Whooo am I? – see page 19 © Paul Sherman

September - December 2020

A news and events Produced by the diary from wildlife and conservation groups in the area Woodland Products and Services from Greenways

Beanpoles, peasticks, firewood logs – bagged or different size loads available and other woodland produce, wildlife homes including hedgehog houses, bird boxes and insect homes. Mobile sawmilling of felled timber to your specification. Woodland, meadow and other habitat management – advice and quotations available.

Products available by appointment from the Greenways Project office on Stoke Park Drive.

Contact [email protected] or 01473 433995 / 07736 826076 to discuss your requirements. All produce from the sustainable management of nature reserves in Ipswich and proceeds to help fund management of the reserves and other wildlife projects.

2 Welcome by James Baker Editor Welcome to the second ‘electronic only’ issue of LWN. As careless and thoughtless use. Litter, in particular, has hit with the last edition, printing the magazine didn’t make the headlines – and it is upsetting for wildlife enthusiasts sense – but we hope to revert to ‘real’ issues in the future and volunteers who look after these sites to see how little if we have the resources to fund printing. We would be respect is shown by a damaging minority of users. Spring really grateful for any comments from readers as to which Wood, in the Belstead Brook Park, a beautiful ancient format you prefer, to help us decide for the future. woodland on the edge of town, has sadly been damaged Inevitably, many of the articles in this issue discuss the by the huge influx of visitors – taking up path edging and habitat piles to make dens; having fires; cutting trees; We would be really grateful for any roaming off paths; letting dogs run freely through habitat comments from readers as to which and leaving litter. It is very clear that we, as wildlife format you prefer ... lovers, still have a long way to go, helping our society to place a higher value on such places.

Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and the effect on us and Hopefully though, once we start to be able to run events, our local wildlife – as you will read, groups have all volunteer work parties and other activities again, there had to cancel their events and members learn a new should be a new, larger and keener audience than before, way of appreciating wildlife on their own and often at and our bedraggled wildlife will have more friends and home. There is no doubt that surrounding ourselves with supporters than before the lockdown! whatever wildlife there is around us has been a vital part of maintaining people’s wellbeing – whilst the encouraged Somewhat ironically, despite green space being vital to daily exercise has led many to better physical health too. survival recently, resources for the management of such places, nationally and locally, are ever reducing (see Like most things, the lockdown has been a double-edged Greenways Project annual report) – so please continue sword – on the one hand, our nature reserves and green to support your local conservation organisations by spaces have seen more visitors than probably ever before, volunteering or by membership. all enjoying relaxing walks, green surroundings and wildlife watching – whilst on the other hand, many sites As in the last edition, I hope you all stay well and carry on have been badly treated and severely damaged due to loving the wildlife around you.

Contents Page Wildlife Trust 4 Greenways Countryside Project 8 Ipswich Wildlife Group 12 Friends of Holywells Park 13 7 12 RSPB Ipswich Local Group 14 Friends of Belstead Brook Park 15 Suffolk Bird Group 16 Portal Woodlands Conservation Group 17 Butterfly Conservation 18 Friends of Christchurch Park 19 Water saving in Ipswich 20 17 18 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 07979 644134 Production Assistant: Lydia Woods Artwork production: Chris Saunders [email protected] Tel 01473 721550 The opinions expressed in Local Wildlife News are not necessarily those of the Greenways Project. 3 A weed that none of us will welcome as a wild ‘flower’? Sheila Roberts Like most people, Covid-19 has given me the opportunity to really get to know my local parks and open spaces and the wealth of wildlife that they host. One of the things I’ve really valued is seeing how the flora and fauna changes with the seasons – from looking out for the first blackthorn blossoms to the slightly melancholy sight of verges and meadows turning brown as autumn approaches.

I’ve been lucky enough to hear a cuckoo and Cetti’s warblers staking out their territory and spotted pyramidal orchids growing on what I always thought of as a barren bit of land next to a housing development.

Ipswich Group Newsletter Chairman: (Vacant) Secretary: Wendy Brown 01473 259674 [email protected] Treasurer: Tony Clarke 01473 741083 [email protected] [email protected]

We are the Ipswich Group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. We offer an interesting range of monthly meetings with guest speakers. Trust members and non-members are equally welcome. During the summer months we offer a variety of trips, some local, others by coach. Details of these and our monthly meetings can be found in our “Dates for your Diary” section or The incessant march of greater horsetail on the website, www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org. little to me – what does matter – the main plant starts off as and a far more useful native is just how much it seems to a rather cute little spiky thing flowering plant. be taking over. that looks for all the world like On a more negative note, a baby Christmas tree. But it Well-known gardening guru walking around my home I’ve noticed for a few years quickly grows into something Bob Flowerdew talks about territory more than I’ve ever now how clumps of this that can be nearly as tall as how one horsetail plant can done has allowed me to notice aggressive plant had become me, shading out pretty much colonise acres of land and is things that I haven’t spotted established in places like every other species. It grows almost impossible to eradicate. before and one of those things Stonelodge and Holywells in a dense, bright green thicket It spreads by underground I’ve noticed does trouble parks. But what my daily that seems to leave no space rhizomes that can grow up to me slightly. It’s the incessant amblings around SW Ipswich for any other species, even 8 feet below the soil level so march of what I think is have shown to me is that it’s shading out nettles. It’s a you can forget trying to dig greater horsetail or Equisetum spreading fast. Not just in the tough, primitive plant that’s it out unless you happen to telmateia across so many of parks but alongside roadside been around since there were have a JCB handy! Regular the green spaces of Ipswich. verges and even in the shrub dinosaurs roaming the earth. mowing or smothering it in I’m no expert so it might be beds of housing estates. Many people mistakenly black plastic are believed to field horsetail – or even a call it marestail – but that’s be ways of slowing it down hybrid but the name matters You might have seen it yourself something completely different and some writers claim certain 4 Around Belstead Brook open space it has, this year, branched out from a patch near the stream to grow towards the nearby back gardens and is now busily colonising Grove Walk on the Belstead House side.

The greater horsetail originates from North America although the smaller field horsetail is a native species. I tried to be charitable and find out if it does have any value to our wildlife and so far I’ve drawn a blank (but I would love to know more from those wiser than I about such matters). Nothing seems to eat the stems and ‘leaves’ (they are poisonous to farm animals) and it doesn’t have

Ipswich Group Newsletter

flowers to support pollinators but sneakily reproduces from spores released by a rather strange looking cone which many mistake for a fungus in early spring.

