The wild flower ‘pollinator hotspot’ at The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm – see page 11

September - December 2019

A news and events Produced by the diary from wildlife and conservation groups in the Ipswich area Landseer Road Spectacular A lucky Swiftlet called Fidget SnippetsChris Courtney tells us of a young ‘swiftlet’ that was rescued from a doorway in Tokio Road, Ipswich on the 10th July and was being cared for in Aldeburgh by Alan and Christine Collett of ‘Aldeburgh’s Amazing Swifts’ a Swift conservation and rescue project, see www. aldeburghsamazingswifts.co.uk Named ‘Fidget’ as he wouldn’t stay still, Alan was hand feeding him as he wouldn’t take it himself. Hopes are that he will thrive and make his way back to Africa and return to us next year. Chris also tells us that 2019 was a record year for the Swifts in Marlborough Road with lots of occupied boxes and fledged young.

IBC Ranger Dave Dowding reports that the show of wild flowers and butterflies at Landseer Park this year has been spectacular. The photograph shows a stunning Marbled White, a seldom seen butterfly in Suffolk, flanked by Skippers. Dave estimates that there were 25 species of butterfly recorded along with many dragonflies, bees and damselflies during the summer.

Toadlets on the march Colin Hullis

Rare Whopper This image of Bombus ruderatus, the Large Garden Bumble was sent in by Julian Dowding. It was photographed on Landseer Park in mid-July and Julian’s research suggests that it is a first for Ipswich and is nationally One morning in mid-July, after a night of rain, I took a walk along the notable and Tomline Wall which borders the inland side of Felixstowe Ferry golf also, is actually a course. For a 20 metre stretch along the grassy footpath I encountered melanic form, so hundreds of tiny toadlets struggling through the blades of grass, all is quite rare. It is heading in the same direction. Continuing my birding walk, I returned a real whopper of to the toadlet stretch half an hour later - not a sign of even one toadlet! I a bee too. guess they were all on the same journey all at the same time.

The buzz of a wildlife allotment The Ipswich Wildlife Group allotment plot was a blaze of colour this summer thanks to the wildflower seed we sowed last year. Loads of cornflowers and ox-eye daisies but it was the poppies that sprung up everywhere that dominated. The nectar-rich plants are in an excellent position as our neighbours have recently installed four bee hives.

2 Welcome by James Baker Editor Wildlife on the Move This edition seems to be full of stories of wildlife moving, for well-intentioned feeding of ducks that actually supports very lots of different reasons! Everything from the extraordinary high rat populations, which can impact on other species in lots journey of swifts and painted ladies, which fill me with awe of ways. Reg Snook highlights the risks that rats pose to birds every time I think about it, to the Friends of Holywells Park eggs and chicks, but often more of an issue is the consequent relocating a wild bee colony from underneath a garden shed! use of rat poison which accumulates up the food chain Julian Dowding’s article on page 19 describes the full wonder affecting birds of prey, foxes, badgers etc. of the painted lady’s life cycle and interestingly shows us how man-made climate change is allowing this species and many In the previous edition of Local Wildlife News we said there others to move north more than ever before. Whilst exciting to would be a final report on the Urban Buzz project in this see new and different butterfly species, we have to recognise edition – apologies but it will now appear in the next edition. that other species will be pushed out of their traditional range But for now I hope you enjoy the front cover showing one of by such changes. But elsewhere in this edition there are stories the project’s new ‘pollinator hotspots’ in full flower. of people helping species – relocating potentially doomed newts on page 12 and “headstarting” black-tailed godwit chicks Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody on page 14. In fact this magazine, as always, demonstrates how who has been involved in the Greenways Project throughout much people are doing in the area to help wildlife in a variety its first 25 years of operation – a milestone reached on the 4th of ways. The events section bears this out. of July this year. Whilst the Project’s funding situation is very difficult (see last years annual report on page 8) I sincerely As well as the negative impacts of climate change on wildlife, hope that with everyone’s continued support the Project will there are other ways in which people don’t help -probably continue to care for wildlife habitats and provide opportunities without realising - as well! One example on page 18 is the for people to be involved for many more years to come.

