Pantaloon Bee – see page 9 © Matt Garnham © Matt

September - December 2018

A news and events Produced by the diary from wildlife and conservation groups in the area BlueSnippets alien found White Admiral Lydia Woods in town Richard Stewart On the afternoon of Friday June 22nd my wife and I were walking down Westerfield Road in Ipswich and just past the gate into Christchurch Park we saw a white admiral on the pavement.

It appeared to be a newly emerged While walking through Kiln Meadow on a warm adult but had probably been caught morning in July, I was more than a little surprised to in a vehicle slipstream. I cupped my hands around it, walked across the be confronted with a bright flash of blue! road and released the over the park railings. This was one of the On closer inspection I discovered a rather battered looking blue morpho butterfly new species I predicted for the park resting on the ground - not something you’d expect to see in . These in future years as it has steadily been are generally found in Central and South America, although they are a popular choice colonising towards Ipswich. One was for butterfly houses – it’s likely this one escaped from the butterfly house situated at seen and photographed in The Dales Jimmy’s Farm. After taking some photos of this blue alien, I left the butterfly resting in a in 2015. With this in mind more patch of bindweed. While this was a lovely sight to see, hopefully it won’t be a regular honeysuckle, the larval food plant, occurrence. These butterflies aren’t accustomed to living in Suffolk – no matter how hot has been planted in the park. it has been!

Digger Wasps excavate home Colin Hullis In my garden I have a tree trunk log used as a plant stand. Over the years it has begun to rot and during the long, hot summer I have spent hours watching small wasps excavating holes presumably as nest sites and creating large mounds of sawdust in the process.

Research leads me to believe these were some form of Digger Wasp of which there are several sub-species. I also learn that there are 9000 species of wasp in the UK and that only nine of these are social wasps that form large nests, the rest are solitary and cause no upset to humans. Certainly my wasps have caused this human no upset but have provided much original entertainment.

2 Welcome by James Baker Welcome to the autumn edition of Local Wildlife estimating the power of ordinary people to bring about News, packed with articles and news from all the local positive change. But I think we all know how valuable time conservation groups along with a vast number of events of spent in nature really is for our health and wellbeing and all types for you to get involved with! therefore how much we owe to our environment – and I think we all know we need to look after it better! Throughout this edition there are references to the long, hot summer of 2018 and the potential effects on our local There are easy things to do to improve the situation – going (and not-so local) wildlife species. As always there will for a walk locally rather than driving miles to have a walk; be winners and losers amongst our favourite species, but buying organic food that helps wildlife on the farm where it will be difficult to determine perhaps until next year or it’s grown, or growing your own food and avoiding flying beyond. I think one thing is becoming clear and that is the – or you could choose to join in with some of the positive long predicted sharp increase in more extreme weather wildlife conservation work being done by local groups – events due to our changing climate, is now a reality. just take a look at the Events listing for ideas!!

Any quaint notion that the effects of climate change are Mailing lists – Please note generations away, is now long-gone – and we should all Some who are members of several conservation be thinking about our actions and what we might be doing organisations may well receive more than one copy of the (intentionally or by accident) to increase or decrease the newsletter. If this is the case we would be very grateful if numbers or diversity of wild plants and in our you could pass on the spare copy. If you don’t receive LWN local (and global) environment. Luckily for you, there is not regularly please consider joining one of the groups that enough room here for me to spout on for too long about distributes LWN to its members. LWN is available online at individual actions being very important, and never under- www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/greenways/

Contents Page Snippets 2 4 Portal Woodlands Conservation Group 8 6 9 Ipswich Council Wildlife Rangers 9 Greenways Countryside Project 10 Ipswich Wildlife Group 13 Friends of Christchurch Park 14 Friends of Holywells Park 15 22 9 RSPB Ipswich Local Group 16 Butterfly Conservation 17 Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group 18 Friends of Belstead Brook Park 19 Wild Ipswich 20 9 2 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 Ipswich Group Newsletter Chairman: (Vacant) 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 which take place usually on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7.30 p.m. in the Museum Street Methodist Church, Blackhorse Lane.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 which follows, or on the SWT website, www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org.

We are now at the beginning of another autumn season and the committee of the Ipswich Group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust is now looking forward to welcoming you to the evening meetings and to planning the walks and outing for 2019.

You may have wondered why we are very privileged to have the Suffolk Wildlife Trust section of the Local Wildlife News at the front of each magazine. Some years ago we came to an arrangement with Ipswich Wildlife Group to amalgamate our newsletters, add more local volunteering groups and make the magazine glossy. You receive the Wildlife News with the Trust Magazine in the same packet. This is a two-way deal as the Wildlife News takes advantage of the fact that there are lovely people who put the magazine package through members’ letter boxes not just in Ipswich but in the surrounding villages. Locally there is a network radiating from Ipswich of people getting their exercise and fresh air, walking and cycling and perhaps driving, delivering the packets. Incidentally, the Trust and wildlife are benefiting by around £30,000 per year because of all our fantastic volunteer deliverers throughout the county. Because there is little postage involved in the SWT magazine distribution the Ipswich Group’s contribution is by wearing out shoe leather on behalf of the other volunteering groups in the Wildlife News. We are pleased to benefit from a very professionally produced magazine and the other groups have better uses for their money because they pay no postage on a large distribution. There is also a dedicated Trust team that organises the complicated distribution of the packets before it lands on your door mat.

Unlike all the other groups in the Wildlife News the Ipswich Group of SWT does not have pictures or reports about the physical volunteering on the reserves in Ipswich. There are many wildlife sites and reserves and some years ago we were organising the volunteering to look after them. In the past for example, we took part in clearing the Alderman Canal and making the paths, coppicing in Spring Wood and planting trees in the many sites in and around Ipswich. Ipswich Wildlife Group has taken over this role. As you go through the magazine you will find all the other groups are doing the practical work and if you wish to volunteer then you have a large choice of activities in the following pages.

As secretary I get emails and telephone calls from people wishing to join a practical conservation group but they are passed on to SWT at , Ashbocking or the other relevant groups in the Wildlife Magazine – and there are plenty to choose from!

In spite of having no current chairman – and we do need one – and difficulties with the venue for our winter talks, the past year has been successful, rounded off with a coach trip to Rainham Marshes and well supported walks. We start the new season in September with talks in the Methodist Church in Black Horse Lane, Ipswich. It is a really good venue and we hope that you will support the committee and the varied and interesting talks. Please note that the meetings, apart from December will be on the fourth Wednesday of the month and we look forward to seeing you then. Wendy Brown

4 RSPB Rainham Marshes and Thameside Nature Reserve Annual Coach trip May 26th 2018 Kerry Charlton

This year’s outing took us in a new Our visit began with an introduction their five chicks as damselflies and direction. After more than 20 years, by a volunteer to the reserve and its dragonflies flew above them, moving Pam has passed on the baton of facilities then we were off around the too quickly for our identification skills. organising the annual coach trip to reserve, some of our members taking A kestrel hovered above us and plunged Susanne Renshaw. She started her role advantage of the café and its excellent into long grass in pursuit of its prey. with exploring a location new to the views before heading out. Even before group. we got out onto the reserve proper As we ate our lunch large and small we were treated to the sight of holly white butterflies danced around u, After some debate and a reconnaissance blue and orange tip butterflies and an and skylarks could be seen and heard trip by Susanne, me and Susanne’s abundance of starlings, both juveniles overhead husband, who is not a birder or nature and adults buff, it was decided that we would go to On the way back to the visitor centre RSPB Rainham Marshes, and Thameside Heading out of the visitor centre we we were deafened by the calls of marsh Nature Reserve. turned towards the Purfleet Scrape and frogs. Who would believe something so found a bench in the sun to observe small could make such a large amount Susanne worried about organising her what was going on around us. Lots of of noise? The last part of our visit took first trip, but after 30 years of knowing the group members stopped to look us through the wooded area where lots her, I knew everything would be out across the marshes and saw many of house sparrows where chattering. fine. At 06.30 on the day of the trip I wetland bird species including lapwing, received a text message, “It’s raining, tufted duck, mallard, little egret, and can you check the forecast?” After greylag and Canada geese. Cettis checking two different apps and a warblers called loudly all around us as few more texts I was able to reassure redshank flew down on to the scrape. Susanne that we would have fine A real treat was to see a swift feeding weather for the trip. Even though it overhead. We were able to spot was raining at the time and rained till shovelers, gadwall, heron, shelduck, we arrived. But by the time we had coot, moorhen and mute swan. Ipswich Group Newsletter arrived at Rainham the rain stopped Many of the ducks and geese were and we were greeted with sunshine and surrounded by young balls of fluff. temperatures of up to 28’C We continued round the reserve We boarded the coach to head to the The reserve had previously been a walking under the Thames wall, the second visit of our day, Thameside military firing range but is now managed protection it gives reduced the breeze Nature Reserve. by the RSPB to improve biodiversity. that we would get later at Thameside. Rainham Marshes is composed of Along the path we spotted the almost The reserve and visitor centre are on ancient, low-lying grazing marshes in tropical looking salsify which has a a former landfill site, with views over the Thames Estuary, containing wet tasty edible root which has a parsnip Mucking Flats SSSI and the Thames grassland, ditches, scrub, reedbeds and like flavour. Estuary. The site is currently 120 acres open water. It supports many breeding and will eventually extend to cover and wintering birds, wetland plants, Later we saw many reed warblers, over 800 acres. The visitor centre , and fauna including water voles including juveniles. In one ditch a pair on the reserve is at the top of a hill and marsh frogs. of little grebes could be seen feeding and provides good views over the Thames Estuary from the café and from a viewing platform on the roof. After a break for cake and tea we headed out onto the site. The weather remained sunny, but a strong wind added a pleasant relief after the heat at Rainham.