It has weirdly high levels of silica which explains why it’s been used as a scouring The plants start off looking like baby Christmas trees pad for pots and pewter since Roman times. Traditional medicines claimed weedkillers will work with repeated water table far below – or maybe it just it can stem bleeding – not realising it’s applications over several years but that’s hasn’t read the books. reputed to contain a chemical that can not something we want to see in our affect the heart and nerves. natural environment. In Stonelodge Park I’ve watched how the patch has spread by perhaps a third since I’m usually a firm subscriber to the idea It’s been known to push its way up last year – and that’s despite me stomping that there’s no such thing as a weed – just through pavements and tarmac. It prefers on the new shoots around the edges of a plant growing in the wrong place but damp conditions but I’ve seen it growing the patch to try and halt its march towards I do wonder if horsetails is one of those in very dry soil – which makes me the pond and the beautiful wildflower species that proves me wrong. wonder if those rhizomes are down to the strip sown last year.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group Planned Meeting

Wednesday 27th January 2021 7.30pm Museum Street Methodist Church Peter Maddison (Butterfly Conservation) – Wildlife of Costa Rica

Costa Rica, a small country in Central America, has a great diversity of both habitats and species, from the Caribbean coast, with its turtles, to the cloud forest with its illusive quetzal. There are iguanas, sloths, hornbills and caymans to name just a few.

Come and enjoy this feast of wildlife on what is likely to be a cold winter evening.

Please contact the Secretary nearer the date to check if this meeting can go ahead.

5 S.O.F.T. – Save Our Frogs Team Melvyn Eke SWT Ipswich Group

When I first moved into undergrowth, and over 1000 write a story for his school into my pond and this year, Belstead Road in 1982 a small tadpoles. A real triumph! homework (see below). The in mid-July, hundreds of baby pond was discovered and event for all of us was both frogs were emerging. There it was home to eight to ten The neighbours' six-year- fascinating and rewarding are also two other very local toads. old son Joseph, used the in that it preserved a frog ponds that were stocked with experience to name the event population in a new home. the excess and they now have The following year the original Save Our Frogs Team and Most of the amphibians went strong populations in both. pond was extended to ten times the size and made with a pond liner. The toads had been caught and then returned to their enlarged home, along with lilies and other natural plants. At the same time there was a rescue mission to save

Ipswich Group Newsletter

frogs from marsh land that became buried under the first dock expansion. This all proved very successful and my pond was full of life.

Sadly the frogs out-performed the toads and the toads gradually disappeared over the years.

In the mid 1980's our next door neighbours decided to build a swimming pool and they enjoyed this until they passed away eight years ago. The new neighbours decided to develop the pool area which had now become a huge pond! When I was asked to help move some frogs and tadpoles into my pond to save them, we had no idea of the vast numbers we would find. Following a steady pumping out by grandad and agile net and hand catching of frogs, kitchen sieves were used to catch all the tadpoles. Over two days we saved 150 frogs, one toad, many newts that were returned to the

Message from Michael Strand Suffolk Wildlife Trust Community Fundraising Manager Sadly, face to face groups are unlikely to resume during 2020. Instead the Trust plans to run a series of online wildlife talks during the autumn and winter months. The precise details of these webinars are currently being organised and we will be sending out information on how to access them once the program is complete.

A huge thanks to you and to all our Wildlife Groups for their contribution in making this happen.

6 Wild Lockdown Lucy Shepherd Wild Learning Officer, Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Working out of Ipswich’s green spaces and parks is a normal working day for me, involving searching for urban wildlife and providing people with opportunities through sessions and activities, to become connected to nature. Over the past few months our in-person engagement was put on hold and instead focused on engaging with audiences online.

Over the past few months I have, like many people across the country, turned to my garden to get my daily dose of 'vitamin N' and I have never been more thankful for my own wild space than over these past few months.

Thinking about how to engage with new and existing audiences online, it led me to turn my hand to my own Wild flowers wild projects waiting to be completed. The first was and the best thing was, having refugia over the hot summer making my own wildflower documented the creation and months. patch, digging up the lawn progress of the patch, people in order to make room for all across Ipswich were getting We often tell people if they the new nectar bar. Having in touch telling me that they had to choose one wildlife created many different too had created their own project to take on, then wildflower habitats in Ipswich patch. creating a pond and providing with The Urban Buzz project water is one of the best Brooke House, Ashbocking, Ipswich over the years, creating one Seeing how people got wildlife habitats you can IP6 9JY closer to home is something involved with creating create. I therefore put my 01473 890089 I have wanted to do for some wildflower patches, I then money where my mouth is time, and lockdown provided turned my attentions to and got to doing just this. My [email protected] the perfect opportunity. another project in the hope garden is by no means big so suffolkwildlifetrust.org Watching the native seed turn that people might also be I created a bucket pond out to flower over the past months inspired to do the same and of a recycled tub that I simply and watching pollinators flood made a stag beetle stack. sunk into the ground making joined in to create different to feast on the flowers has Arranging different sized birch sure to sink bricks and stones habitats and take part in their provided me which much joy logs and half burying them in inside to give different aquatic own wild projects or simply the ground, invertebrates opportunities to left their lawns to grow long. provides stag hide, provide shade and lay Thank you all for getting in beetles with eggs and also to give mammals touch and doing your bit for a suitable a place to enter and exit safely wildlife in the town. place to lay and a place for birds to perch eggs and and drink. I hope to see some of you rotten wood back in parks at some of my over time for These new habitats join a sessions in the next few weeks the larvae variety of other habitats and as I hope to return to the to eat once homes in my garden for parks exploring the wildlife hatched. This wildlife, such as hedgehog within them. Keep an eye on will provide highways, different nest boxes our website for upcoming stag beetles, for both birds and bees and sessions and see our wildlife a nationally long grass patches - even a advice pages on how to create endangered small and very urban garden different habitats in your species can be modified to promote garden. with vital wildlife. resources For our social media pages, but will also What has been really search @Suffolk Wildlife Trust provide other heartening over the past in Ipswich for Facebook and Stag beetle stack species with months is how many people @swtipswich for Instagram. 7 Annual Report - April 2019 to March 2020 James Baker Manager, Greenways Countryside Project