Contents Page Snippets 2 Suffolk Wildlife Trust 4 Greenways Countryside Project 8 5 9 Ipswich Wildlife Group 11 Ipswich Borough Council Wildlife Rangers 12 Friends of Holywells Park 13 RSPB Ipswich Local Group 14 Friends of Belstead Brook Park 15 Suffolk Bird Group 16 11 12 Portal Woodlands Conservation Group 17 Friends of Christchurch Park 18 Butterfly Conservation 19 Wild Ipswich 20 Friends of the Dales 21 14 20 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 Committee Report Wendy Brown Secretary of the SWT Ipswich Group

I am writing this edition of Over the summer months the can affect other bird species songbirds have had a good the committee notes with the Ipswich Group committee including sparrows, great tits year and baby goldfinch, roses in full bloom and putting members enjoy the fruits of and dunnocks. Much more greenfinch, dunnock, robin on a wonderful show. Unlike their labours with the members about this and other wildlife and blackbird have been noted the previous Wildlife News and friends; there was a very diseases can be found at www. in the garden. The sparrows that was written in the winter enjoyable coach trip, two gardenwildlifehealth.org were more numerous than at the time, when I was only successful walks and a garden I ever remember and there able to imagine the spring. I opened for us that was very was one male that chirped am happy with the thought inspiring for gardeners. it is always his way through the summer that there will not be such a exciting when completely unaware of people. season change this time and The talks for the winter season He had attendant mates, but I the roses will still be blooming are all organised and the an unexpected never found nests or saw any in September although not so Methodist Church in Black visitor is seen in chicks. prolifically. Horse Lane is booked for another season. the garden... It is always exciting when an unexpected visitor is seen in The urban garden birds the garden; on two occasions have been interesting and The fir tree not far from the there were alarm calls from different this year. It is good house had nesting magpies for the blackbirds and then out of to see that greenfinches the first time. Our attention the hedge and flying low over are returning to our urban was drawn to two magpies the fence was a sparrowhawk. gardens in small numbers. who were going berserk I don’t think it found its lunch Ipswich Group Newsletter Their numbers declined because two squirrels were this time, perhaps that is why Chairman: (Vacant) rapidly from 2006 due to the raiding their nest. The magpies it returned to try on the second Secretary: Wendy Brown 01473 259674 outbreak of Trichomonosis, a recovered from this incident occasion. [email protected] disease caused by a parasitic and have also seen off the Treasurer: Tony Clarke 01473 741083 protozoan. The main symptom carrion crows who came and We look forward to welcoming [email protected] is a swelling at the back of the sat on the tree and appeared you to the first of our autumn Newsletter Editor: John Ireland throat, making swallowing to taunt them. The magpies talks that is being given by 01473 723179 impossible. This parasite cannot continued noisily in residence, Michael Strand of the Suffolk [email protected] withstand desiccation and is but I never knew if they Wildlife Trust who is speaking We are the Ipswich Group of the mostly spread via food and added to the increasing urban about the Trust’s work on Suffolk Wildlife Trust. We offer an water. It is therefore essential population of this species. Creating Wildness. It will interesting range of monthly meetings that bird feeders, water baths be interesting to hear how with guest speakers. Trust members and feeding stations should I had thought of the magpies the Trust is now managing and non-members are equally be kept clean and disinfected as being the top predators their reserves in a way which welcome. During the summer months regularly. This parasite is and feared for the smaller encourages them to revert to we offer a variety of trips, some local, harmless to humans but songbirds. However, the their wild state. others by coach. Details of these and our monthly meetings can be found in © Colin Hullis our “Dates for your Diary” section or on the website, www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org.