There were not so many species here, but there were excellent views of a kestrel hunting at eye level beside the visitor centre. We also spotted shelduck, a flock of redshank flying in and cormorant flying up river. Other species seen were little egret, blackbirds, skylarks and pheasants.

After a very successful, interesting and long day we headed home to Ipswich.

Excellent views of a Kestrel hunting 5 Rushmere Jubilee Walk – June 2018 Leigh Williamson © Kevin Marrable A junction of roads in a quickly revert to scrubby housing estate just off woodland. Certain trees are Foxhall Road seems an targeted for removal so that unlikely starting point for a light could penetrate and the wildlife walk. However, a brambles, an important food few steps along the path, the source can thrive. houses all but disappeared and there was a feeling of At the other side of the being in the tranquillity of grassland and through the countryside. This was the the trees, we entered a start of the Rushmere Jubilee completely different world of Walk. cool, dappled shade. This area known as the Glade requires different management techniques. The width of the path is maintained as a fire break, so at times trees and shrubs have to be removed. Logs have been put to good use as a habitat for stag and Ipswich Group Newsletter other beetles. Small twigs Meadow Brown have been piled up in mounds to suit other invertebrates. tailed tits and young starlings between Ipswich and The footpath verges contained being fed were identified Southwold, by the supersized a lovely mixture of plants A short way down this either from sight or sound nightjar sculpture nestled backed by trees, some were path we stopped at a large by our bird experts. We saw in the grass. We left this coppiced elms which make non-native pine tree. Here fewer butterflies than we path to another surprising a good hedge. We turned Peter told us a tale of Global had hoped. However on the and much wetter area. Our through a gap to a large, Warming. This tree is a grassland, meadow brown, path was between a high, open grassy area where our Monterey Pine, native to a ringlet, identified by its darker wooded bank (it was hard to guide Peter Scotcher from the small area of California where colour, and a flash of orange believe that Foxhall Stadium Greenways Project explained it is an endangered species. of a small skipper, flitted past. was up there somewhere) how the whole area had Even though Monterey The only butterfly I saw that and the Mill Stream. At to be carefully managed to Pines thrive in other parts was settled for some time one point along the stream, maintain a variety of habitats of the world it is dying out was a poor specimen of a Greenways had cleared trees for wildlife. in its native region. The speckled wood in the Glade. and undergrowth to produce mountainous topography of an open wet area where flag We were in an area of acid the area means that it cannot We turned east from the iris, bull rushes and sedges grassland, an important spread naturally to adjoining Glade to a lovely wildflower thrived. A real transformation habitat for invertebrates. In a areas as global warming area evocatively named had happened in just two non-urban location such an makes its original location . Close years. Further along we area would be maintained by unsuitable. On hearing this inspection showed a large could glimpse a deeper grazing animals. In this case we chorused in unison “it is number of species – the pond covered in duck weed. however, it was mowed in caught between a rock and a pretty lesser stitchwort, We took a detour across a stages during the autumn and hard place”. greater birdsfoot trefoil - a boardwalk to an interesting the cut grass was removed to surprise find for a rather area of wet meadow where maintain the required poor We stopped regularly during dry area, extra tall yarrow, again Greenways kept the soil conditions. If mowing did the morning to listen to knapweed - loved by insects willow in check by coppicing. not happen the area would bird-song. Black caps, long and colourful tufted vetch to This allowed a variety of

© Kevin Marrable name a few. This area had moisture-loving plant life to been seeded with wildflowers thrive. and is maintained by cutting two-thirds at a time, then Local people are very removing the cuttings. Peter fortunate to have such a continued to remind us that delightful area on their the variety of wild areas we doorstep. We are grateful passed through happens as to Peter for being such an a result of a good deal of informative guide. However, human intervention – in other he tells us that unfortunately words, through knowledge future funding for the and hard work. Greenways Project is in doubt. So it remains to be On the other side of the seen if the management of meadow we were reminded this area can be continued as that we were on the successfully into the future. Any ideas what caterpillar this is? long distance Walk Route Let us hope so. 6 Dates for your Diary

All talks will be held at Museum Street Methodist Church, 17 Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich IP1 2EF and begin at 7.30pm. A charge of £2.50 includes tea or coffee. There is disabled access.

Wed. 26th September 2018 at 7.30pm. Matthew Rooney How Mushrooms Can Save the Planet Matthew is a forager, ecologist and biodynamic grower of wild mushrooms for medicinal and their culinary purposes. He will talk about the ubiquitous distribution of mushrooms, and their relationship with all other organisms. He will also explain their important role in nutrient cycles, pollution and disease control. For more information Google Matthew Rooney, Mushrooms.

Wed. 24th October 2018 at 7.30pm Will Cranstoun Will is the SWT reserves manager at Lackford Lakes, and will talk to us about the key species which are found there throughout the year. It is a haven for birds, and as I write at the end of January, 78 bird species have already been recorded for 2018. Otters, kingfishers and a good variety of dragon flies are frequently seen. Will will explain the management needed to maintain and increase this biodiversity. For more information Google SWT Lackford Lakes

Wed. 28th November 2018 at 7.30pm Tim Kenny Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands This collection of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, 1000 miles off the coast of Ecuador, is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Due to its isolation, many of these are found nowhere else on earth. The Galapagos Islands were visited by Darwin in 1835, and were the inspiration for his Theory of Evolution. Tim, chairman of the local RSPB group, and Mastermind participant will take you on a voyage to this amazing place. Ipswich Group Newsletter

Wed. 12th December 2018 at 7.30pm David Healey Shorebirds of the British Isles Shore Birds or Waders have the most extensive migration pattern of any group of animals world-wide. The UK provides globally important feeding estuaries, inland waters and shores not only for large populations of wintering birds, but also for those who stop over to feed as they pass through in Spring and Autumn. David will describe the behaviour of these birds and help us to identify them by their plumage and also by their calls and songs, so evocative of the arctic tundra.

Wed. 23rd January 2019 at 7.30pm Anne & Dennis Kell Natural History of the Falkland Islands The Falklands is made up of a large number of islands in the South Atlantic. With their rugged terrain, ferocious winds and nutrient rich waters, they are home to a wide variety of plants and animals, and a huge number of sea birds. A good number of the plants are found nowhere else on this earth. Come and hear about this naturalist’s paradise from Anne and Dennis who visited it just a few years ago. For more information Google Flora and Fauna of the Falkland Islands © Colin Hullis

Shorebirds of the British Isles – 12th December

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

7 Mammal traps, dead hedges and glow worms Sam Cork with contributions from George Pennick

At the time of writing in the as male or female and then current heat wave in July, it released back to where they seems an age away when we were caught. One female were suffering from the icy and four male wood mice, snow of the ‘Mini-beast from and one male bank vole were the East’ in mid-March and recorded. In addition, the clearing up the damage from children were mesmerised storms earlier in the year. by two harvest mice that Fortunately, our volunteers had been brought along by are a hardy bunch and are Duncan. happy to venture out in all kinds of weather. The main volunteer task was to build a dead hedge, using In early April our young posts made from the branches Nature Watchers braved the of the storm damaged tree that Litter pickers in action damp and cold to discover had been cut up the month what creatures had been before. It was filled with fallen hint of rubbish and the woods the end of Autumn the pile caught in our small mammal branches and twigs creating never looked so tidy! We of chippings may have rotted traps. These traps had been a new habitat for creepy would be grateful if users of away before we’ve had time placed around the education crawlies. the woods would take their to put them down, so if you area the night before, allowing litter, however small, home regularly use the woods - now the creatures to find the tasty Our AGM was held in April with them. is a better time than any to treats within and inadvertently when the existing Committee come along to one of our get themselves shut inside! members were all re-elected. Our annual Glow Worm volunteer mornings (details Assisted by the older Nature The winner of the Nature Survey and Bat Walk was below). Thanks to Elite Tree Explorers, the animals were Explorers Award was Sam well attended, despite being Services for donating the carefully emptied from the Cork in cancelled chippings. traps, weighed and identified recognition a few days of his We continue to before! 13 The Nature Explorers group contribution to look for new female glow learnt about wheelbarrow conservation worms were maintenance on the 19th of in the Parish of volunteers recorded in May. This was very timely as Martlesham. all; one for most of our wheelbarrows Sam was each human were in a poor state and were Portal Woodlands presented with The Powling participant. Happily this desperately needed for the Cup to hold temporarily, and continues an upwards trend path chippings activities. Conservation Group also received a glass plaque from the single figure counts Enquiries: Martlesham Parish Council and a book on mammals of recent years. We continue to look for new 01473 612632 www.pwcg.onesuffolk. to keep. The meeting was volunteers - all ages and net or email [email protected] rounded off with a very The weather and wear and abilities are welcome! The group was formed to conserve tear from visitors has taken its the woodlands west of the Suffolk interesting talk about bat Please email us at pwcg. Police HQ and alongside the A1214. species in Suffolk, by Duncan toll on the woodland paths, [email protected] if you Volunteers meet each month to work Sweeting. with several areas becoming would like more information. on a variety of projects. Anybody is extremely muddy after rainfall. For more details of the welcome to join this friendly group. We held a litter pick on the Recent volunteer mornings Group’s events, and to check Training and tools are provided. 27th May, 14 people scoured have therefore been focussed for date changes, please go to: the woods for the smallest on laying down bark chippings http://pwcg.onesuffolk.net/ or to create a new even and join our members’ Facebook porous surface. It is a long job Group by messaging Duncan and we are conscious that by Sweeting.