This report covers some of Council left, the partnership generate income inevitably what the Greenways Project is between Ipswich Borough means that some work we have has delivered over the Council (the lead authority), traditionally done is no longer Scout Headquarters (next to St Peter’s twelve month period up to Council and possible. Church), Stoke Park Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk, March 2020. Further details East Suffolk Council. The three IP2 9TH Office: of any site or activity can be partners contributed about Volunteers and their 01473 433995 requested from the Project £35,000 between them in the invaluable role [email protected] Team using the contact details year, of the total annual cost Throughout the 26 years of www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/greenways on this page. of around £106,000, with operation, the Greenways twitter: @greenwaysproj additional contributions from Project has been centred instagram & facebook: @greenwaysproject The map shows the IBC and BDC for specific around working with local approximate locations of the site management works. The communities and volunteers. The Greenways Countryside Project nature reserves and green Project team have had to The very small Project team of exists to protect and enhance the spaces that we look after find the remaining required two staff, would not be able to countryside, landscape and open space (or help to manage). Most income from a wide variety tackle anything like as much across an area of about 100 square are located within the pale of sources including working work without the invaluable kilometres in and around the town of Ipswich, and home to around one green shading of the defined for Parish and Town Councils, assistance of a large number quarter of the population of Suffolk, Project boundary, although householder associations, of groups and individuals who for the benefit of wildlife and local increasingly we are less limited developers and private willingly give up their time people. The project relies on volunteers by the boundary, carrying out landowners, along with grants, to help with everything from to complete much of its practical appropriate works on sites other contributions and minor practical site management conservation work. beyond as well. sales. to designing and distributing The Greenways Project is a very Local Wildlife News magazine. successful and well-established Partnership and Funding As the partners’ contributions partnership between Ipswich Borough The Project has been a have not increased with The number of volunteer days Council, Babergh District Council, East successful and genuine inflation for many years, the worked has decreased slightly Suffolk Council and the local community. partnership since 1994. Since real income target increases in the last year, but is still a 2018 when Suffolk County every year, and the need to very impressive 1262 days

Greenways Project Area Map 6 5

4 3 2 1 3 10 8 9 8 10 7 2 9 6 5 1 5 4 11 7 4 Greenways Project Area 3 2 Urban Area Rivers etc 6 Railway 15 Main Roads 17 16 Other Roads 1 14 13 6

11 9 8 12

4 10 2 5 1 3 7

8 change with renewed interest Brook Park to join us for a day in our work and volunteering celebrating ‘spring’, ‘wood’ generally due to the pandemic. and ‘Spring Wood’ – a day of wildlife walks and activities, As each year, the Greenways folk music, woodcraft, camp staff team and Joint Advisory fire cooking and exploration! Committee would like to record Hundreds of mostly local their sincere thanks to all the people attended again this year, volunteers who have taken enjoying the relaxed and old- part in the last year, helping to fashioned atmosphere. maintain and enhance part of the area’s exceptional wildlife Many of our other events are infrastructure. centred around our ‘Wildlife Homes’ work with Ipswich Looking after our reserves Wildlife Group – encouraging and green spaces and enabling local people to The vast majority of our staff make nest boxes etc for their and volunteer time is spent gardens – all contributing to Volunteers preparing for another work party. physically managing the nature the overall ecological network reserves and green spaces – a of the town. We also attended contributed, with an increasing six full time staff. The reason very wide range of tasks from the Suffolk Show in 2019 as number falling into the ‘skilled’ for the drop in numbers is not woodland management and guests of Suffolk Wildlife Trust category in terms of the known, other than 2-3 weeks in hedge planting to building in their fabulous wildlife area value of the contribution. The March with no volunteers at the boardwalks, steps and paths. of the showground. As well volunteer contribution, using start of the Covid-19 outbreak. The case studies on the as making more than 350 bug Lottery values, this year was Generally, we have been seeing following pages offer a few homes with Ipswich Wildlife just under £80,000, and can fewer new volunteers come examples of the range of Group volunteers, we were be shown as the equivalent of forward, but this trend may activities we carry out. The present to congratulate the Trust autumn and winter months for winning the ‘Best stand in tend to be focussed on Show’ award! List of sites wildlife habitat management work (when many species Other functions Belstead Brook Park Northern Fringe are dormant or less active), The sites we manage and the and Southern Fringe 1 Chestnut Pond, Rushmere St whilst the spring and summer volunteering opportunities 1 Spring Wood (LNR) Andrew 2 Kiln Meadow (LNR) 2 Rushmere Street Wildlife Corridor months are spent improving the we offer make a huge and 3 Millennium Wood (LNR) 3 Limes Pond infrastructure of the reserves important contribution to the 4 Meadows (LNR) 4 Fonnereau Way to ensure visitors have the best health and wellbeing of our 5 Ashground Plantation and 5 Millennium site visitors and volunteers. Whitland Close area Meadow experience possible. 6 Bobbits Lane – upper area 6 Lyttleton’s Meadow, Grundisburgh Increasingly there is better 7 Butterfly Ride Events and other public evidence and understanding 8 (LNR) Western Fringe and the River activities of how the natural world can 9 Ellenbrook Meadow and open 1 Alderman Canal (LNR) Engaging with a wider heal us and reduce harmful space 2 River Path – Stoke Bridge 10 Burnet Meadow and 3 River Path – Princes St to West End audience is important to stress. It is very difficult to put a Park area Rd Greenways – and we do this figure to the value of this aspect 11 Belstead Meadows 4 River Path – West End Road mostly through on-site public of our work, but it likely saves 12 Belstead Lower Meadows (CWS) 5 River Path – West End Rd to 13 Thorington Hall Farm area Handford Rd events, the largest of which considerable sums for the NHS! 14 Belstead Heath 6 River Path – Handford Rd- we run each year is ‘Spring 15 Bourne Park Yarmouth Rd Wood Day’ – where we ask 16 Netley Close open space 7 River Path – Yarmouth Rd to 17 Lynnbrook Wildlife Area Riverside Road local people near Belstead Continued on next page

8 River Path – Boss Hall Eastern Fringe 9 Sproughton Nature Reserve 1 Ravenswood Tump 10 River Path – A14 to Sproughton 2 Heath (SSSI) 11 Churchman Way 3 Martlesham Common (CWS, LNR) 4 Mill Stream (LNR), Rushmere St LNR = Local Nature Reserve Andrew CWS = County Wildlife Site 5 , (LNR), Rushmere St SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest Andrew 6 Warren Heath (CWS) 7 Broke Hall School 8 Long Strops Pond, 9 Cedarwood Green, Kesgrave 10 Legion Green, Kesgrave