Have you seen our Facebook page yet? The SWT Ipswich group is now sharing the ‘Suffolk Wildlife Trust in Ipswich’ Facebook page. If you are on Facebook why not come and follow us, you will find our page if you search for:- @swtipswich If you’re not on Facebook you can always look at the page by typing the following into your preferred browser:- https://www.facebook. com/swtipswich/

The large, domed nest of a magpie 4 Coach Trip to Sculthorpe Moor and Gooderstone Water Gardens all photographs © Kevin Marrable

The enchanting Gooderstone Water Gardens

On May 25th, a party of us gathered at Crown Street for the 23rd annual SWT coach trip. The weather was perfect - warm and sunny.

Ipswich Group Newsletter

trout stream and lots of benches to sit and admire the view. There is also an Magnificent male bullfinch eight-acre nature trail. The highlight for most people were the pair of kingfishers of us were lucky enough to spot both viewed from the bird hide; some of us male and female bullfinches, treecreepers, were even lucky enough to spot one of nuthatches, a cuckoo in flight and a red the two juveniles the parents had reared. kite. Sculthorpe is famous for having Half of the bird hide was roped off due to numerous birdfeeders around the reserve, a nesting wren – the parents were busy making spotting the birds that bit easier. feeding their brood. After a long day the Due to the lovely weather there were also large café was also welcomed by many plenty of butterflies and dragonflies on of us. the wing. Although only 45 acres, the Hawk and Owl Trust have managed the surrounding land for many years and are in The treecreeper seen at Sculthorpe the process of buying it, making the reserve Our first stop was to Sculthorpe Moor close to 200 acres. Nature Reserve in the beautiful Wensum Valley, North Norfolk, owned by the Our next stop was Hawk and Owl Trust. It is a peaceful Gooderstone Water place with a huge variety of wildlife in a Gardens, West rich and unusual mosaic of woodland, fen Norfolk. These and reedbed. enchanting gardens cover six acres, and There are five bird hides and a selection encompass four of benches to sit and watch nature. Many ponds, a natural Kingfishers captured at Gooderstone 5 Muntons Wildlife Walks An SWT trip to Stowmarket

One early evening in and maintain a wildlife site on could not have been more largest rookery in Suffolk, May, a group of members about 20 acres of Muntons’ different to the straight and probably! As we continued experienced the wildlife land. perfect willows. We passed to follow the fragrant mown around Muntons malt three old and characterful ash paths through this wild area, factory near Stowmarket. Our walk started down by trees. The first was a nesting we came across some of the a very pretty one kilometer site for kestrels and also a handiwork of the Wildlife Being in the flood plain of the stretch of the Gipping, the swarm of bees. The second Crew volunteers. There was River Gipping some of their ideal length for the bat had survived a lightning a bug hotel, a bird hide, a site is unsuitable for building. surveys which are carried strike and an arson attack, so beehive and various benches. So, an enthusiastic group of out here. The river is was severely charred lower All these items were made employees called the ‘Wildlife bordered at this point by a down, but above this had a from wood found on site or Crew’ volunteered to develop line of tall, straight trunked healthy strong trunk. The third donated. They have no budget willows. Melissa, our guide, ash in the row had a double for their work. All this is done encouraged us to nip off any trunk, very gnarled but again for the benefit of Muntons’ side shoots we could reach as thriving. employees and visitors like us. these trees will eventually be felled for making cricket bats. Across a wide open space It makes you wonder how from here we could not many other industrial sites On leaving this managed miss the sound and sight of around the country might area of wetland we entered hundreds of rooks preparing have unused land which Ipswich Group Newsletter the ‘wild floodplain’. The to roost. There are 172 nests could be managed for wildlife trees beside the river here on this site making it the in a similar way.

Dates for your Diary

All Meetings will be held at 7.30pm at Museum Street Methodist Church, 17 Black Horse Lane, Ipswich IP1 2EF. £2.50 includes tea and coffee. There is disabled access.

Wednesday 25th September 2019 Michael Strand Creating Wildness The Suffolk Wildlife Trust has adopted a new approach to conservation management in its nature reserves, trying to recreate areas which are as near as possible to what they would have been in their wild state, before the intervention of man. Michael, who is fundraising manager for the SWT, will explain how they go about this, and the benefits it provides for wildlife.