Volunteer Work Mornings (all ages welcome - no need to book) Meet at the Education Area from 10.00am – Noon. Saturday 15th September, Sunday 21st October, Saturday 17th November, Sunday 16th December

Nature Explorers (11 to 18 year olds) Meet at the Education Area from 9.00am - 11.00am. Booking essential, please email [email protected] Saturday 15th September, Saturday 17th November

Nature Watch Club (5 to 11 year olds) Dates to be announced. Please email pwcg martlesham@ gmail.com for more information. Sam Cork being presented with the Nature Explorers Powling Cup 8 Busy as Bees for the Ranger Team Alexander Long

The last few months have process aiming to cover all © Sarah Kilshaw been busy for the ranger of the sites and update the team. We have undertaken wildlife audits that were last several educational events completed in 2013. including bug hunting with school groups, informal Some of the rangers have walks and talks and participated in a pollinator family fun days. Practical course with Adrian Knowles tasks undertaken in the - the county recorder for past few months include bees, wasps and pollinating fence and bench repairs, insects for Suffolk. This has clearing vegetation from been especially useful for footpaths, bracken pulling, providing precise information habitat creation, reptile on the pollinating insects translocation and the wildlife around our local areas, such audit. In addition, we have as Chantry Park, Holywells had a new casual Ranger join Park, Landseer Park, Bixley the ranks, so a very warm Heath and Purdis Heath. welcome to Mr Tim Page. Insects found include the White letter hairstreak Buff-tailed bumblebee Wildlife auditing in this (Bombus terrestris) the Red- in recent years. Additionally, current climate is very useful tailed bumblebee (Bombus survey work such as this for our biological records and lapidarius), Pantaloon bee provides knowledge as to the audit is also a fantastic (Dasypoda spp) and Bee whether the management way of getting reacquainted wolves (Philanthus spp) as of our sites is working to with all of the sites we look well as Ringlets ( preserve the wildlife located after across Ipswich. The audit hyperantus), Meadow brown on them, as well as showing is a chance to monitor the (Maniola jurtina), Brown the Rangers areas that may value for wildlife of each site, argus (Aricia agestis) White- need additional management. survey the area for all kinds letter Hairstreak (Satyrium This knowledge also illustrates Wildlife Rangers of wildlife (including plants, w-album) and Small skipper that the wildflower mixes Office : 01473 433998 invertebrates, mammals and (Thymelicus sylvestris). sown by Buglife are working [email protected] birds) and ascertain whether well to provide food and Stable Block, Holywells Park, the management work we This sort of survey work, nectar for all the wonderful Cliff Lane, Ipswich IP3 0PG undertake within the sites is similar to the wildlife audit, invertebrates that the rangers The Wildlife & Education Rangers are increasing the biodiversity is invaluable as it is useful to protect. responsible for the management of using them. This is a lengthy know which pollinator species wildlife areas within the town’s parks process with over 170 we have on the sites we If anybody wishes to and other green spaces. As well as locations to monitor, so the manage, therefore knowing if volunteer with us in the carrying out practical management, the team runs an events programme wildlife audit is a four-year we have gained or lost species future, please send us an and works with many local schools to © Matt Garnham e-mail to parks.services@ engage and inspire the public about ipswich.gov.uk the wildlife Ipswich has to offer. or phone 01473 433998.

Species to look out for this season © Sarah Kilshaw © Sarah Kilshaw

Top left: Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) Above: Waxwings © Matt Garnham (Bombycilla garrulus) Left: Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

Pantaloon Bee 9 Annual Report - April 2017 to March 2018 James Baker

This report gives some and Suffolk Coastal District, The importance of information about the between them contributed volunteers activities of the Greenways around £60,000 towards the People helping us to look Scout Headquarters (next to St Peter’s Project in the 12 month total cost of £110,000 for the after our reserves are the Church), Stoke Park Drive, Ipswich, period, but is by no means year. The remaining amount is life-blood of the Project – Suffolk, IP2 9TH Office: exhaustive. For further effectively the Project team’s without whom we would 01473 433995 greenways.project@ information about any aspect income generation target for struggle to deliver a fraction ipswich.gov.uk of our work or any site, please the year. Achieving this target of what we are currently able www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/ don’t hesitate to contact the has become more and more to. Volunteers from every greenways Project team. difficult each year, as the conceivable background help contributions have not risen in a huge variety of ways, with The Greenways Countryside Project The map below shows the with inflation, whilst our costs everything from practical site exists to protect and enhance the approximate locations of the have. Also, this was the last management work to preparing countryside, landscape and open main nature reserves and green year with the participation and and delivering this wonderful space across an area of about 100 spaces where we worked contribution of Suffolk County magazine! square kilometres in and around the during the year. The pale green Council, so in 2018-19, the town of Ipswich, and home to around shading indicates the original income target will be £15,000 During the 12 month period, one quarter of the population of Suffolk, for the benefit of wildlife and Project boundary as set up in higher still. volunteers have contributed a local people. The project relies on 1994 – in reality, we now work staggering 1942 days of time volunteers to complete much of its over a wider area if required. Contributions from Parish – the equivalent to about nine practical conservation work. Councils and other local full-time staff or more than The Greenways Project is a very How we are funded. community organisations are £100,000 worth if valued at successful and well-established The Project is a long-standing critical to our future, as are Lottery grant rates. partnership between Ipswich Borough partnership between four grants and other sources of Council, Council, local authorities and the wider income. If more funds cannot As every year, this report is Suffolk Coastal District Council and the community. The four Councils be found, the Project may well an opportunity to pass on the local community. – Ipswich Borough, Suffolk have to reduce its activities or thanks of the staff team and County, Babergh District increasingly charge for its work. Joint Advisory Committee to all

Greenways Project Area Map 3 2

4

5 1 3 10 6 8 9 8 10 9 7 7 2 6 5 1 11 5 11 4 4 3 2

6 1 2 15 4 1 3

14 13 6

11 9 8 12

4 10 2 5 1 3 16 7

10 of the great people who have around Ipswich and further out a very wide range of contributed their time to help afield. habitat management work and us in whatever way. construction and maintenance Spring Wood Day was a huge of infrastructure (paths, bridges, Events and public success again, with good signs, fences etc). activities numbers attending despite the We have continued to run a very hot weather! The homely Most of our volunteers start by series of events themed around mix of folk music, woodland helping in this way, and some the ‘Wild Ipswich’ and ‘Wildlife products, guided walks, then branch out to help with Homes’ concepts – providing maypole dancing, woodland making ‘wildlife homes’, or opportunities for local people crafts and other attractions helping with public events, or to make homes for wildlife proved a hit with local people. acting as voluntary leaders etc. in their homes and gardens – Most of the sites we look after including hedgehog houses, The ‘Planet Suffolk’ River clean require work throughout the bird nest boxes and bug homes. up event with BBC Radio year, guided by the seasons – As well as providing genuine Suffolk was also very popular Ipswich MP Sandy Martin was most habitat management work (albeit modest) new habitat with around 70 local people a visitor to Spring Wood Day between October and March in and around the town, this turning out to help clear up showing his support for the and most visitor infrastructure also encourages children parts of the River Gipping path work of Greenways and local work between April and and families to think about and banks through the town. conservation groups. September. Some sites require how they can help wildlife, Divers from Diveline managed only limited work at fixed and to learn some practical to pull out 36 shopping trolleys Practical management of times of year, whilst some construction skills. These events and 25 bikes from beneath the our nature reserves and others require regular work are very much in partnership water, along with countless road green spaces throughout. with Ipswich Wildlife Group cones and two safes – both cut The majority of the volunteer – and in the last few years, open! In addition, almost a full days mentioned above are Some examples of our work thousands of wildlife homes skip of general litter and rubbish spent on managing the wildlife can be seen below and on the have been built and installed was collected and removed. sites that we look after, carrying following page.

