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Local Nature Reserves Wildspace! Wildspace! Church Meadow and Gipping Valley Local Nature Reserve Local Nature Reserves are places for people and The Wildspace! Project started in April 2003, Local Nature Reserves Management Project wildlife. They are sites containing wildlife or and during its three-year life hopes to encourage This quiet, secluded reserve, owned and managed geological features that are of special local people to visit and learn more about Local by Mid District Council owes its existence to interest. They provide people with an opportunity Nature Reserves in the area. an 18th century manor house - Combs Hall, which to learn about these and with the enjoyment of Church Meadow Local communities will also be actively involved once stood behind the Church. Although making contact with nature. There are eight LNRs in practical tasks to improve the natural variety demolished in 1756, features of the formal garden in the Wildspace! Project area and at least two of life on these sites. can still be seen today. These include earth banks more are being developed. Local Nature Reserve that originally surrounded an ornamental lake and a The Wildspace! Project Area small circular pond. The pond in Combs Wood - How to get involved southeast of the reserve - is also part of these old landscaped gardens. Do you live near one of the LNRs? Or enjoy walking or have an interest in wildlife? Then why Today, sheep grazing in the meadow help increase not think about joining a Friends Group. They help the variety of wild flowers and grasses by grazing look after the sites in a way that benefits both the more selectively than a mechanical mower. The local people and the wildlife that lives there. two ponds support thriving newt, frog and toad Friends groups take part in practical conservation populations as well as large numbers of dragonflies activities and can also have real input into plans in the summer. for the future. It's a great way to learn about local wildlife, get some fresh air, exercise - and even This peaceful site slopes gently to Combs Beck, make new friends! which feeds into the River Rattlesden, which in turn For more information please contact: flows into the River Gipping. It is a small oasis, ideal for a gentle walk and quiet reflection. Ann Havard Wildspace! Project Officer C/o District Council 131 High Street Needham Market IP6 8DL Tel: 01449 727216 Fax: 01449 727225 Mobile: 07919 963 656 [email protected] If you would like countryside management information on the Gipping Valley contact the Gipping Valley Countryside Project on 01473 583175 For People and Wildlife For more information on Mid Suffolk Sites please Designed by Mid Suffolk District Council’s Graphics Section ring 01449 727221 Printed on Recycled Paper Church_Meadow.qxd 08/01/2004 11:52 Page 2

Church Meadow 0 25m 50m Lady's Smock Area outside Church Meadow or Cuckoo flower Church Meadow High Terrace Cross-section of terrace LOCAL NATURE RESERVE high terrace A common plant of damp Low Terrace low terrace grassland and streams, the his fascinating site was part of an early 18th century formal flowers are reminiscent of an Wet meadow North garden belonging to Combs Hall. The Hall, now demolished, was meadow old-fashioned ladies smock. Its T Grass bank wet meadow other name, Cuckoo built between the Church and the ancient Combs Wood. The gardens Hedge flower, came about are now meadows that are either cut or grazed by sheep to benefit Trees/shrubs grass banks because it flowers in wild flowers. As you explore the site look for the remains of earth Rushes/reeds/sedges April and May when the banks, which once surrounded an ornamental lake, and a small Cuckoo heralds in the Entrance circular pond. The two ponds have thriving newt, frog and toad spring. The young leaves have a populations as well as abundant dragonflies and other invertebrates. Path peppery taste and can be used in High Terrace Gate salads. The Gipping Valley Local Nature Reserves This river valley is an important Local Nature Reserves are sites Stile Combs Beck landscape in the centre of Suffolk. where the wildlife, geology or Low Terrace Fence Although you are in a mainly rural historic landscape is of special Kissing gate Kestrel setting between and value. There are a number of Suffolk has the highest density in the UK Bench Ipswich, there are pressures from LNRs in the Gipping Valley and of this widespread bird of prey. industrial development, mineral more are being developed. They Information board Found in both countryside and extraction, expanding towns and are publicly owned and protected urban areas, they make nests in modern agriculture. Local councils as an amenity for the community. tree cavities or use old crows nests. and other bodies work together Everyone is welcome to walk and Kestrels hover, keeping their head with landowners towards building a explore and is encouraged to help motionless whilst watching for small healthy and attractive countryside in the protection and management mammals such as voles and shrews. that is accessible and can be of the area. enjoyed by everyone.

round Greater pond sedge pond Cross-section of Comma butterfly Found frequently in marshy round pond This butterfly is easily recognised ,by its very meadows, swamps, ponds grass bank ragged wing edges and the small or c and along rivers, this plant shaped white mark on the underside of its forms extensive patches. wing - hence the name. Caterpillars hatch All sedges have triangular in May and feed on nectar from nettles, hops stems, which helps pond and elm. The adults also eat fallen fruit. distinguish them from grasses.

St Maryís Great crested newt In winter newts hide in tree crevices and under stones Common shrew and in spring they move to deep weedy pools or Shrews evolved 50 million years ago and are one of the sluggish overgrown streams to breed. Eggs are attached oldest surviving mammals on earth. They are very individually to submerged plants and stones and, after territorial creatures, aggressively defending their nests, hatching, the tadpoles eat tiny plants and insects. Adult newts eat which are built in dense tussocks of grass in woodlands earthworms, snails, spiders and insects. The species has declined in Britain This leaflet has been produced as part of the Ipswich and Gipping Valley Local Nature Reserve and grasslands. Shrews eat slugs, snails and Management Project. Anglian Water Environmental Partnership has funded the leaflet with Landfill tax due to habitat destruction and is strictly protected. credits provided by Viridor Waste Management. earthworms by killing them with their toxic saliva; this slows the victim's heart until breathing stops. Based on OS material, Crown copyright, MSDC License No. LA78611 2003 Illustrations and map by Ann Hobday