Wednesday 23rd October 2019 Sue Alderman (Hare Preservation Trust) Hares Hares, one of Britain’s best loved mammals, have inhabited these islands from ancient times. Easily identified by their black tipped ears and long back legs, they can reach speeds of 45 miles an hour. But today they are under serious threat. The numbers have fallen by more than 80% over the last hundred years. Shooting and hare coursing have contributed to this decline, but now there is a serious and as yet unidentified disease, which is reducing their numbers even further.

Wednesday 27th November 2019 Dr Hugh Hanmer (BTO) Sounds of the Night Hugh is a BTO research ecologist and the co-ordinator of the BTO’s “Project Owl”. In his talk he will discuss all the owls of the UK, their distribution and movements, the current monitoring efforts, and the many gaps in our knowledge about this often mysterious family of birds. We will learn how “Project Owl”, a set of inter-related owl research schemes, hopes to help fill these gaps, and lead to a better understanding, so that we can help to conserve these elusive and beautiful birds.

Wednesday 11th December 2019 Dr Chris Gibson An East Anglian Story Chris has worked for most of his life for English Nature, and now, in his “retirement” is sharing his love of the natural world through his passion for photography, lecturing, writing, and being a tour guide. He describes this talk as “A canter through 60 million years of what is now East Anglia, looking at geological, climatic, social and historical facts that have left their mark on the landscape and wildlife that we see today”. I am sure you will enjoy this Christmas talk and the mince pies to accompany it. For more information search: “About Me—Chris Gibson, Wildlife”

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

6 Learning the wild way! Lucy Shepherd Wild Learning Officer, Suffolk Wildlife Trust

As Wild Learning Officer, my aim is to enthuse people in Ipswich about the wildlife that we share our town with. Whether it be through Forest School sessions, weekend wildlife clubs, teen courses, practical conservation sessions or night walks, I am lucky to work with different people across Ipswich.

Over the summer I worked with several schools for a sensory Forest School programme in Christchurch Park and on their School grounds, exploring the wildlife that lives there.

We went on feather hunts, made giant nests to sit in whilst we listening to bird song, made muddy faces using different cones, seeds and other natural bounties from Christchurch Park’s veteran trees. Lucy (right) with members of Suffolk Refugee Support Group For some of the children it was their first school trip and it was wonderful to share recently arrived in the UK. this experience with them. These are just a couple of examples of the I also work with community groups groups that I work with and the work that such as the Suffolk Refugees Support I do. To be able to share people’s first wild Group who joined me with a group of experiences is certainly a highlight of my young people to explore Holywells and role and I look forward to working with Christchurch Parks. We explored the groups across Ipswich this Autumn. Brooke House, Ashbocking, Ipswich IP6 9JY freshwater invertebrates of Holywells by 01473 890089 pond dipping. We then explored nocturnal Check out our Ipswich page on www. [email protected] wildlife, bat detecting in Christchurch. This suffolkwildlifetrust.org or our blogs provided them with their first experience www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/blog/tag/swt- suffolkwildlifetrust.org of British wildlife, with some having only ipswich-blog for more information.

A summer of Stags Lucy Shepherd Wild Learning Officer, Suffolk Wildlife Trust

There are lots of seasonal species to spot in Ipswich that only grace us with their presence at certain times of the year and with this in mind I organised a Great Stag Hunt looking for Stag beetles.

Our hunt took us to Pipers Vale and Christchurch Park to find these magnificent beasts which are one of the UK’s largest beetles with some males measuring a whopping 7.5cm. Stag beetles are great to see especially the males in flight with their antlers proudly displayed, and we found them in both locations!