List of sites Case Studies

Belstead Brook Park Northern Fringe 1 Spring Wood (LNR) 1 Chestnut Pond, Rushmere St Martlesham Heath – scrub removal, the quick way! 2 Kiln Meadow (LNR) Andrew 3 Millennium Wood (LNR) 2 Grundisburgh Millennium 4 Meadows (LNR) Meadow After several years of working in support of the 5 Ashground Plantation and 3 Lyttleton’s Meadow, Grundisburgh Whitland Close area 4 Kiln Farm Meadow (CWS), Gt Martlesham Conservation Group on the Western 6 Bobbits Lane – upper area Bealings Corridor Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), last 7 Butterfly Ride 5 Fonnereau Way winter we were asked by the management company 8 (LNR) 6 Sidegate Lane School 9 Ellenbrook open space and Playing looking after the site to remove several large areas Field Western Fringe and the River of scrub. On looking at the areas, it quickly became 10 Burnet Meadow and Thorington 1 Alderman Canal (LNR) apparent that even our hard working and dedicated Park area 2 River Path – Stoke Bridge 11 Belstead Meadows 3 River Path – Princes St to West End volunteers would struggle with the quantity to be done! 12 Belstead Lower Meadows (CWS) Rd So a more mechanised solution was required. 13 Thorington Hall Farm area 4 River Path – West End Road 14 Belstead Heath 5 River Path – West End Rd to 15 Bourne Park Handford Rd We decided on using a large flail head on a 15 tonne 16 Belstead Allotments 6 River Path – Handford Rd- excavator, capable of tackling large and small gorse Yarmouth Rd Southern fringe 7 River Path – Yarmouth Rd to scrub. Although the technique seems rather drastic, the 1 Netley Close open space Riverside Road work was done in the winter months when birds are 2 Belmont Road Wood 8 River Path – Boss Hall 3 Braky Wood 9 River Path – ex-Sugar Factory not nesting and most other wildlife is dormant. 4 Lynnbrook Wildlife Area 10 River Path – A14 to Sproughton 11 Churchman Way Eastern Fringe Increasingly, nature conservation organisations 1 Purdis Heath (SSSI), Purdis Farm LNR = Local Nature Reserve are turning to large mechanical solutions to larger 2 Martlesham Heath (SSSI) CWS = County Wildlife Site habitat management tasks as they tend to be the 3 Martlesham Common (CWS) SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest 4 Mill Stream (LNR), Rushmere St most cost effective and often lower impact that Andrew you might imagine. The pressure put on the ground 5 Sandlings, (LNR), by this machine is relatively low due to the wide 6 Warren Heath (CWS) tracks spreading the load. Gorse growth seems to be 7 Farthing Wood, Kesgrave increasing over the last few years, thought to be driven 8 Long Strops Pond, Kesgrave 9 Cedarwood Green, Kesgrave by changes in our climate – warmer, wetter winters 10 Legion Green, Kesgrave extend the growing season whilst increased pollution 11 Copleston School in the air falls in rain, often having a fertilising effect, encouraging yet more growth.

11 2017/18 Annual Report continued Case Studies continued

Meadow management Alderman Canal – partnership with the Police – Through the months of September, October and dealing with antisocial behaviour November, our teams spend the majority of their time This Local Nature Reserve, right in the heart of town, mowing and raking wildflower meadow areas on most has often sadly been beset with antisocial behaviour of our reserves. Meadows require management in order problems over the years. Recently the reserve has to maximise their wildlife value – if left untouched a been targeted by drug dealers and users, trying to find meadow would quickly tend to become covered in scrub somewhere central but not well covered by CCTV and and then larger trees until after a few years it would regular patrols. begin to resemble a woodland! So annual cutting after seeds have set and dispersed is vital – and the cuttings Last winter we worked closely with the Police and other need to be removed to prevent the build-up of ‘thatch’ agencies to open up areas of the site that were being and increased nutrient levels as cut material breaks abused, to allow passive surveillance. We are always down. So that’s where the volunteers come in! On sites careful and clear that this work must not adversely affect where machinery cannot fit or is inappropriate, we use important wildlife habitat or species, so time the work pedestrian reciprocating blade mowers to cut the hay, carefully and limit the extent in any one year. Sadly, this which can then be raked up into ‘windrows’ and pitch- work is likely to be part of our ongoing management of forked onto habitat piles. It’s a labour-intensive job, but the site into the future. sociable and largely unchanged for hundreds of years!

River path clearing adjacent to the former sugar Mill Stream LNR path improvements factory site Thanks to funding from local County Councillor The river path through the old sugar factory site at Stuart Lawson, Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council Sproughton is a recorded public footpath and as such were able to ask Greenways to carry out various needs to be kept open for people to use on foot. With access improvements in this reserve and at the nearby the factory site having been in the hands of the Official Sandlings LNR. Our volunteer teams re-surfaced tracks Receiver for several years, tree growth from the site had and paths, installed staggered barriers to slow cyclists, started to impede safe use of the path. Once the site was and drained wet paths. After a few problems bedding purchased by Ipswich Borough Council, they were keen in (thanks to very wet weather at the time of laying) to improve access along the path, so we were asked the surfacing material has blended in and formed a to clear back overgrowing vegetation, fallen trees and smoother, drier, firmer surface. Most of these works were bramble to make a safer, wider path available. This was along the Jubilee walk route around the Parish, linking done in the winter to minimise disturbance to wildlife, the nature reserves and other green spaces and corridors and made it possible for future path improvements to – a popular local walk. be carried out. The volunteers spent several days on site in the winter – being a linear feature, it took up to 20 minutes just to walk from one end to the other!

12 2017/18 Annual Report continued Out and about with IWG Colin Hullis IWG in the Parks As usual, members of the Summertime and the school group have been keeping up holidays is always a busy time the good conservation activity for IWG. We get involved with over the past few months by other organisations arranging getting involved in valuable events in the Ipswich parks. practical management work and spreading the This year we have taken our environmental message to all pagodas and all the necessary and sundry. equipment and materials for our Willdife Homes project to IWG at the Suffolk Show family events in Chantry Park, Back in May we had a great Holywells Park and Bramford opportunity to reach a massive © Lilly Baker Road Recreation Ground. audience at the Suffolk Show. These events are mostly in Invited by Suffolk Wildlife Trust Hazel fence under construction at Hillside School conjunction with Ipswich into their wildlife area for the Borough Council Rangers, second year, we received a Community Garden organised IWG’s Gerry Donlon), a Greenways Countryside Project terrific response to our Wildlife by Active Lives. Magic Show, brass band and a and Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Homes project, helping over tour of the Garden’s beehives. 300 visitors to make and take This is a truly community It’s a great day out - make a home boxes for birds, bugs event celebrating the note for next year in mid-July. and hedgehogs. All thanks excellent work of those to the Greenways and IWG volunteers who run the IWG and Water Voles volunteers who manned the Community Garden for the In July, IWG members Lydia stand. benefit of so many people. Woods and Colin Hullis joined ecologist Margaret Regnault and Suffolk Wildlife Trust ecologist Alison Looser on a water vole survey of part of Belstead Brook.

The purpose of the SWT survey is to help evaluate whether 15 years of mink trapping across the county has had a positive impact on Suffolk’s riparian water vole populations. The survey was to record signs of water vole, otter and mink as Chair: Ray Sidaway 01473 259104 well as assess any changes in www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/iwg habitat quality. facebook.com/ipswichwildlifegroup Ipswich Wildlife Group is a registered Over 300 visitors to our stand at the Suffolk Show The stretch covered was from charity, relying entirely on volunteers, Bobbits Lane car park to the that promotes interest in, and conser- IWG at school Our involvement is bringing junction with Stoke Park Drive, vation of, wildlife and habitats in and We have also continued our our Wildlife Homes activities an area that was not easily around Ipswich. contact with local schools and to visitors and this year we accessible to say the least. were pleased to be asked back had considerable competition However there was frequent to Hillside Primary to help from other attractions and regular evidence of water IWG in the Autumn with more development of including, a drumming vole droppings and several And the diary is filling for their wildlife area. workshop, story telling (with footprints left by otters. the next few months with events for the Whitton This time we helped build a Youth Partnership, the WI at barrier to fence off the wildlife Gainsborough Library, the area from the main playing Forest School Cambridge field. As ever, pupils were keen Drive and with Greenways to get involved helping with on Martlesham Common. We the hazel poles and making have also arranged a guided bird boxes that were sited tour around the Jubilee amongst the trees. Walk LNR, Rushmere for all members. See Events Diary IWG at the Big Garden for details. All this in addition Party to our regular monthly work For the past five years we parties, in Spring Wood and have been invited to be part Alderman Canal and on of the Big Garden Party at our allotment - see Regular Maidenhall Allotments and The Maidenhall Big Garden Party in full swing Events for details. 13 Removing nature from our lives Reg Snook

It was tragic that some mindless vandal new edition featured, attachment, block heavily in any essay I was asked to write thought it was amusing to torch the graph, blog, broadband, bullet-point, for my homework. Perhaps also that Education Hut in Christchurch Park’s celebrity, chat-room, cut and paste, could be an explanation as to why the orchard last year. MP3 player and voice-mail. When the education hut was razed to the ground. Head of Children’s Dictionaries at Perhaps the arsonist had Yes, on reflection it was inevitable as OUP was asked why ‘nature’ no idea what nature is the hut was out of sight as well as being words were deleted and cared even less. made of very combustible material. The she explained Or could it be that the idea, however, of educating youngsters “that the person with matches from nearby schools about nature was in his possession in indeed praiseworthy. When I was a the Park was just schoolboy learning about the natural a vandal and world was part of the curriculum and typical of many we were encouraged to bring items to who seem school where they were displayed on a to be set on large table in the classroom – identified destruction? and labelled. Mind you the majority of teachers at Priory Heath Primary

School knew a lot about the surrounding © Joseph Hullis countryside.

