly.

Aldeburgh’s Swifts joined the ‘convoy’ of migrating Swifts during the

early evening of 25th July when several hundred were spotted heading n o t s

south at the start of their 7,500 mile journey to Central Africa. For this a B

l l year’s newborn, this marathon, undertaken without landing, could be i B

the first of three migrations to Africa and back before they start a family © of their own. But when our Swifts return next May, they will discover that over eighty new nest boxes have been installed around Swift Community Aldeburgh and Snape. With thanks to the Suffolk Secrets AONB Fund, nest boxes and a camera system have also been installed in the Parish Church belfry, so it is hoped that live footage of nesting Swifts will be available in the years to come. In summer 2018 the Jackdaws, who live on the other side of the tower, were the stars of the show! Nature boards have been Action installed along the seafront to help visitors identify some of our amazing aerial acrobats and to show how the town’s residents and businesses have supported our conservation project. ow that the summer is over and our breeding Swifts have Swifts naturally nest under roof tiles, so if you are renewing your roof this winter, do seek some advice on how to preserve Nleft us to spend the next nine existing nests or provide new holes for these endangered birds. www.aldeburghsamazingswifts.co.uk months in sub-Saharan Africa, we can marvel that 2018 has turned Alan Collett out to be such a good year for Swifts. Even though the season started rather late, from mid June Woodbridge Swifts onwards the number of Swifts increased and people across Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB enjoyed the annual spectacle of he RSPB Woodbridge Local Group boxes on the Tide Mill, the Cruising refurbished Deben Leisure Centre, the these aerobatic birds wheeling and screaming across the skies project has been working since Club, the new Council Offices, the Whisstocks development and there are and around our roofs. Many of these screaming parties included T2015 to halt the decline in Swift wall of the swimming pool on the plans for integrated boxes in the juveniles prospecting for nest sites. numbers in this part of Suffolk. We Riverside Theatre development. have recorded Swift nests, encouraged It was especially pleasing that this year, many of our new nest nest box installation and alerted After four years of recording in boxes, particularly those with sound systems, have been builders and householders to the need east Suffolk, we know of around 100 investigated and we have had reports of Swifts screaming

n around the nest boxes and received several photographs of to conserve Swift nest sites when o Swift nests in eaves, under roof tiles t g doing roof repairs. There have been n and in nest boxes. We have also sold Swifts peering out of a nest box. We are optimistic that these i r e

swift walks, talks from SOS Swifts h over 100 nest boxes and this year Swifts will return next May to take up their chosen residence. t e

expert Edward Jackson, links to H Swifts have been flying around,

l u schools and nest boxes on Parish a visiting, entering or nesting in a Swifts are in serious decline. Their numbers have halved over the P

Churches. © number of these. last 20 years. This is mainly due to loss of nest sites through Just visiting - a Swift investigating a newly home, and particularly roof, improvements. In Woodbridge we now have nest installed nest box Jenny James The good news now is that local communities, where there are nesting Swifts, are starting Local Community Swift Groups. It gives the opportunity for friends and interest groups to use their Stutton Swifts local knowledge to spread information through the whole community to ensure the survival of their Swifts. There are now n Stutton, the fortunes of Swifts are in the balance. They only nest in four established Swift groups in Woodbridge, Aldeburgh, houses in one road - an extremely precarious existence. To boost their , and Stutton, with Orford and Ifortunes, six families agreed to have external Swift boxes installed. Thanks to on the way, and with Natural a generous grant from the AONB, “Stimpson” Swift-boxes were purchased History Society doing their bit! We hope that local enthusiasts from John Stimpson and with the help of Paul Keys (the nicest roofer in might form more groups – it would be good to see groups form Suffolk) these have now been installed. in , Hollesley, Alderton, Bawdsey and . We can build on the existing population by To increase their chances of occupancy, recorded calls will be played in the preserving and creating nesting places for Swifts. boxes when the birds return in the spring of 2019. In time, if all the boxes are occupied, that will double the population in the village and Stutton Close may To support local groups and individuals, SOS Swifts – a be able to lay claim to being the most Swift-friendly street in the county…! partnership project run by Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group – will offer one or more ‘Swift Adviser’ Mark, Stutton resident training mornings, on Saturdays between autumn 2018 and spring 2019. The (free!) training is for anyone who would like to know more about the amazing lives of Swifts, the reasons for the decline in their numbers and most importantly how we can all help them. We also hope to arrange a specialist afternoon Existing Community Swift groups: event on how to rehabilitate grounded and injured Swifts of all Woodbridge - Jenny James [email protected] and Eddie Bathgate [email protected] ages. This will be for people who are able to make a firm Shottisham - Helen Kemp [email protected] commitment to giving a lot of time to care for Swifts between Aldeburgh - Alan Collett [email protected] June and September and be on call if the need arises. Contact Wickham Market - Chris Wilsher [email protected] Tracey (see left) if you would like to attend either of these events. Saxmundham - Sam Hanks [email protected] Orford - Mark Linsley [email protected] If we could slow or halt the decline in numbers, we will have Waldringfield - Linda Wilkins [email protected] made just a small contribution to the conservation of wildlife for the next generation. For general advice on Swifts of Suffolk: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/swifts Jenny James and Edward Jackson To express your interest in Swifts training events: Tracey Housley [email protected] www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • 13 AONB Grants Help Communities GreenSnape Mini-Meadows & Magic Sponges!