Stag beetles are an iconic British species and we are lucky to have a good population of them in Ipswich which is are faring and to aid future conservation With lots of other activities coming up, not the case elsewhere in the country. efforts. At the time of writing, a fantastic I hope you can join me in exploring 7432 records were submitted across the Ipswich’s wild side this Autumn. Whilst we had fun searching for Stags, summer. Next summer you could go there is also a serious side to the fun as on your own Stag hunt or to help these Booking is available on The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species, wonderful beasts over the Autumn, by www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org. Follow asks people to record their Stag sightings creating a deadwood pile food source for us on @swtipswich on Facebook and in order to monitor how populations Stag beetle larvae. Instagram. 7 Annual Report - April 2018 to March 2019 James Baker Manager, Greenways Countryside Project

This brief report covers successful partnership led by authorities. The need to some of what the Greenways Ipswich Borough Council with generate income inevitably Project has been up to in Babergh District Council and means that some work we Scout Headquarters (next to St Peter’s the twelve months to March East Suffolk Council – now in have traditionally done can Church), Stoke Park Drive, Ipswich, 2019. For more detailed its 25th year! Sadly, Suffolk no longer be achieved. Suffolk, IP2 9TH Office: information about any of the County Council withdrew 01473 433995 greenways.project@ sites or aspects of our work, from the partnership at the The invaluable ipswich.gov.uk please contact us. end of March 2018, leaving contribution of volunteers www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/ the Project team with a For all of the 25 years the greenways The map below shows the considerably larger income Project has existed, volunteers approximate locations of the generation target than it had and local community The Greenways Countryside Project main areas where the Project before. organisations getting involved exists to protect and enhance the has worked – a mix of nature has been key to the Project’s countryside, landscape and open reserves, parks, green spaces The total cost of the Project success. Volunteers carry out space across an area of about 100 and school grounds etc. The for the year is around the widest possible range of square kilometres in and around the pale green shading shows £110,000, of which the three tasks and roles from practical town of Ipswich, and home to around the extent of the Project remaining partners contribute nature reserve management one quarter of the population of Suffolk, for the benefit of wildlife and boundary, although we now around £60,000, with IBC to running family events and local people. The project relies on increasingly work outside that filling the gap left by Suffolk activities. The Project and its volunteers to complete much of its boundary on projects that County Council this year. We partners benefit considerably practical conservation work. meet our strategic aims of work very hard to meet the from this huge effort – just The Greenways Project is a very being positive for biodiversity income target by working with over 1500 person days this successful and well-established and public enjoyment of Parish and Town Councils year, equivalent to 8 full-time partnership between Ipswich Borough green spaces. in our area; seeking grants members of staff or almost Council, Babergh District Council, and other contributions; £100,000 (based on Lottery East Suffolk Council and the local How the Project is funded selling our services and match funding values). We community. The Greenways Project is a carrying out additional work hope that the volunteers also well-established and very for the existing partner local benefit from working with us