dictionary needed to reflect the consensus Friends of Christchurch Park experience of modern- Secretary: Sylvia Patsalides 07971 467042 day childhood because Membership Secretary: Robert Fairchild nowadays the environment has The most beautiful Kingfisher can still be 01473 254255 changed.” Oh dear! observed in Christchurch Park (if you are www.focp.org.uk Follow us on Facebook@ astute) but not in the Oxford University Press Christchurch Park and Twitter@ChristchurchPk Yes, we live in an ever-changing Children’s Dictionary

environment where the ‘wild’ The sole purpose of the Friends Group is to help look after the Park for the public good, and to countryside is forever shrinking due promote its welfare. Anyone who shares this aim to the requirement for new housing. is welcome to join. For a small annual fee of £10 However, with the creation of more you can join in Friends activities all year round, wildlife reserves and the ever popular If this experience is anything to go by including Illustrated talks and discussions, Guided TV programmes on the countryside and then sadly many who write about nature Park walks and Practical conservation work. You wildlife, I would have thought there was are out of touch with today’s world. I will also receive an informal seasonal newsletter. no need at all to try and eradicate from a realise that us older naturalists have a dictionary words which are commonly in wealth of experience when nature walks I mention this because I have just read use in the world of nature today. and talks were part and parcel of going a book entitled Landmarks by Robert to school. MacFarlane which was a Sunday Times How often do we see kingfishers on best-seller. The author is fascinated by TV programmes surely one of the I find the removal of these nature words the connection between literature and most photographed birds of all due from the dictionary truly alarming. I also landscape and his book explores the its fabulous colouring? Perhaps many realise, as I have said many times before, linguistic and literary terrain from all modern children have little idea of what that Christchurch Park is a people’s over Great Britain including Suffolk. a ‘conker’ is but do know the form of a park where thousands go to enjoy One particular paragraph was in my kingfisher. Likewise the word ‘pasture’ its amenities, especially its summer opinion astonishing. A sharp-eyed reader might be a difficult word for modern activities. Amongst those, nature lovers of the Oxford Junior Dictionary had children but surely many of them will are in a minority and we accept that but noticed that certain words pertaining be aware of the word ‘otter’, or am I we are always striving to protect wildlife to the countryside had been ‘culled’. deluding myself? Perhaps I am reflecting whether it is found in our gardens, our When questioned about this Oxford too much on my own childhood when parks or in the countryside. University Press revealed a list of words all of these deleted words featured that it felt were no longer relevant to We do not need those in responsible modern-day childhood. The deletions positions eradicating nature seemingly included: acorn, adder, ash, beech, we live in an ever-changing at a stroke. Luckily, in the opposite bluebell, buttercup, catkin, conker, direction, some primary school pupils cowslip, cygnet, dandelion, fern, hazel, environment where the are able to enjoy ‘forest days’ whereby heather, heron, ivy, kingfisher (sometimes ‘wild’ countryside is they can enjoy and appreciate the great still seen in Christchurch Park), lark, outdoors, get messy and even may need mistletoe, nectar, newt, otter, pasture forever shrinking... to use some of the words eliminated and willow. The words included in the from the OUP Children’s dictionary. 14 And all for the sake of my little nut tree Robin Gape Chair of FoHP

The other day I was reminded that circumstances, including stony ground. my garden has a four to five metre tall The cobnut cultivars seem not to be self- cobnut tree, a cultivated hazelnut. It’s fertile, but require, in general, wild hazel clearly quite old, might well be of the to be present to ensure pollination. variety ‘Frizzled Filbert’ but still bears fruit, which may be related to nearby Hazel and cobnuts attract squirrels, which planted hazel bushes. So a good question can be a serious problem for commercial is, Should we plant a cob tree in the growing, less so if there is only the odd orchard at Holywells Park and if so, which tree in a garden or orchard. As well as variety? the nut providing food for dormice, hazel leaves are food for the caterpillars Traditionally, a Suffolk farm orchard would of various moths, including the Great be likely to be associated with a small Emerald. Wood Pigeons and Jays are number of cobnut trees, grown as a cash amongst the birds which benefit from the crop. According to the Kentish Cobnuts nuts. Even a cultivated tree has wildlife Association, just before the First World value, both as food and as shelter. War in the UK there were over 7,000 acres (nine square miles, 28 square kilometres) So, should the orchard adopt a small of cobnut plats under cultivation. By number of cobnut trees, and if so, which the middle of the 20th century, that had varieties? There is a lot more information dropped to 730 acres (about a square mile, available from the Kentish Cobnuts three square kilometres) and by 1990 a Association and Suffolk Traditional mere 250 acres (a third of a square mile, Orchards Group (now part of Orchards about one square kilometre) remained. The East) and especially their advice note STOGAN 6 “Cobnuts in Suffolk”, which Cobnut tree in domestic garden lists five varieties currently extant.

Today, most of the world’s hazelnut production comes from Turkey, but Southern England, Kent and Suffolk included, once did its bit for food miles. A thought for the next bite of hazelnut chocolate! Friends of Holywells Park Meanwhile, the Friends have been The Group aims to work in partnership contemplating the environmental, with Ipswich Borough Council to improve conservation, and heritage issues and promote the Park. associated with the proposed Upper Contact: [email protected] Hazelnut or possibly cobnut Orwell Crossings and the impact of the www.holywellspark.org.uk proposed schemes upon Holywells Park facebook.com/holywellsparkipswich nuts are cropped green from mid-August and its surroundings, and especially or so, which was the traditional cash crop, the full river crossing. Besides the likely to consideration, nor has any structured or later as they harden. Early cropping visual impact of the bridge structure as amelioration been proposed. In late news, minimised crop loss! seen from Holywells Park, there would Suffolk County Council have temporarily be direct impacts from local pollution by paused the project whilst the likely costs Thankfully for a county with a great deal of noise, vibration, light, noxious gases and are reviewed. sandy heathland, cobnuts grow well in free particulates. To date, the planning process draining conditions, but can adapt to other seems not to have taken these concerns in

Wild hazel hedge, planted, showing nuts and Green cobnuts on the tree spider 15 Birdlife in the long, hot summer Tim Kenny

Here in Ipswich we live in one of the driest and sunniest parts of the country, and it is often said that there are parts of the Negev Desert in Israel that see more rain than we do. I must get round to checking the veracity of that particular fact one day, but for now it will do as an indication of just how dry Suffolk, and East Anglia in general, actually is. It’s always important to provide fresh water for our avian friends, but particularly so when the mercury hits the mid-thirties degrees Celsius as it has done

Dartford Warblers were in danger from heath fires Ipswich Local Group frequently this past summer. of nightjars, that enigmatic astonishment I saw something Group Leader Tim Kenny denizen of the sandling heath. I’d never seen before; four of Tel 01394 809236 [email protected] What effect the heatwave On previous trips there had the Jovian moons, lined up www.rspb.org.uk/groups/Ipswich will have on bird populations been no signs of resident around the planet’s equator. remains to be seen, but they Dartford warblers, and we Sometimes nature’s wonders Ipswich RSPB Local Group is for everyone will have had the maximum had suspected that the ‘Beast are not of this earth! A interested in birds and other wildlife in time to find food (birds of prey from the East’, coming so late telescope was set up for all the Ipswich area and beyond. Come in particular won’t hunt in wet in the winter, had done for to view. In the still summer along to our indoor talks, held monthly weather). On the downside them. So how gratifying it was evening, it was quite magical. between September to April at Rushmere there is a real risk of young to hear three singing males St Andrew Church Hall, or (throughout birds expiring in the heat if holding territory, although Also around midsummer I the year), get out and experience nature remaining irritatingly unseen. first hand on one of our regular field they are unable to find shade. I attended an informative talk meetings, visiting some of the best spots always believe nature remains These birds are at the very by Edward Jackson of the for wildlife in the area. Three times a in balance and that, in the northern edge of their range Save Our Swifts project. This year the ‘Orwell Observer’, keeps readers long term, this summer won’t in England and they are very most aerial of species has abreast of the latest developments have a particularly detrimental susceptible to harsh winters; declined worryingly in the last at nearby RSPB Reserves as well as effect on population trends. in 1963, after the famously two decades, but there are news of Group activities, along with harsh winter of that year, the things we can do, including members’ photographs and accounts of Two days before midsummer British population was down erecting nest boxes and asking birding exploits from home and abroad. the group made its annual to just ten pairs. This year constructors to install swift Membership costs £3 per year (£1 for venture out to Upper Hollesley the main danger could well bricks giving the birds spaces Juniors). For more information see the be heath fires as the tinder Events Diary in this magazine, visit our Common, near Woodbridge. to breed in. If you missed it, website or write as per details above. The primary reason for this dry gorse is vulnerable to Edward is giving the talk to trip is to get our yearly fix the smallest ignition source. our group on Thursday 13th Fingers crossed that the September, see Events Diary. Dartfords make it through and successfully raise the next Recently I was volunteering generation. at Minsmere during the rainy, windy interval to the heatwave, At around 9.30pm the male and the swift passage, forced nightjars started their ethereal low by the inclement weather, churring song, and one bird numbered in the hundreds. perched atop a pine tree giving And they were all heading us fine, if silhouetted, views. south; swifts stay with us These birds head back south between early May and early to Africa after a summer that August, and they are among will certainly have suited the the earliest departing species. flying insects upon which Combining that with the they feed. As the light got too migratory wading birds already dim to see, I happened to on their way south from the train my binoculars on Jupiter, high Arctic is a sure sign that Nightjar in evening silhouette clear in the night sky. To my Autumn is on the way. 16 Purdis Heath SSSI news Julian Dowding