hanks to generous support from members. Our autumn task will see us the Suffolk Secrets AONB Fund, armed with magic sponges and soapy TGreenSnape volunteers have water to clean roadside signs renovated Snape village green throughout the village, fulfilling providing new oak benches and another of our intentions to give seating, a handsome new bin and new Snape a bit of a facelift. We work to step up to the postbox. It’s such a protect and improve our local pleasure to see the seating being well environment for residents, visitors and used by both villagers and visitors. wildlife.

Continuing our aim to promote Thank you to all our members for their children’s interest in wildlife and Snape Primary School wildflower planting day help and support in all our activities nature, we once again joined forces and to Snape Parish Council and with Snape Primary School to plant and other insects and are looking Suffolk Coastal District Council for hundreds of ox-eye daisies and cowslip forward to seeing the ‘mini-meadows’ their generous grants – together we’re The Mill Inn plugs on the village green and outside next spring. making Snape maintain its stronghold the Crown pub. The children enjoyed of the natural world. - ALDEBURGH - learning about the importance of GreenSnape goes from strength to biodiversity and pollination by bees strength and we now have 70 Lesley Walduck Karen, Steve & the team welcome you to the Mill and Inn, Aldeburgh

TRADITIONAL SEAFRONT Village Trail PUB WITH LOG FIRES SERVING ADNAMS hen the Thorpeness and Aldringham Heritage Group was FINEST ALES AND WINES formed in 2015 one of its first objectives was to raise GREAT HOMECOOKED Wmoney for a walking trail around Thorpeness village. It COMFORT FOOD was decided that a series of interpretative boards would inform the visitor of what they were looking at and village history. These boards are both 'stand alone' and form part of a walking trail. The project was a mammoth task for such a small newly formed group, and much fundraising ensued (including the Galloper Wind Farm Fund). When we had enough money the first four boards were commissioned, and a further four boards came to fruition about a BOOKINGS ADVISABLE - PHONE OR EMAIL year later. 01728 452563 • [email protected] Bringing the information together for each board was done mainly by committee member Hilary Chandler. Hilary's late father, George Cook, had worked in the Ogilvie estate and had amassed a vast collection of photographs of Thorpeness that spanned much of the last century. We used a local printer and a local carpenter to make the wooden lecterns for the boards. Volunteers set out with spades in hand and where necessary with the landowners permission to erect each board around the village.

The trail, starting at the car park and gently meandering through the village, takes the visitor on a journey past the points of interest. The feedback is so good that we will soon be instigating a similar trail through Aldringham.