Spring Wood Day 2019 9 2019/20 Greenways Annual Report continued

Continued from page nine

We also contribute to the enjoyment of nature. wildlife habitats and their the amazing wildlife that can partner local authorities’ care along with other related be found on our reserves and strategies, plans and policies Publicity, campaigning environmental messages. other sites. Please follow us where appropriate and and social media We have started to regularly on Twitter (@GreenwaysProj); comment on planning Throughout the year, the use social media to let local Instagram (@greenwaysproject) applications that threaten Project has continued to people know what we are and Facebook (search: important wildlife or public promote the importance of doing and more about some of ‘greenwaysproject’)

Examples of site work

Millennium Wood at 20! Martlesham Common – new paths and At twenty years old, Millennium Wood, next to Spring entrances Wood in Belstead Brook Park, is now surprisingly well Martlesham Common has now been declared as a established and looks much older than 20! In addition Local Nature Reserve, so is protected in perpetuity to the regular annual coppicing under the pylon lines, for wildlife and enjoyment by local people. As part last winter we coppiced two larger plots to try to of recognising the value of the reserve, and trying increase the structural diversity of the woodland. This to emphasise this to local people, we installed new work should benefit many species, but in particular we entrance ‘gateways’ at all the entrances, so it’s clear hope will increase tree species diversity and benefit the you’re entering a special place. Two stretches of path resident hazel dormice. were also resurfaced, as part of the creation of a Parish-wide ‘trim trail’. In January, we had our first ever ‘Megabash’ volunteering event for this site which attracted over 30 volunteers for a very productive day.

10 Examples of site work continued

The ‘Tump,’ Ravenswood – new steps and paths The Project was engaged to create a new set of steps up onto the ‘Tump’ (the large landscaped mound beside the Ravenswood housing development) to enable people to access the feature from both ends. As part of the project, we also surfaced the main path between the housing and Orwell Country Park. A huge number of volunteer days went into the construction of the paths and steps (50 of them!), and all the timber was local oak processed by our own sawmill, for a very sustainable solution.

Sproughton Nature Reserve Following the re-development of the former sugar factory site at Sproughton, an area was set aside for wildlife as part of the mitigation for the development. Greenways has prepared the management plan for the site and taken on the day to day management of the new reserve. Early work we have carried out has included creating two new ponds, coppicing willows (to reduce shading of existing lakes), planting a new hedge and starting regular annual mowing of grassland habitat.

Chestnut Pond – new information board One of our smallest sites, but valuable for wildlife nonetheless! A few years on from a major de- silting project, the pond is looking great and full of wildlife – largely due to there being substantially fewer ducks and geese thanks to less feeding. As well as various minor improvements to the pond edges, we designed and installed a new information board for Parish Council – funded by a locality fund grant from the local County Councillor.

11 Swift Enigma Colin Hullis Committee Member, Ipswich Wildlife Group

In the absence of our usual events and work parties to report on, would expect to see the following is how I have spent most of the lockdown months. the parents in and out of the box feeding I have decided that Swifts are absolutely fascinating and utterly young but apparently frustrating. After three summers avidly watching a pair using one they may only feed of the three nest boxes fixed under the eaves of my house I am as the young a couple mystified by their behaviour as ever. of times a day, and if the weather is cold or Each year they arrive within a few days of 6th May and within a few wet and flying insects hours are visiting the same box they used the previous year. During are hard to find, the the three months they are here, I watch them flying in and out of the young may not get fed box, but my goodness they are quick, glance away for a second and for a couple of days. you've missed them. So I am never quite sure if there is one in the Then when the young box or not. fledge and leave the nest, they do this early Photographing them in flight is in the morning soon virtually impossible as they are after daybreak and don't return to the box - so I have no chance of not called Swifts for nothing! watching that! So the only option is to try and get a shot of them entering and From the end of July/beginning of August you'll notice groups leaving the nest box. This requires of swifts making their way south on migration back to Africa. hours of patient sentry duty from Annoyingly, after going missing for a day or two convincing me that a vantage point big enough for they too have left, my swifts suddenly reappear and go back into a chair because you need one! I and out of their box! This disappearing act followed by sudden fly- Secretary Leila Matata have spent those hours holding pasts out of the blue has happened several times this year, driving [email protected] the camera to my face only to me to distraction - just ask my wife! www.wildipswich.org blink and miss the action - again. Proof are the dozens of shots I There is so much we know about Swifts - feeding, sleeping, mating Ipswich Wildlife Group is a registered have of the boxes with not a Swift on the wing etc but there are still loads more to learn, so I'll keep charity, relying entirely on volunteers, that promotes interest in, and in sight. watching and being frustrated and fascinated by them. By the way, conservation of, wildlife and habitats I am not referring to a pair of birds, as each year there are always in and around Ipswich. And as for producing offspring - three of them together !??? Another enigma! I've no idea. At some point you

12 Busy bees and a wildlife rescue Martin Cant Friends of Holywells Park

As there have been no events, activities or work parties on the Park for the past few months to report, here are a couple of items to share with you.

Busy Bees The last thing we wanted Bees have been busy around was to see the starling get the bug box in my garden weaker and eventually die or during the lockdown, get predated. laying eggs and filling the Many calls later and during bamboo with mud/leaves a call to local birding as required, setting up the guru Chris Courtney, he next generations. This upper mentioned a chimney section was completely sweep who has access to a empty in April when cherry picker hoist. Several installed. It's interesting how minutes later TL Chimneys much of the bamboo has had agreed to visit as soon been occupied but none of the drilled holes. As often the case with nature, more ... it does highlight questions are raised than the problem answered! when trying to get Starling rescue assistance... Early one morning my wife Audrie and I were disturbed to notice a starling as they finished their current apparently trapped on top job which happened to be of the BT pole outside our locally in Ipswich, which house. It appeared to be was about an hour away. unable to free itself from Sure enough they turned a wire caught on its leg. up as promised and quickly Although keen to try and set up the cherry picker to help, my ladder was not long access the bird. Bug box enough to reach (and not sure I wanted to get up there The bird was successfully ring on its leg and hooked anyway). rescued and happily flew around the leg ring trapping away although obviously the bird. A freak accident During the morning I tried with a sore leg. It appeared with a happy ending. several options and calls that when the bird landed online to get help, but all on the pole, a small piece Marcus at TL Chimneys must resulted in negative replies. of wire slid up between the be given great credit for Friends of Holywells Park The Group aims to work in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council to improve and promote the Park. Contact: [email protected] www.holywellspark.org.uk facebook.com/holywellsparkipswich

his prompt service helping nature. They have also been heavily involved with Chris installing at least 20 swift boxes locally in Ipswich. Ironically, they had also swept our chimney several weeks previously, Great work chaps. Thoroughly recommended.