Purdis Heath SSSI went up for sale to the butterfly’s emergence, from recently for offers in excess of £100,000. predators, especially parasitic wasps, Hopefully Butterfly Conservation and in return the larvae and pupae of volunteers will be invited to continue the butterfly provide a sweet sugary with their conservation work there with secretion upon which the ants feed. the new owner(s). It has after all been a major success story, and much work has Woodlarks breeding at Purdis been provided there over the course of Habitat has been created for nesting many years. birds both within the centre of the site and around the woodland edge. This Butterfly Conservation Our main focus has been the increase year for the fourth year in a row, we’ve Saving butterflies, moths and our environment of the rare Silver-studded Blue (whose been blessed with breeding Woodlarks. Membership Secretary numbers across Suffolk are shrinking). A family of five was seen feeding 01379 643665 This year numbers counted ‘on transect’ together on two of our protected scrapes www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk reached 99, the highest for many years on the southern section of the heath. email: [email protected] and it’s clear that certainly many more We’ve also had another good year for Butterfly Conservation is dedicated to saving wild than 100 SSB’s were present at the breeding Nightingale, Garden Warbler, butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout peak of the season. It is important that Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap the UK. All Butterfly Conservation members who live in Suffolk are automatically members of the the species’ future is secured by any and Linnet. Nightingale numbers were branch and receive our newsletter, the Suffolk new management regime. We have a little down on last year but the site Argus, three times a year. The Suffolk branch is also worked hard for other still holds a very good population with run by volunteers and we would be very pleased including Grayling (another declining five or six males heard singing in May. to hear from you if you would like to get involved. species) and the rare Lunar Yellow Garden Warbler has been a real surprise Underwing moth. Volunteers generally with five heard singing in May. Swifts, contribute over 1,000 hours of work Swallows and House Martins continue to Hadleigh. A female was seen in Brookhill each year, some of which includes moth feed above the site and this year a pair of Wood near the Nuffield Hospital in surveying at night. Hobbies were seen catching dragonflies Ipswich last year, and Adrian Richards on the eastern side. Recent records of re-visited this year and found two males. Interesting fact: Silver studded Blues Dartford Warbler are hard to substantiate Other good woods for iris around Suffolk and Black Ants have a mutualistic but given this species propensity to include , relationship. Ants protect the SSB at colonise, we would hope that it will and Millennium Wood. By the time you larval and pupal stages right through turn up as a regular breeding bird in the receive this edition of LWN, the Purple

© Phil Corley future. © Julian Dowding We’ve also created habitat for mammals (such as Hedgehog) and reptiles and amphibians (such as Viviparous Lizard and Slow-worm). The site holds an extremely good/excellent population of these reptiles. After David Dowding’s work on Glow-worm a few years ago, the site is recognised as an important one for this species. Certainly, over 20 were counted this year by David Basham and Helen Saunders on one particular night.

Purple Emperor butterfly This species which was considered extinct in Suffolk not so long ago, can now turn up almost anywhere in the county, especially in woodland Emperor season will be long finished but containing a good coverage of Sallow please keep it in mind for next year. The (Salix caprea/Salix cinerea). This year, species is usually on the wing from the it has again been seen in new places end of June (sometimes a little earlier) by dedicated enthusiasts and casual and its flight season is about five weeks, Silver studded blues and ants have a special observers. Stack Wood in Polstead is one lasting pretty much until the end of July relationship such place. Another is Wolves Wood near and sometimes into August.

Suffolk Branch Butterfly Conservation AGM & Members Event – 17th November 2018 Earl Stonham Village Hall 2.30pm Guest speaker: Patrick Barkham, author (Butterfly Isles: A Summer In Search Of Our Emperors and Admirals) and journalist (features writer for The Guardian). We also hold our annual photo competition event at the AGM. More details at www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk/events

17 A year of extreme weather Gi Grieco

From a wildlife point of view the and west, details on how to submit bird weather has been a big talking point in records can be found here: sogonline.org. 2018 - from the start of the year with uk/suffolk-bird-list-recording cold, snowy conditions and ‘the Beast from the East’ to the exceptionally hot Summer field trips and low-rainfall summer. Our two field trips in June were based on seeing Nightjar. We’re lucky to have these Certain species have been hit from amazing birds breeding in Suffolk. There the cold weather with Cetti’s Warbler is nothing better than standing out on a numbers crashing on the Suffolk coast, heathland late evening, on the Suffolk while Kingfishers have been found Sandlings or in the Brecks listening to moribund or dead and subsequently seen their evocative sound, hoping for a close in lower numbers. Early feedback from fly-by when you can hear some of their Barn Owl monitoring suggests 2018 will other calls and wing-clapping display. On be a poor breeding season and this is both trips, Nightjar numbers were down thought to relate to lack of prey, again due compared to previous years. to the weather we had earlier in the year. Once records are submitted and data When standing out in the dark, other assessed we will get a full picture of how wildlife sounds fill the still night, such Marsh Harrier species have fared this year. as the hooting of Tawny Owl and the barking of Muntjac but one species we’ve not encountered for many years and which was a precursor to the main event was Woodcock. Their display, known as roding, occurs as the light starts to fall and they fly in large loops around Membership Secretary Kevin Verlander, an area. You know that soon after, it 9 Heron Close, , IP14 1UR would be time for the Nightjar to show. [email protected] Sadly Woodcock has declined greatly www.sogonline.org.uk as a breeding species and we haven’t Twitter: suffolkbirds1 encountered any on our trips in recent SOG is the Group for people interested in the birds years. This year one member did find a of Suffolk, and provides a network and a voice for roosting congregation of Silver-studded birdwatchers in the county. Blues and we all admired this stunning butterfly, a specialist of the heathland we Data from 2017 has been sent to the were visiting. On the other June trip, to section writers for the Suffolk Bird Report Minsmere, we visited the wetlands before (SBR) that will appear with a systematic heading up on to the heath. We saw some Silver-studded Blue list of species accounts, articles, papers, very smart Black-tailed Godwits and photographs plus a review of the year. Spotted Redshanks and in Bittern Hide, Each year SBR is published around perched in a bush out front, was a Marsh Christmas and gives a comprehensive Harrier that we were pleased to see so view of the birds in the county for the well. previous year. It is important that records and observations are submitted to the Our July field trip was to Redgrave and county recorders. In Suffolk there are Lopham Fen, this is the excellent Suffolk three, covering north-east, south-east Wildlife Trust reserve in the north of the

Fen raft spider

county. The trip is as much to see other wildlife as it is for birds and we weren’t disappointed seeing bountiful butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies as well as a special species for the reserve – Fen Raft Spider. We encountered a few bird species such as Marsh Harrier and Grey Heron but now we look forward to our Spotted Redshank autumn field trips for migrant birds. 18 Volunteering promotes well-being Ann Havard

A clear, warm day in April based on the work of 400 saw the Friends clearing the scientists worldwide may viewing mound in Belstead help to convince you. They Meadows. have identified five ways, all involving the great outdoors, The nettles here were totally that promote well-being: obscuring the view of the 1. Be active: go outside for open water having grown a walk or explore your tall after heavy rain. Pulling nearest nature reserve. nettles is hard work but very 2. Connect: interact with satisfying when you can finally people around you and walk up the path and see the share wildlife experiences. water again. We disturbed a 3. Take notice: observe the snoozing grass snake which everyday wildlife on your gave Dave quite a shock as he doorstep. pulled up what he thought was 4. Keep learning: let nature a handful of nettles but which be your teacher and try then started moving! Great to something new outside. have such a close encounter. 5. Give: do something to help your local area and the Spring Wood Day on Monday people who live there. 7th May was the usual busy We’d love to see new faces day with bright sunshine and help at our work parties, so full of happy people enjoying why not give it a try and do nature on their doorstep. The yourself some good at the Friends set up their gazebo same time. with the old fashioned Maggie and her painting children’s activity of printing with cut potatoes. Ann had to view the wildlife on the fair bit of the path of nettles, pre-cut the spuds into various open water without being brambles, field maple and shapes and encouraged the seen themselves. No snake hazel. We were careful to children to draw around their this time but several spiders leave over-hanging branches hand and wrist to make a tree scurrying about with a ‘sack’ higher up for the arboreal trunk. They then decorated of spiderlings underneath their dormouse and it was good to Friends of Belstead Brook Park the fingers or branches with bodies. see their favourite food – hazel www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/fobbp the potatoes dipped in various nuts beginning to ripen on the Email: [email protected] brightly coloured paints. One Despite the serious lack of trees. Facebook: www.facebook.com/fobbp budding artist, Maggie, made rain for about two months, the Friends of Belstead Brook Park a really lovely tree and all the vegetation never seems to stop If you are wondering whether (FoBBP) was set up in 2002 to help children enjoyed painting. growing and in July we tackled or not nature conservation look after the 250 acres of informal country park on the south-western the Grove Hill work or fringe of Ipswich. The group runs Unfortunately, the nettles end of the volunteering practical work parties, helps raise on the viewing mound in A14 tree belt We’d love to see is for you, funds for improvements and acts as Belstead Meadows never rest path. With a new faces help at then Research ‘eyes and ears’, passing information and had grown tall again, so record nine by the New back to the Greenways Project. we set to work once more volunteers our work parties... Economics in June to enable people we cleared a Foundation

Our nine volunteers tackled the woodland path...... and what an improvement! 19 Going truly wild in Ipswich Lucy Shepherd SWT Ipswich Wild Learning Officer