Sue Atkinson Increasing Awareness of the River

e recently had some very large groups of youngsters at Neptune, so we were very lucky to receive an AONB WCommunity & Conservation Fund grant for ten additional small buoyancy aids. These have helped us to increase the size of the groups we have, especially with Primary Schools and the scouts, enabling youngsters to become aware of the natural beauty of the Bespoke website design based in Suffolk river and surrounding area, during taster sailing sessions. • Free domain name and email At Neptune Sailing our largest training course is a five-day RYA Dinghy • No monthly fees or hidden costs Instructor Course. A critical part of the course involves the candidates • Update your own site or we can update it for you demonstrating their skills by instructing beginners, giving a presentation and writing papers. We were very pleased that Why not call us on 01728 720789 Chelmondiston primary school agreed to us using 24 of their pupils as to discuss your website? the beginners for the new instructors to practice with. www.todaytypeanddesign.co.uk Primary School group showing off the new small bouyancy aids Mick Leverett

14 • Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org AONB Grants Help Communities

Butley Community New Hide for Hen SWANN’S NURSERY For new hide to enable visitors to watch wildlife while Playground enjoying panoramic views of the Blyth estuary has Conifers, Shrubs, been built at Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Ornamental Trees A Nursery on A1152 Landscaping, Fencing and Forestry ollowing years of piecemeal reserve. ROAD repairs on the 30+ year old Suppliers of High Quality Sovereign Turf Nr. WOODBRIDGE Open 7 days a week playground at Butley Village The hide, funded by Suffolk Coasts & Heaths AONB F WOODBRIDGE 01394 460127 Sustainable Development Fund and proceeds from the sale Hall, the decision was made to Email: [email protected] rip it down and start afresh. As of Adnams carrier bags, was completed this summer. The Butley is such a small village, the octagonal structure, which was erected by volunteers, cost of ‘off the shelf’ play stands on legs allowing birdwatchers to see across the To advertise in equipment meant a ready-made reedbed and scrapes and over the top of the river wall. Suffolk Coast & Heaths, playground was out of the please call Greg on question, so we decided to build In autumn and winter the reedbeds can be quiet as most of a replacement ourselves as a the breeding birds will have migrated but that’s the time 01728 622030 community project. when the estuary is full of ducks and waders feeding on the mud flats. Visitors can now sit in comfort watching the Subsequently, a new adventure playground was designed – one which would action instead of braving the elements. During spring the NATIONAL FRUIT TREE SPECIALIST appeal to the more adventurous and demanding children of today and which hide will be a must-visit location to see bitterns, marsh More than 600 cultivars, including over 300 varieties of APPLES. PLUS PEARS, would be constructed of natural materials to harmonise with the countryside harrier and bearded tits in the reed, while there is always NECTARINES ETC. within our AONB. Funding was obtained from local, district and county the chance of an otter swimming past. PLUS ALL SOFT FRUIT. NUTS, councillors together with a very generous grant from the Awards for All Fund and GRAPES AND HOPS. a grant from the Amenity & Accessibility Fund. Matt Gaw 50% off ALL PEAR • Nationwide Delivery AND APPLE TREES The old playground was demolished in early June but it soon became obvious that the project could take months if we were to rely on community work days. NEW CATALOGUE NOW AVAILABLE Fortunately, HM Prison and Probation Service came to the rescue and the DEACONS NURSERY (SCH) GODSHILL, ISLE OF WIGHT PO38 3HW Governors of Hollesley Bay provided three chaps, who, utilising their building TEL: 01983 840750 (24hrs.) 01983 522243 experience, worked solidly for five weeks to help make our design a reality. The www.deaconsnurseryfruits.co.uk email: [email protected] community did a few work days and the neighbours all participated by helping to keep the workers fed and watered for the duration of the project. Good Feeds Naturally

The new playground was officially opened at the Butley Flower Show on 22 July n e d

and we hope that it gives pleasure to everyone who visits it for several years to y o B

A complete range of performance and

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CHARNWOOD MILLING Charnwood-Milling Company Ltd, Rd, Framlingham, Suffolk Tel: 01728 622300 e: [email protected] www.charnwood-milling.co.uk FLATFORD MILL Field Studies Centre

Study a wide range of subjects in a unique location, nestled in the heart of the Dedham Vale. A constant source of inspiration in the past, the present and for the future. Painting Plants; Autumn Colours & Designs – 9-11 Nov Capturing the Stark Winter Landscapes – 9-11 Nov Pastels Vibrant and Loose – 23-26 Nov Hedgerow Basketry – 23-26 Nov Painting Portraits – 30 Nov-7 Dec Christmas Felting – 2 Dec Stained Glass Christmas Decorations – 2 Dec See the hundreds of courses available on the website. 2019 Courses will be released on the 29 October. www.field-studies-council.org/flatfordmill You can also contact us by phone on 0845 330 7368 (local rate), or by email at [email protected]

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