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Your Local Wildlife News Mickle Mere After a Dry Summer, Will Cranstoun Explains Why He (And West Suffolk’S Wildlife) Is Hoping for a Wet Winter on the Reserve

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Your Local Wildlife News Mickle Mere After a Dry Summer, Will Cranstoun Explains Why He (And West Suffolk’S Wildlife) Is Hoping for a Wet Winter on the Reserve Stowmarket area January 2019 Your local wildlife news Mickle Mere After a dry summer, Will Cranstoun explains why he (and west Suffolk’s wildlife) is hoping for a wet winter on the reserve. Will Cranstoun As the temperatures held hot and steady from time to time feeding on the higher West Suffolk Sites over the summer, the main lagoon and drier ground whilst bats foraged Manager completely dried out and is still awaiting through the willows across the meadows. 01284 728541 rain to bring water levels up. As the lagoon As we move further into winter the is entirely dependent on excess water lagoon remains dry, giving us a valuable BRADFIELD WOODS levels from the Black Bourn River spilling window to carry out some essential habitat 01449 737996 out onto the floodplain, we are also at the management work around the main lagoon. mercy of what happens in the wider river We have been able to cut some of the fen catchment. Despite the dry conditions, and manage the willow in order to keep Giles lapwing have seemed to have fared well, certain vistas open, both for wading Cawston with three pairs managing to fledge young wildfowl and visitors to the reserve’s hide. Woodlands whilst many other birds have We hope that the weather turns wet Warden predominantly left the site only popping in enough to at least fill part of the lagoon thus now and again. Little egret, kestrel and continuing to provide sanctuary for wintering Joanne greylag geese flocks could still be seen wildfowl through winter into spring. Atkins Wild Learning Officer Bradfield Woods Winter sees the coppice season in full swing at Bradfield. Woodlands Warden Giles Cawston talks about what is a special time to be in the woods. I would like to start by taking this opportunity continues a great Bradfield tradition. to say a massive thank you to all the The hardest thing about coppicing is volunteers, interns, voluntary wardens and knowing what to cut and what to leave to For more wildlife staff that help with the management of the become future “standards” (the larger trees news, follow the West Suffolk Woodlands: you only need to in the woods). The first job is to cut the team on facebook: quickly visit all the reserves to see how well hazel understory, which is bundled up and Bradfield Woods – they have responded to your hard work. I sold as coppice product. The next job is the Suffolk Wildlife Trust have just checked the records and on felling of the larger timber trees which we average the volunteer teams do 60-100hrs cut and split into firewood, this is then sold each week and that’s just in the woods… during the spring and summer. The last job your cheque is in the post! is the building of the dead hedge to protect The intensity of work in the wood really the precious spring regrowth from deer, builds in late autumn, with the annual rabbit and hare. coppice season beginning on 1 November. Coppicing has been carried out in Coppicing is an ancient form of woodland Bradfield Woods for at least 800 years and management that relies on the resilience of working, or even just walking, does make our native broadleaf tree species to you feel connected to all that social history. vigorously regrow after being cut during But even better than that, we also know by the winter months. Although, as I write, we managing the wood in this way we are are working from first light to last, it is a helping the wildlife that depends upon this special time to be in the woods and unique habitat. Your most local reserves Black Bourn Valley l Bonny Wood l Bradfield Woods Directions & maps Bulls Wood l Combs Wood suffolkwildlifetrust.org STOWMARKET WILDLIFE GROUP YOUR LOCAL NEWS WILDLIFE GROUP Stowmarket Wildlife Group is part of Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s county CONTACTS volunteer network. Led by local Trust members, the group organises NEWS & EVENTS events, talks and wildlife activities and raises money for the Trust, to John Thompson help safeguard our wild and beautiful county. 01449 676471 [email protected] VOLUNTEER WORK PARTIES Combs Wood Keven Boyce 01449 676610 WHAT’S ON Wednesday 26 June 7.30pm RURAL AND WILDLIFE CRIME Bonny Wood Wednesday 27 February 7.30pm With PC Lee Andrews-Pearce Peter Holborn Talk: CREATING WILDNESS Wildlife crimes can take many forms and it 01449 736683 With Michael Strand can be difficult to know what constitutes a Creating wildness is a new approach to crime. They can range from organised MAGAZINES conservation management in Suffolk. crimes (such as the trade in endangered Delivering your Suffolk Michael will also update us on the species) to people shooting at birds with air Wildlife magazine by hand development of Carlton Marshes and other saves the Trust thousands of guns. Lee will explain the role of Suffolk pounds each year. We always reserves. Constabulary’s Rural and Wildlife Crime welcome extra volunteer Wednesday 24 April 7.30pm Team and how they are dealing with the deliverers. If you would like URBAN BUZZ IPSWICH challenges. to help, please contact: Hella Crosby With David Dowding Wednesday 25 September 7.30pm 01449 721226 The town has already come a long way in BUZZARDS with Zoe Smith or its journey to improve the local open The common buzzard is now the most Sam Grange spaces and parks so that the public can common bird of prey in Britain. Join us to Membership Manager gain more enjoyment from them. David take a deeper look into the lives of these 01473 890089 from Buglife will tell us about Urban Buzz, a beautiful birds and find out how they have membership@ project that brings an exciting new twist to become so successful. We will look at suffolkwildlifetrust.org this with the creation of lots more pollinator identification, diet, nest sites and the habitat, colour and life in key areas across overall ecology of buzzards. If you would like to the town. Wednesday 30 October 7.30pm have a copy of the Saturday 18 May 10am PESTS AND DISEASES OF TREES current newsletter or BONNY WOOD WALK With Sid Cooper programme, these With Peter Holborn Sid from the Forestry Commission will give can be downloaded Join us on a walk led by Peter and discover an overview of the major pests and from the wonders of Bonny Wood at Barking Tye. diseases currently affecting our woodlands www. suffolkwildlifetrust. You may see wood anemone, woodruff and and their management, what pests and org/wildlifegroups herb-paris. Orchids are also typical, diseases may be coming next, and what we can do to prevent tree pests and diseases or by emailing us on including early-purple orchids, lesser from getting established. swtstowmarket@ twayblade and common spotted-orchid. gmail.com Plus sale of Christmas cards and gifts. Birds are also plentiful at this time of year, with melodies from summer migrants such Wednesday 27 November 7.30pm as blackcap and willow warbler mingling GLOW- WORMS with Tim Gardiner with the song of resident species. plus WILDLIFE QUIZ and RAFFLE The Glow-worm is not actually a worm, but a beetle. Males look like typical beetles, but All talks are held at the Village Hall, Church the nightly glow of a female is Road, Stowupland IP14 4BQ. Entry £2.50. unmistakeable. It is one of Britain’s most Walks are free but donations are welcome. adored, yet mysterious insects. Glow- Booking essential. For full description of worms face many modern day threats and events, visit suffolkwildlifetrust.org/events challenges affecting their future existence. Volunteer locally Reserve work parties are a great way to enjoy your local reserves. Call Will or Giles for details. How about helping with events or exploring nature with children? Chat to Jo Atkins. Or join the Stowmarket Group team. Go along to any of the group events or give them a call. Registered charity no 262777.
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