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

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4 10 2 5 1 3 16 7

8 Invaluable volunteers benefit too Tent-building at Spring Wood Day

– learning new skills; gaining to greatly thank everyone been involved with a range Show as guests of Suffolk confidence; discovering who helps the Project as a of events through the year, Wildlife Trust, where we made new places to visit; enjoying volunteer – your contribution including the ever-popular over 300 bug boxes with company; experiencing is invaluable. Spring Wood Day, which children over the two days. wildlife and much more. attracts several hundred The Project Team and Joint Events and Public visitors to the Wood and Kiln Looking after our nature Advisory Committee would Activities Meadow in Belstead Brook reserves and green like to take this opportunity The Project has run and Park. The event is informal spaces and old-fashioned with folk By far the largest part of our music and dancing, wildlife work is the practical day to List of sites walks and stalls, woodcraft day management of the 50 or and other activities for so nature reserves and other Belstead Brook Park Northern Fringe children and families, camp sites that we are involved with. 1 Spring Wood (LNR) 1 Chestnut Pond, Rushmere St fire baked potatoes and tea 2 Kiln Meadow (LNR) Andrew 3 Millennium Wood (LNR) 2 Grundisburgh Millennium and cake! The vast majority of the staff 4 Bobbits Lane Meadows (LNR) Meadow and volunteer time is used on 5 Ashground Plantation and 3 Lyttleton’s Meadow, Grundisburgh Many of our other events are these activities, carrying out Whitland Close area 4 Kiln Farm Meadow (CWS), Gt 6 Bobbits Lane – upper area Bealings more modest in scale, and are a very wide range of habitat 7 Butterfly Ride 5 Fonnereau Way based around encouraging management and visitor 8 Stoke Park Wood (LNR) 6 Sidegate Lane School children and families to make infrastructure tasks, including: 9 Ellenbrook open space and Playing ‘Wildlife Homes’ to take coppicing woodlands, planting Field Western Fringe and the River home and put in the garden. hedges, mowing wildflower 10 Burnet Meadow and Thorington 1 Alderman Canal (LNR) Park area 2 River Path – Stoke Bridge Working with Ipswich Wildlife meadows, clearing scrub from 11 Belstead Meadows 3 River Path – Princes St to West End Group, we have helped to add heathland, de-silting ponds 12 Belstead Lower Meadows (CWS) Rd thousands of bug homes, bird and wetlands, building bridges 13 Thorington Hall Farm area 4 River Path – West End Road 14 Belstead Heath 5 River Path – West End Rd to boxes and hedgehog houses and boardwalks, fencing, 15 Bourne Park Handford Rd to the gardens of Ipswich and installing signs and boards, 16 Belstead Allotments 6 River Path – Handford Rd- further afield. This year, this mowing and surfacing paths, Yarmouth Rd Southern fringe 7 River Path – Yarmouth Rd to included attending the Suffolk picking litter and many more! 1 Netley Close open space Riverside Road 2 Belmont Road Wood 8 River Path – Boss Hall 3 Braky Wood 9 River Path – ex-Sugar Factory 4 Lynnbrook Wildlife Area 10 River Path – A14 to Sproughton 11 Churchman Way Eastern Fringe 1 Purdis Heath (SSSI), Purdis Farm LNR = Local Nature Reserve 2 Martlesham Heath (SSSI) CWS = County Wildlife Site 3 Martlesham Common (CWS) SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest 4 Mill Stream (LNR), Rushmere St Andrew 5 Sandlings, (LNR), Rushmere St Andrew 6 Warren Heath (CWS) 7 Farthing Wood, Kesgrave 8 Long Strops Pond, Kesgrave 9 Cedarwood Green, Kesgrave 10 Legion Green, Kesgrave 11 Copleston School

Volunteers building a new boardwalk 9 2018/19 Greenways Annual Report continued Examples of site work

Reptile fencing at Sproughton Burnet Meadow – mowing and new management As part of the Project’s need to generate income, we plan undertook the construction of a reptile exclusion fence A popular part of Belstead Brook Park, Burnet Meadow prior to the development of the former sugar beet factory (8½ acres) has great wildlife but also an impressive at Sproughton, on behalf of the site owner, Ipswich play area and outdoor exercise equipment. The Project Borough Council. helps look after the site on behalf of Babergh District Council, and has recently prepared a new conservation The fencing, designed to prevent reptiles straying onto management plan for the area. the development area, was about 450m long and involved our volunteers putting in over 200 wooden Our work this year, as each year, has included: posts and attaching thick plastic sheeting, dug into coppicing the tree belt woodland to keep growth the ground. It was a new skill for our volunteers who away from overhead power lines, and provide habitat hadn’t had an opportunity to construct this type of for woodland species (including dormice); mowing fencing before. The Project is hoping to take on the and raking the wildflower grass areas to maximise future management of wildlife areas on this major the diversity of flowering plants; and maintaining development site, linking very well with our work along established old hedgerows. the rest of the river corridor.

River rubbish removal with Ipswich’s MP Martlesham Heath SSSI - new paths The town’s MP, Sandy Martin, along with Ipswich Volunteers helped to surface two stretches of footpath Borough Councillors David Ellesmere, Carole Jones and across Martlesham Heath (49 acres) on behalf of Collette Allen and numerous local volunteers, helped us the Martlesham Heath to remove large items of rubbish from the River Orwell Householders Ltd., greatly bed between Princes Street and Bridge Street. Working improving a well-used in the tidal part of the river is difficult and potentially short cut used as a route dangerous and has to be planned around the tides. to schools and other facilities. The paths are now level and even and available in all weather conditions. The route is much shorter than the alternative of using street pavements, and obviously brings people into contact with their local Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) heathland – so, a great chance to experience wildlife too!