I am lucky to be based One way was to take part in around the town’s fantastic The Wildlife Trusts national network of beautiful and campaign ‘30 Days Wild’, a historic parks and wild month long nature challenge spaces. With this in mind, asking people to do something myself and fellow Ipswich- wild every day in June. We based colleague Ali North, started with a night safari in considered how we can Holywells Park with pipistrelle go truly wild in Ipswich bats and tawny owls. Our showcasing the wonderful adventures have taken us to urban wildlife the town has , teeming with stag to boast. beetles and Purdis Heath to

More data for the PTES Stag beetle survey

search for glow worms, then to It is an exciting time for SWT Chantry park to climb a cedar in Ipswich as we continue to tree and to the river in town to host learning activities and ogle at gooseberry and moon community events across the jellyfish. town inspiring children and adults alike. We are looking Many people joined us forward to continuing our wild and recorded what they experiences into the winter were seeing contributing to months and hope you can join important data bases such as us along the way. More infor- PTES stag beetle survey and mation from ipswich.educa- A glow worm hunt the UK glow worm survey. [email protected]

Ipswich Hedgehog Highways Ali North SWT Ipswich Hedgehog Officer

Helping hedgehogs is easy – by creating linked gardens. Wild A hedgehog-sized hole, log piles, wildflower patches and reduced mowing will all help. Ipswich These ‘Hedgehog Highways’ All the conservation organisations will ensure hedgehogs have working together to inspire local the area needed to survive and people to help wildlife throughout the will help keep them away from town and beyond. hazardous roads. www.wildipswich.org Will you let us make a hedgehog-sized hole in your garden fence, gate or wall? Our Ipswich hedgehog We have drills available that project is making a network can make holes in walls of hedgehog-friendly streets and fences, for creating across the town, linking Hedgehog Highways. Barnes hedgehogs offer drilling days – these are examples of the holes together green spaces Hedgehog Champions provide created. The first 50 holes made in Ipswich will receive a free Hedgehog like parks, allotments and free drilling days in their Highway plaque. cemeteries. It aims to enthuse local neighbourhoods! They neighbourhoods to take invite neighbours to book to borrow our kit to offer the don’t have the tools needed? actions in their own gardens an appointment using our same service? Or would you Email me at hedgehogs@ and streets. postcards. Would you like like to have holes created but suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Our ‘Making Ipswich the most hedgehog friendly town in the UK’ project is a 2 year project funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and British Hedgehog Preservation Society. More information about our project and how you can get involved can be found here: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/hedgehogs-action.

20 Urban Buzz Ipswich - half way there David Dowding

Urban Buzz Ipswich is a community conservation project, to create and enhance 100 sites for pollinators spanning 25 hectares across Ipswich.

Reaching the midway point of the project I have now completed 48 sites. This consists of 17 town parks and nine nature reserves, seven community areas, three roadsides verges, three allotments, four schools, three business grounds and a sea wall. Of these 48, there have been 30 grassland improvements, the remainder a mixture of hedgerows, orchards, woodland and formal plantings, bee banks and ponds. who have been creating a leading the way with nature Borough Council and Suffolk large wildlife area at the conservation in Ipswich, Wildlife Trust through a range A before (March) and after edge of their playing fields. regularly working with of projects. (July) photo of Sidegate school, This school is very much Greenways, Buglife, Ipswich

Breeding Swift Success Chris Courtney

For the second year running the year they are essentially I have successfully attracted African birds. swifts to breed in specially designed boxes on the north- A couple of my neighbours Wild facing front of my Ipswich have also put up some boxes house. There are nest boxes which this year resulted in Ipswich for six pairs plus a further more successful breeding five holes where I have and has given rise to large All the conservation organisations removed the covers from ‘screaming parties’ tearing working together to inspire local ventilation holes under the down the street on the warm people to help wildlife throughout the soffits. summer evenings. For more town and beyond. info or advice on nest boxes www.wildipswich.org As last year, there have been please email chrisc.courtney@ at least three pairs actively yahoo.co.uk One of the Ipswich boxes in use breeding. This year another 5-6 pairs, have been seen going into all of the other nest boxes and several of the soffit ventilation holes.

I suspect several of these will be younger pairs who typically put in claims for nest sites for the following year when they will hopefully return as mature birds. Swifts pair-bond for life but don’t breed until their fourth year.

I feel truly privileged to have these amazing but now sadly officially endangered birds visiting us for just three brief months, as for the rest of Young swift siblings look out at the world 21 For events covering a broader range of environmental issues go to www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/diary/ Events Diary diary.php

SEPTEMBER Tuesday 18th September 10am RSPB Sunday 21st October 10am - noon Portal Ipswich Group MIDWEEK WALK Woodlands Conservation Group WORK Saturday 1st September 11am - 3.30pm Holywells Park. Meet at Stable Block MORNING Greenways MARTLESHAM COMMON off Cliff Lane TM176432. Leader Kathy All ages welcome no need to book. Meet OPEN DAY Reynolds 01473 714839. at the Education Area. For details contact Guided walks on wildlife and history, pwcg.onesuffolk.net ‘wildlife homes’ and other children’s Wednesday 26th September 7.30pm activities, and the chance to see heathland Suffolk Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK Wednesday 24th October 7.30pm Suffolk species up close – especially butterflies, Matthew Rooney - ‘How Mushrooms Can Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK moths and reptiles. More information Save the Planet’. Museum Street Methodist Will Cranstoun - Lackford Lakes. Will is from the Greenways Project james.baker@ Church, Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich IP1 2EF. the SWT West Suffolk reserves manager at ipswich.gov.uk 01473 433995 A charge of £2.50 includes tea or coffee. Lackford Lakes. Museum Street Methodist

© Lydia© Woods There is disabled access. Church, Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich IP1 2EF. A charge of £2.50 includes tea or coffee. Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th September There is disabled access. Suffolk Ornithologists Group OUTDOOR EVENT Saturday 27th October 8am Suffolk Orford Ness (National Trust) Reserve. Ornithologists Group OUTDOOR EVENT Some places available to stay overnight Autumn Open Morning at Landguard on Saturday in self-catering dormitories. Bird Observatory. Meet at main car park, Current entrance fees will apply. Map Ref: View Point Road, Felixstowe. Map Ref: TM425495. Leaders: Gi Grieco and Eddie TM284319. Leader: Nigel Odin. For details Bathgate. For further details and to reserve contact Gi Grieco. Tel. 07951 482547. your place, contact Gi Grieco. Tel. 07951 482547. Saturday 8th September 9am Suffolk NOVEMBER Ornithologists Group OUTDOOR EVENT Fingringhoe Wick. Meet at visitor centre OCTOBER Thursday 8th November 7.30pm RSPB car park, South Green Road. Map Ref: Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING TM048193. Leader: Ashley Gooding. Tel. Thursday 11th October 7.30pm RSPB ‘Australia North and South’ Bill Coster, 07808 044611. Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING wildlife photographer. Sponsored by Alder ‘Unwrapping Raptors’ David Darrell- Carr Farm Needham Market. Rushmere St Sunday 9th September 10am RSPB Ipswich Lambert, ornithologist and past Chair of Andrew Church Hall, The Street, Rushmere Group FIELD MEETING London Bird Club. Sponsored by ‘Mind the IP5 1DH. Details from Tim Kenny 01394 Minsmere for seasonal birds and wildlife. Crustacean - the Best Band You’ve Never 809236. Meet at Visitor Centre. 5 - 6 hours easy Heard Of’. Rushmere St Andrew Church walking. Leader Tim Kenny 01394 809236. Hall, The Street, Rushmere IP5 1DH. Tuesday 13th November 10am RSPB Details from Tim Kenny 01394 809236. Ipswich Group MIDWEEK WALK Thursday 13th September 7.30pm RSPB Bourne Bridge area and Park. Meet at Bourne Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING Saturday 13th October 11am - 2pm Friends Park car park, Bourne Bridge entrance. Edward Jackson of ‘Save Our Swifts’ of Holywells Park APPLE DAY Leader Kathy Reynolds 01473 714839. project. Sponsored by A W Hart Builders. Come and enjoy freshly pressed apple juice Rushmere St Andrew Church Hall, The and apples galore. Fun for all the family in Street, Rushmere IP5 1DH. Details from the Park Orchard. Free event, all welcome. Tim Kenny 01394 809236. For more information email fohpipswich@ gmail.com Saturday 15th September 8.30am Suffolk Ornithologists Group OUTDOOR EVENT Sunday 14th October 7.30am Suffolk Shingle Street and Hollesley Marsh. Meet at Ornithologists Group OUTDOOR EVENT Coastguard Cottages. (Long walk possible). Thorpeness – Birdtrack in the Field. Meet Map Ref: TM369431. Leader: Steve Fryett. by Dolphin Inn, Old Homes Road. Map Tel. 01394 383413 Ref: TM472598. Leader: Scott Mayson Tel. 01394 385595. Saturday 15th September 9am - 11am Saturday 17th November 9am Suffolk Portal Woodlands Conservation Group Sunday 14th October 10am RSPB Ipswich Ornithologists Group OUTDOOR EVENT NATURE EXPLORERS 11 to 18 year olds. Group FIELD MEETING The Naze. Meet at visitor centre car park, Meet at the Education Area. Booking RSPB Hollesley Marsh and River Ore for South Green Road. Map Ref: TM265234. essential, please email pwcg.martlesham@ waders and Autumn birds. Meet at car park Leader: Ashley Gooding. Tel. 07808 044611. gmail.com TM370448. 2 - 3 hours. Leader Stephen Marginson 01473 258791. Saturday 17th November 9am - 11am Portal Saturday 15th September 9am to noon. Woodlands Conservation Group NATURE Greenways Countryside Project RIVER Tuesday 16th October 10am RSPB Ipswich EXPLORERS 11 to 18 year olds. Meet at the CLEAN-UP Group MIDWEEK WALK Education Area. Booking essential, please River clean-up along the tidal reach in the Pipers Vale. Meet at car park at Vale email [email protected] town, as part of the Marine Conservation entrance TM178419.Leader Kathy Reynolds Society Beach-clean weekend. Join 01473 714839. Saturday 17th November 9.30am RSPB Greenways and Ipswich Wildlife Group Ipswich Group FIELD MEETING to remove large items from the tidal river Saturday 20th October 10am Ipswich River Deben at Melton for winter wildfowl between Stoke Bridge and the station. Meet Wildlife Group JUBILEE WALK and waders. Meet at Melton Riverside car near the skate park at Stoke Bridge. Contact A guided walk with James Baker manager of park TM288503. Leader Stephen Marginson Greenways 01473 433995 for more details. the Greenways Countryside Project around 01473 258791. this Local Nature Reserve at Rushmere St Saturday 15th September 10am - noon Andrew. The two mile route brings together Saturday 17th November 10am - noon Portal Woodlands Conservation Group the Sandlings and Mill Stream LNR’s. Meet Portal Woodlands Conservation Group WORK MORNING at the Reserve entrance in Bixley Drive off WORK MORNING All ages welcome no need to book. Meet Foxhall Road near the Water Tower. More All ages welcome no need to book. Meet at the Education Area. For details contact details from James Baker 07736 826076 at the Education Area. For details contact pwcg.onesuffolk.net [email protected] pwcg.onesuffolk.net