It does also highlight the problems encountered when trying to get assistance when Poles and wires can be hazards to flying and perching birds nature needs urgent help! 13 Restriction surprises Tim Kenny Leader, RSPB Ipswich Group All pictures © All pictures Tim Kenny The Covid-19 pandemic has forced our group to suspend all indoor and outdoor activities until January 2021. We received word back in March to close down all our activities until September, and once the time for review came from headquarters in Sandy, it was decided that there would be no further activities for the rest of 2020.

We’re not the only organisation to have to write the year off, far from it, but with nature playing a large part in getting people through the lockdown we would have been in a good position to increase our membership. For many people stuck at home, watching the birds at the bird table or taking daily exercise in the fresh air was some solace amidst all the uncertainty of life. I have discovered the birdlife in my

Skylark, 15th May 2020, Felixstowe Ferry golf course

I’m in the wrong hobby) but I was very around 30% of the breeding stock in the fortunate on one early morning to be country. As I write this in early August, the Ipswich Local Group on hand when a short-toed lark was swifts are heading back south, giving me Group Leader Tim Kenny discovered at . I was time to find and install a suitable sound Tel 01394 809236 one of only two people to see the bird system for next spring, in the hope of [email protected] (the first being the finder) but fortunately I attracting new tenants. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/Ipswich had some familiarity with the species from Ipswich RSPB Local Group is for everyone interested previous trips to Spain. Like so much of If you want to find out more, search SOS in birds and other wildlife in the Ipswich area and birdwatching, it was a case of being in the Suffolk Swifts on the search engine of your beyond. Come along to our indoor talks, held right place at the right time, and seven in choice. monthly between September to April at Rushmere the morning is rarely the right time for me! St Andrew Church Hall, or (throughout the year), To end, back to those early spring get out and experience nature first hand on one of One thing that has been done is the mornings down at the golf course. It was our regular field meetings, visiting some of the best installation of swift boxes, three now gratifying to see and hear good numbers of spots for wildlife in the area. Three times a year adorning my eaves with another three skylarks there, clearly benefitting from the the ‘Orwell Observer’, keeps readers abreast of the at a relative’s house in Ipswich. I’m closure of the fairways and greens. This latest developments at nearby RSPB Reserves as well as news of Group activities, along with members’ hoping that a few more friends and one posed beautifully for me. photographs and accounts of birding exploits from family take the plunge and help out this home and abroad. Membership costs £3 per year struggling species. The man who makes It’s been a difficult time in all of our lives. (£1 for Juniors). For more information see the Events the boxes told me that he’d constructed Diary in this magazine, visit our website or write as over 220,000 in his career, equivalent to Stay safe. Tim per details above.

local area, surrounded by the industry of Felixstowe docks, and to my surprise it holds bullfinches, common buzzards and butterflies galore when the sun shines.

I made a few early morning starts and found a flock of thirteen whimbrel on the golf course at Felixstowe Ferry. This member of the curlew family occurs in our part of the world on passage between its arctic breeding grounds and more temperate winter quarters. It is noticeably smaller than the Eurasian curlew, with a less curved bill and a distinctive striped crown pattern

I don’t particularly like early starts (maybe Whimbrel, one of thirteen, Felixstowe Ferry golf course 5th May 2020 14 My garden in lockdown Ann Havard Friends of Belstead Brook Park

We had a new fence a few years ago and the very kind men who put it up for us managed to cut a couple of hedgehog doors in the concrete gravel boards. ‘Our’ hedgehog lives under our shed I think, we rarely see him but see evidence ie poo!

We feed the birds all year round and love seeing the chattering flocks of goldfinches, I always think of them as the English equivalent of parrots! During the spring and summer we are also lucky enough to have flocks of starlings and they absolutely love this recipe below. Why not give it a go?

My hedgehog highway

One of the positives to come out your eyes from lack of water. We’ve also Friends of Belstead Brook Park the Corona virus pandemic, I think had to water our vegetables – I think that’s www.wildipswich.org has been that many people have allowed! Email: [email protected] reconnected with wildlife and the www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/fobbp natural world. The recent surge of I try to have only fairly drought tolerant Friends of Belstead Brook Park (FoBBP) was set up in 2002 to help look after the 250 acres of informal interest in cycling in the countryside, plants, having learnt the lesson the hard country park on the south-western fringe of Ipswich. walking around local parks, open way that ‘right plant – right place’ is so The group runs practical work parties, helps raise spaces and the coast, along with a true. Most of my plants, shrubs and trees funds for improvements and acts as ‘eyes and ears’, new interest in growing your own veg are also wildlife friendly. The starlings passing information back to the Greenways Project. has been great to see. Long may it love our black cherries, the bees my continue. honeysuckle and we have leaf cutter bees nesting in one of our hanging baskets! Peanut butter bird food recipe For myself, I have had much more time Fascinating to watch while eating lunch in my garden and have planted an ever on the patio as it is quite a struggle for Ingredients increasing number of plants – some have them to climb in the small drainage holes 1 ½ cups melted vegetable suet survived the dry weather and others at the bottom of the basket with a circle of (approx. 2 Attora boxes) have had to be watered with rain water leaf! Thank goodness they have six legs! 1 ½ cups brown breadcrumbs (about 1 collected in our three water butts. I do medium slice) admit to having used a hand held hose a One aspect of the garden that has not ¼ cup granulated sugar few times, but only when our water butts been so successful this year is the pond. 2 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter have been drained dry. When you have It is tiny and overshadowed by the big 1 cup porridge oats sandy soil and you’ve spent time, money black cherry tree. I realise that it probably ½ cup plain flour and energy on plants and sowing seeds, needs a really good clear out which I will ½ cup wild bird seed it’s really hard to see them just die before do in the autumn, I might even invest in some small aquatic Method plants to try to After melting the suet, simply mix all keep the water of the ingredients together in a large sweet. saucepan, over a fairly low heat. Keep stirring until all the ingredients are Next to the pond thoroughly mixed together. I put in a log pile several years ago You can either make holes in the base and this year whilst of sturdy paper cups or yogurt pots, re-modelling a thread a piece of strong string through border, I used the with a knot in the end of it and spoon spare turf to cover the mixture in. Once cooled and hard, it. Hopefully the take the cup away, leaving the string in snake skin I found place to hang up. in the vegetable plot means that Alternatively, place slabs of the mixture it may become a into your feeders, or in shallow plant warm home for pot saucers on the bird table. A bug house is always a valuable addition to the garden someone. 15 An Unusual Spring Gi Grieco Suffolk Bird Group Council Member © Gi Grieco It’s been an unusual Spring with the current situation halting all activities for the group. We were lucky to enjoy one last trip to the Brecks back in March before lockdown came into force. The trip to the west of the county is always eagerly anticipated and there is always a good turnout. We did well to see a number of specialities in the area such as Stone-curlew, Goshawk and a surprise Raven although we missed Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, with four being seen the day before at the site we visited – that’s birding for you!

Enquiries: [email protected] www.suffolkbirdgroup.org Twitter: suffolkbirds1 SBG is the Group for people interested in House sparrow with grass leaves the birds of Suffolk, providing a network and a voice for birdwatchers in the county. for bird species; I remember well during the British Trust for Ornithology Breeding and Winter Bird Atlas project a few years Once lockdown started, the few ago. Some of my tetrads were out in the remaining indoor meetings of Winter and countryside where species were sparse Spring were cancelled and all outdoor out on farmland and there was always a trips, up until the time of writing, similarly noticeable increase once close to and in so. Part of joining a group is the social villages. It was nice to spend more time side, meeting up with friends and sharing in the garden, due to working from home, birding and wildlife experiences at events and watch the birds, particularly the and on the trips. I know from speaking antics of the colony of House Sparrows to members that this aspect has been that kept me entertained. SBG member missed. Hopefully soon these activities Justin Zantboer suggested a bit of friendly will recommence and we can all meet up rivalry, so a number of us joined in garden again and enjoy the great outdoors. lockdown listing – count all species seen and heard from the garden. Birders joined Swift Mapper What has kept many of us occupied is in, not just from Suffolk, but further afield. participating in some lockdown garden What was evident was that those on the but those inland had some nice surprises; birding. Gardens play an important role coast had more chance to pick up species mine was a Cuckoo calling over east

© Gi Grieco Ipswich that was also picked up by other birders further out.

While all trips have been cancelled, with an easing of restrictions in July, there was an opportunity for Save our Suffolk Swifts supporters to link with other groups by undertaking a few Swift walks, although limited in people numbers due to social distancing, These were arranged in Woodbridge – three walks with six people each, one in Melton and another in Waldringfield. The aim was to engage with others and talk about why Swifts need help, explain the decrease in numbers due to the loss of nests sites because of building refurbishments and encourage new nest boxes to be fitted to homes. There is a new Swift Mapper app and people were shown how to log nest sites on their mobile phone.

Swifts were seen during the walks and people were encouraged to search for Swift in flight against the summer sky other nest sites in their neighbourhood. 16 A strategy for lockdown Stephen Corley (Chairman) with contributions from Sam Cork and George Pennick (Nature Explorers and Young Volunteers) © S. Corley Sadly, like many other groups, our regular practical activities came to an abrupt halt at the end of March for the coronavirus lockdown. Not surprisingly, our woods became a focus for people looking to get their daily exercise and entertain their children while stuck at home. For this, our volunteers kept an eye on the woods for safety hazards and had to deal with a few fallen trees and broken branches. We also encouraged children to do some home projects to help wildlife such as bug and bee hotels.

We do welcome people to visit the woods, but inevitably the increased footfall and cyclist activities are taking their toll. For those who do visit, a reminder to please keep to the marked paths, that bicycles should be ridden Woodlands walk only on the Sandlings Walk concrete perimeter track and that the path running males do not shine but two were spotted parallel to the A1214 main road is for with the female. use by authorised horse riders only. Once things are back to normal our Those who visited in the spring enjoyed volunteers will be very busy renovating a good show of flowers including violets, official footpaths, closing off new snowdrops, daffodils and an exceptional randomly created paths and rebuilding explosion of bluebells carpeting the Portal Woodlands Conservation Group habitat dead hedges that had been ground in places. Visitors would have Enquiries: Martlesham Parish Council dismantled to build dens. seen plenty of birds busy nest building, 01473 612632 pwcg.onesuffolk.net stag beetles looking to pair up, and in or email [email protected] Our annual public glow worm survey the evenings a selection of bat species The PORTAL WOODLANDS CONSERVATION and bat walk, normally last Friday of that use the woods for foraging and GROUP is dedicated to conserving the June, did not go ahead but two of the roosting. To their delight, a walker woodlands west of the Suffolk Police HQ and Group’s members walked the normal spotted some impressive parasol fungi in alongside the A1214 encouraging the local survey route and were able to carry out early July. If you are visiting our woods wildlife to thrive while preserving historical sites of a count to avoid a break in the records. and spot any interesting wildlife then interest and inspiring people to enjoy the nature Recent downward trends in the number please do let us know. surrounding them. Volunteers meet each month of females spotted have continued, to work on a variety of projects and everybody is welcome to join this friendly group. All required as habitat destruction continues to For more details of the Group’s events, training and necessary tools are provided. remove places for the bugs to live. Only and to check for date changes, please

one female was spotted in the woods go to: pwcg.onesuffolk.net or join our © K. Corley (identifiable by their distinctive green members’ Facebook Group by messaging glow and lack of wings) – the winged Duncan Sweeting. © D. Sweeting