22 Saturday 17th November 2.30pm Suffolk Sunday 2nd December 10am Suffolk Branch Butterfly Conservation AGM and Ornithologists Group OUTDOOR EVENT MEMBERS EVENT Lackford and Lakenheath. Meet at Lackford Earl Stonham Village Hall. Guest speaker SWT car park. (Long walk possible – finish Patrick Barkham, author and journalist. We at Lakenheath Fen for dusk raptor roost). also hold our annual photo competition Map Ref: TL800705. Leader: Ivan Lockwood. at the event. More details on www. For details contact Gi Grieco. Tel. 07951 suffolkbutterflies.org.uk/events 482547.

Sunday 18th November 10am- 3.30pm Saturday 8th December 9.30am Suffolk Greenways Countryside Project Ornithologists Group OUTDOOR EVENT and Islands’ with Tim Kenny. Sponsored by MEGABASH Holbrook, River Stour. Meet at Lower Ipswich Microwave Centre. Rushmere St Belstead Brook Park part 1. Join Greenways Holbrook car park, (Long walk possible). Andrew Church Hall, The Street, Rushmere and other groups to make a real difference Map Ref: TM177350. Leader: Steve Fryett. IP5 1DH. Details from Tim Kenny 01394 in the Park – coppicing in Spring Wood, Tel. 01394 383413. 809236. Millennium Wood and Kiln Meadow. Includes a bonfire and baked potatoes! Saturday 8th December 10am - 3.30pm Sunday 16th December 10am - noon Portal Meet at Bobbits Lane Car Park. Contact Greenways Countryside Project MEGABASH Woodlands Conservation Group WORK Greenways 01473 433995 for more Belstead Brook Park part 2. Join Greenways MORNING information. and other groups to make a real difference All ages welcome no need to book. Meet in the Park – clearing scrub in Kiln Meadow at the Education Area. For details contact Wednesday 28th November 7.30pm Suffolk and Bobbits Lane Meadows etc. Includes a pwcg.onesuffolk.net Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK bonfire and baked potatoes! Meet at Marbled Tim Kenny - Wildlife of the Galapagos White Drive entrance to Kiln Meadow Tuesday 18th December 10am RSPB Islands. Museum Street Methodist Church, Contact Greenways 01473 433995. Ipswich Group MIDWEEK WALK Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich IP1 2EF. A charge Christchurch Park. Meet at Soane Street of £2.50 includes tea or coffee. There is Wednesday 12th December 7.30pm Suffolk entrance TM165448. Leader Kathy disabled access. Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK Reynolds 01473 714839. David Healey - Shorebirds of the British Isles. Museum Street Methodist Church, DECEMBER Blackhorse Lane, Ipswich IP1 2EF. A charge JANUARY of £2.50 includes tea or coffee. There is Saturday 1st December 9.30am RSPB disabled access. Wednesday 23rd January 2019 7.30pm Ipswich Group FIELD MEETING Suffolk Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK River Orwell Freston for winter wildfowl Thursday 13th December 7.30pm RSPB Anne and Dennis Kell - Natural History and waders. Meet at Freston Hill upper lay- Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING of the Falkland Islands. Museum Street by TM175400. 2 - 3 hours. Leader Stephen Christmas Social Evening with ‘bring and Methodist Church, Blackhorse Lane, Marginson 01473 258791. share buffet’ and ‘Scotland - Highlands Ipswich IP1 2EF. There is disabled access. Regular Events

THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 10.30am THURSDAYS 10am Greenways maintaining footpaths and making these - 1pm SPRING WOOD WORK PARTY CONSERVATION WORK PARTY splendid waterways areas to be proud of. Join Ipswich Wildlife Group and Friends of A smaller group than on Tuesday, but operates Meet at Bibb Way alongside Alderman Road Belstead Brook Park for a morning of work in the same way – please see details above for recreation ground. More information from in the wood. Meet at the field gate at top Tuesdays Work Party. Ray Sidaway 01473 259104. of bridleway in Kiln Meadow. Details from Gerry Donlon 07733 968481 SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH 8pm FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 10am ‘Green Drinks’ Dove Inn, Ipswich DRINKS Butterfly Conservation WORK PARTY TUESDAYS 10am Greenways AND CHAT (October to March) CONSERVATION WORK PARTY Join us at the Dove Inn for a drink, a chat and a Meet at Purdis Heath to help restore the heath for The Project’s largest weekly work party – bit of networking with other environmentally- the benefit of butterflies and other wildlife. Use carrying out a wide range of practical tasks minded people. Look out for the ‘Green Drinks’ the lay-by in Bucklesham Road. More information across the 50 or so sites that we manage. sign on the table. All welcome. from Helen Saunders [email protected] For all Greenways work parties, volunteers need to be registered via a short informal FRIDAYS 10am Greenways SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH induction prior to joining us – please contact CONSERVATION WORK PARTY 10am - 1pm Friends of Belstead Brook Park us for further details. Work party runs from Another opportunity to work on the 50 or so CONSERVATION WORK PARTY 10am to about 4pm. Contact greenways. sites managed by the Project – please see the Come and join us for a morning working [email protected] or call 01473 details above for Tuesdays Work Party. in the fresh air. For further details visit our 433995. website: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/fobbp THIRD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 10am Ipswich or email [email protected] WEDNESDAYS 10am Friends of Holywells Wildlife Group/Greenways BOX KIT MAKING Park HOLYWELLS PARK WORK PARTY Come and join in making the kits for bird, MOST SATURDAYS 10.30am - 1pm Ipswich Besides doing positive work as part of a hedgehog and habitat boxes for our Wildlife Group Northgate Allotments small team of volunteers your time will be Wildlife Homes project. Only the most WOODCRAFT & WILDLIFE matched by cash from the Lottery enabling rudimentary of woodworking skills needed. Get involved in coppicing and woodland skills further work in the Park. Meet at the Stable Thorington Hall Barn, Bobbits Lane, Ipswich. at the Wildlife area. Call Geoff Sinclair to Block located down the driveway from Cliff More information from Martin Cant 07858 confirm dates 07860 595376 436003 [email protected] Lane. Contact Martin Cant for details 07858 LAST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH 10am 436003 FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 10am - - 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group WILDLIFE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group RIVER WORK ALLOTMENT Friends of The Dales WORK PARTY PARTY Come and lend a hand to help create our Contact Jessica Allen for the details A joint work party with the River Action Group wildlife friendly plot. More information from [email protected]. along Alderman Canal and the River Gipping, Ray Sidaway 01473 259104.

23 Be a part of this year’s BELSTEAD MEGABASH Sunday 18th November 10am- 3.30pm Join Greenways and other groups to make a real difference in the wonderfully wild Belstead Brook Park woodlands and meadows. We will be coppicing in Spring Wood, Millennium Wood and Kiln Meadow. Includes a bonfire and baked potatoes! Meet at Bobbits Lane Car Park.

Saturday 8th December 10am - 3.30pm For this second Megabash we will be clearing scrub in Kiln Meadow and Bobbits Lane Meadows. There will be another bonfire and more baked potatoes! Meet at Marbled White Drive entrance to Kiln Meadow.

Contact Greenways 01473 433995 for more information

Saturday 20th October 10am - 12noon

Jubilee Walk

Ipswich Wildlife Group invite you to join a guided walk with James Baker manager of the Greenways Countryside Project around this Local Nature Reserve at Rushmere St Andrew.

The two mile route brings together the Sandlings and Mill Stream LNR’s.

Meet at the Reserve entrance in Bixley Drive off Foxhall Road near the Water Tower.

More information from [email protected] 07736 826076.

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