Common Pipistrelle Parasol Fungi 17 The local butterflies of 2020 Julian Dowding Secretary, Suffolk Butterfly Conservation All pictures © Julian DowdingAll pictures Many spring butterflies Silver-studded Blue transects have done well in the around Ipswich in June at incredibly warm conditions Purdis Heath and they experienced in April gave numbers of 109 and and May, particularly 23 respectively. The Purdis Brimstone, Small Heath, count is really pleasing after Orange Tip, Green-veined all the hard volunteer work White, Speckled Wood and there. This is the highest Peacock. Small Tortoiseshells count for many years. Sadly, seemed to experience a bit scrub encroachment will of a dip, which is concerning, hamper the ability of the especially as their foodplant is butterfly colony to grow, common stinging nettle. unless something can be done very soon to reinstate a work programme which has been on hold since the site was put up for sale around two years ago. Worse still, without work the colony is at risk of dying out. Work at Pipers Vale is fortunately not Brown hairstreak female Butterfly Conservation hampered and this colony is Saving butterflies, moths and our growing. Marbled White had its best sightings of the species but if environment year ever at Landseer with looking for them, one must In May and June, Landseer easily over 100 counted be patient because they are Membership Secretary Park experienced a massive on one day. It is also found another treetop dweller that 01379 643665 influx of photographers, all at four other locations rarely comes down and they www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk email: [email protected] eager to photograph the Small around the Orwell and are a butterfly that exists Butterfly Conservation is dedicated to Blues and other butterflies interestingly, Marbled in small numbers spread saving wild butterflies, moths and their on the wonderful wildflower Whites are continuing to across the landscape. Males habitats throughout the UK. All Butterfly meadows and chalk bank. appear in small numbers up use ash and lime ‘Master Conservation members who live in Suffolk This is their second year there and down the coast. I say Trees’ to assemble and wait are automatically members of the branch and we hope they continue ‘interestingly’, because this for passing females. It’s and receive our newsletter, the Suffolk to flourish. Around 20 were species was never really worth scanning these trees Argus, three times a year. The Suffolk counted ‘at peak’ in June. considered a continental very early in the morning branch is run by volunteers and we would A partial second brood was migrant until two years ago (7-9.30am) when activity be very pleased to hear from you if you on the wing about six weeks when they started turning is greatest. Occasionally would like to get involved. later. up coastally in flights (or they come down to feed on flutters) with Large and Small thistles and other flowers. Whites. Furthermore, in mid Patience is key when trying July, a colony of six to eight to find them since they are a Marbled Whites was found species which occurs in low on private land a few miles density across vast areas. inland from . This is well after the species’ peak Finally, I have to announce flight period when numbers that Suffolk Butterfly would be much higher and Recorder Bill Stone is therefore suggests the colony stepping down after eight is well established and was years in the post. Bill has of continental origin. done an exceptional job and his work has been of vital Purple Hairstreaks are still importance in helping us to on the wing in late July and learn more about species can be found high up in numbers and distribution, oaks and ash. Occasionally and to inform conservation they will come down low efforts. I am sure you to feed on nectar but their will join me in sending main food is honeydew heartfelt thanks to Bill and high in the trees. Brown wishing him all the best Hairstreak is the last native for the future. If the role of butterfly to emerge and is recorder is one you feel you on the wing well into August would like to help with, and September and can please get in touch with be found at a number of Suffolk Naturalists Society locations in Ipswich. The or Butterfly Conservation excellent Belstead Meadows through their respective Female marbled white continues to deliver good websites. 18 I have done 'lock-down' before… Reg Snook Friends of Christchurch Park All pictures © PaulAll pictures Sherman My first recollection of sky-watching was in the 1940's when I used to gaze out from an Anderson air-raid shelter buried deep in our garden on the east side of Ipswich.

Dad, a veteran of the first world war, always stood guard complete with tin hat and whistle. The sirens sounded warning of an imminent raid by the Luftwaffe. On the walls of our shelter were black silhouettes of enemy aircraft so that we knew when to duck, close our eyes and pray. The drone of approaching aircraft became louder and Dad, squinting into the morning sunlight, yelled 'Heinkels' at which point everyone crouched at the far end of our shelter under a pile of overcoats and blankets. The noise became louder and then Dad announced, rather piously, that the Heinkel was in fact a B17 Grey Wagtail in Christchurch Park Spring 2020 American four engined bomber returning, rather belatedly, from a bombing raid heard, very distinctive and a distant light trailing black smoke with only two would get brighter. When the flame on engines working. its tail disappeared, Dad would bury himself under the overcoats with us and This was a typical happening of my we would count as there was a given early school-days, searching the skies for time before the doodlebug would hit the aircraft, trying to recognise the 'baddies' ground. The following explosion meant and always thinking that if a German the end of our prayers and we would Friends of Christchurch Park pilot spotted a young boy in short trousers clamber up to see what houses were Secretary: Sylvia Patsalides 07971 467042 and wearing a knitted balaclava on his alight or indeed still standing. Membership Secretary: Robert Fairchild head, would unleash sticks of incendiary 01473 254255 bombs. The Second World War was a With lock-down I, like many other nature www.focp.org.uk Follow us on Facebook@ scary time especially when Heinkels, lovers, have been scanning the skies Christchurch Park and Twitter@ChristchurchPk

Dorniers and Junkers were replaced by overhead – not for aircraft as our skies The sole purpose of the Friends Group is to help doodle bugs (flying bombs). These used have been delightfully empty – but to look after the Park for the public good, and to to fill me with absolute terror. Again, the see what was flying over my patch. So promote its welfare. Anyone who shares this aim sirens would sound, we were crouched far, it has been a lovely summer, with is welcome to join. For a small annual fee of £10 in the corner of our Anderson shelter clear blue skies (little air pollution) and you can join in Friends activities all year round, Dad standing guard with hat firmly on hot sunshine. The local swifts have been including Illustrated talks and discussions, Guided his head. A throbbing noise would be scything through the air and the large Park walks and Practical conservation work. You will also receive an informal seasonal newsletter.

gulls have been shouting abuse at me because the town's fast food centres are closed. The birdsong has been far more audible as the traffic on the main roads has been considerably less. Idyllic really. The buzzards in Christchurch Park have been rising up every morning, a peregrine from St Mary le Tower has been busy reducing the number of pigeons in our neighbourhood and 'Mabel', who returned to her former roost last September in our Park, has fledged two owlets which made the hundreds of weary 'lock-down' onlookers very happy indeed. A pair of little grebes even raised four young on the Wilderness Pond and grey wagtails were also successful. So, the last four months or so have been rather dreamlike, almost surreal. Will life ever return to how we knew it, I wonder? Mind you, we asked that question when we heard those enemy planes heading One of 'Mabel's' owlets in Christchurch Park – Spring 2020 our way. 19 Water Saving in Ipswich

#IPSWICHLOVESEVERYDROP is a partnership between Anglian Water and 20 environmental charity Groundwork Suffolk. 21 For events covering a broader range of environmental Events Diary issues go to www.wildipswich.org

PLEASE NOTE: Due to restrictions Regular Events

concerning THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 10.30am - FRIDAYS 10am Greenways 1pm SPRING WOOD WORK PARTY CONSERVATION WORK PARTY coronavirus Join Ipswich Wildlife Group and Friends of Another opportunity to work on the 50 or so Belstead Brook Park for a morning of work sites managed by the Project – please see the (COVID-19) and in the wood. Meet at the field gate at top of details above for Tuesdays Work Party bridleway in Kiln Meadow. Details from Gerry Donlon 07733 968481 FRIDAYS FORTNIGHTLY 10am Ipswich the uncertainty Wildlife Group/Greenways BOX KIT MAKING TUESDAYS 10am Greenways CONSERVATION Come and join in making the kits for bird, surrounding this WORK PARTY hedgehog and insect habitat boxes for our The Project’s largest weekly work party – Wildlife Homes project. Only the most at the time of carrying out a wide range of practical tasks rudimentary of woodworking skills needed. across the 50 or so sites that we manage. For all Thorington Hall Barn, Bobbits Lane, Ipswich. production, please Greenways work parties, volunteers need to be More information from Martin Cant 07858 registered via a short informal induction prior to 436003 [email protected] check with the joining us – please contact us for further details. Work party runs from 10am to about 4pm. FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH Contact [email protected] or 10am - 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group organisers of the call 01473 433995 RIVER WORK PARTY A joint work party with the River Action events listed to see SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Group along Alderman Canal and the River 10am – 2pm SWT Wild Learning Gipping, maintaining footpaths and making if they are still going WILD IN THE WEEK these splendid waterways areas to be proud of. Location – across Ipswich. Join us for our Wild Meet at Bibb Way alongside Alderman Road ahead. in the Week activity day for children aged 6 - recreation ground. More information from 10 years. Each month has a different theme all Colin Hullis 07979 644134 taking part in the great outdoors. See website for details. Price £7. Booking essential. To book: FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 10am www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org / 01473 890089 Butterfly Conservation WORK PARTY (October to March) Sat 31st October 2020 10.00am to 3.30pm SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH More information from Helen Saunders Greenways MEGABASH at Sproughton Nature 10am – 2pm SWT Wild Learning [email protected] Reserve. Help Greenways to look after the new WILD IN THE WEEK nature reserve at the former sugar factory site, Location – across Ipswich. Join us for our Wild EVERY SECOND SATURDAY including mowing and raking grassland on the in the Week activity day for children aged 11 – 10am – 12pm SWT Wild Learning island, habitat creation and scrub management. 16 years. Each month has a different theme all WEEKEND WILDLIFE CLUB Meet by the Bailey Bridge at TM133445, parking taking part in the great outdoors. See website for Holywells Park. Join our wildlife themed near Sproughton Church or Boss Hall Road and details. Price £7. Booking essential. To book: club to explore the park, learn about wildlife, walk along river path. Contact Greenways on www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org / 01473 890089 meet new friends and earn awards as you go. [email protected] or 07736 826076 Age 6 – 11 years. Cost £3. Please book at for more details. WEDNESDAYS 10am Friends of Holywells Park suffolkwildlifetrust.org or 01473 890089 HOLYWELLS PARK WORK PARTY Sunday 15th November 2020. 10.00am to Join our small team of volunteers doing valuable SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH 3.30pm Greenways MEGABASH at Belstead work around the Park. Meet at the Stable Block 10am - 1pm Friends of Belstead Brook Park Brook Park. Help Greenways and Ipswich located down the driveway from Cliff Lane. CONSERVATION WORK PARTY Wildlife Group to carry out essential winter Contact Andy Smuk for details 01473 728907 Come and join us for a morning working in the management work in Spring Wood, Millennium fresh air. For further details visit our website: Wood and surrounding reserves – including SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/fobbp coppicing, dead hedging and a warming Friends of The Dales WORK PARTY or email [email protected] bonfire! Meet at the Bobbits Lane car park. Contact Joan Powell for the details Contact Greenways on james.baker@ipswich. [email protected] SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 1.30pm gov.uk or 07736 826076 for more details. – 3pm SWT Wild Learning YOUNG WARDENS EVERY THURSDAY/FRIDAY 10am – 11.30am Holywells Park. Price £3. Booking Essential. To Saturday 12th December 2020. 10.00am to SWT Wild Learning WILD TOTS book: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org or 01473 3.30pm Greenways MEGABASH at Belstead Outdoor adventure and play for tots age 18 890089 Brook Park. Help Greenways and the Friends of months – 5 years and their carers. Belstead Brook Park to look after Kiln Meadow Christchurch Park Thursdays, Holywells MOST SATURDAYS 10.30am - 1pm Ipswich nature reserve – including scrub clearing, dead Park Fridays. Cost £4. Please book at Wildlife Group Northgate Allotments hedging, coppicing and a bonfire. Meet at the suffolkwildlifetrust.org or 01473 890089 WOODCRAFT & WILDLIFE entrance to Kiln Meadow from Marbled White Get involved in coppicing and woodland skills Drive. Contact Greenways on james.baker@ THURSDAYS 10am Greenways at the Wildlife area. Call Geoff Sinclair to ipswich.gov.uk or 07736 826076 for more CONSERVATION WORK PARTY confirm dates 07860 595376 details. A smaller group than on Tuesday, but operates in the same way – please see details above for LAST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH Saturday 16th January 2021. 10.00am to Tuesdays Work Party 10am - 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group WILDLIFE 3.30pm Greenways MEGABASH at Martlesham ALLOTMENT Common LNR. Help Greenways and THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH Come and lend a hand to help create our Martlesham Parish Council to look after this 9 – 10pm ‘Green Drinks’ Dove Inn, Ipswich wildlife friendly plot. More information from lovely lowland heathland reserve – including DRINKS AND CHAT Colin Hullis 07979 644134 scrub cutting, bonfire, coppicing and other Join us at the Dove Inn for a drink, a chat and a tasks. Meet at the Martlesham Community bit of networking with other environmentally- Centre car park off Felixstowe Rd, Martlesham. minded people. Look out for the ‘Green Drinks’ Contact Greenways on james.baker@ipswich. sign on the table. All welcome gov.uk or 07736 826076 for more details. 22