Mill Stream LNR Pond de-silting As reported in the last edition of LWN, two of the ponds at the reserve were de-silted with a large excavator, at the end of the winter, to maintain some areas of open water, to maximise the value for as wide a range of species as possible. Volunteers helped to prepare for the work by clearing scrub and removing low branches to get the machine into the site. The inevitable initial muddy mess has already now disappeared as vegetation has recolonised the banks. Mill Stream is a small reserve (just over 10 acres) located in Rushmere St Andrew, just west of the Speedway Stadium.

10 2018/19 Greenways Annual Report continued A Summer of Success Colin Hullis Committee Member, Ipswich Wildlife Group

Suffolk Show Rushmere St Andrew. This is like Again this year we were a giant allotment (4 acres) with invited to be part of the large scale plots growing single Suffolk Wildlife Trust wildlife crops. To date there are 50 area stand. After last year’s members who pay an annual success winning the Best membership fee and commit to Environmental Stand award, a few hours work each week. this year the Trust went For that they enjoy a weekly one better and won Best supply of ultra-fresh vegetables Stand in the Show. Many from the farm, grown without congratulations to all those the use of artificial fertilisers or involved and IWG were proud pesticides. The harvest is shared to be part of it. out equally between members each week, eggs and flowers Spring Wood Day are also available. There is more Another great success - information at www.the-oak- although the weather wasn’t at IWG volunteers get their hands on the Suffolk Show trophy tree.co.uk its best, the event still attracted hundreds of visitors on the Events that will hopefully bear fruit. Spring Bank Holiday Monday. Martin Cant continues to lead our Wildlife Homes project Murrayfield Park was the venue Visitors of all ages enjoyed the with great dedication and we for another wildlife event we sights and activities associated recently enjoyed a nestbox attended along with the IBC with woodlands, wildlife -making session with our Wildlife & Education Rangers. and woodcrafts. This year in youngest group yet, at the addition to the regular music, Willows Daycare Centre for We also had a most interesting maypole dancing, guided pre-school children. ‘Get ‘em session at the Open Day at The Secretary Leila Matata walks, story-telling and hot while they’re young’, a policy Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm in [email protected] potatoes, there was tent- www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/iwg facebook.com/ipswichwildlifegroup making and donkeys! Ipswich Wildlife Group is a registered charity, relying entirely on volunteers, that promotes interest in, and conser- vation of, wildlife and habitats in and around Ipswich.

One final success of the summer was our harvest of broad beans from the IWG allotment plot. These are known as ‘Ray’s Beans’ as our The Dales LNR late Chairman Ray Sidaway Our visit to this little-known planted the seeds in the gem of a Local Nature Reserve autumn a few weeks before he was a delight - until the rain Still smiling in the Dales ‘wet’ meadow! died. Thanks again Ray. came.

The 14½ acre reserve behind the houses in Dales Road is owned by Ipswich Borough Council and managed by volunteers from the Friends group. Our tour of the site was led by IBC Ranger Dave Dowding assisted by some members of the Friends group who were keen to impart their intimate knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the site. There is an amazing diversity of wildlife present from tree species and wild flowers to birds, insects and pond life.

Unfortunately our visit was cut short by a predicted torrential downpour of rain. The wonderful wild flower meadow at Oak Tree Farm 11 Treasures of a disused swimming pool David Dowding Ipswich Borough Council Wildlife Team

The Wildlife Team were This swimming pool had asked to take a look at a been drained and cleared of population of amphibians amphibians back in 2017, residing in a disused but the PVC swimming pool swimming pool at a liner had fallen down and house off Belstead Road. then filled with water forming Disused swimming pools another pool. As a result, can naturalize into quite returning smooth newts and a fantastic freshwater habitat few frogs were able to survive and despite its insalubrious in this mixture of water and appearance, this was no detritus. exception. Initially we assumed it was just a few trapped amphibians, but on lifting up the liner we were soon to find large numbers of newts. Underneath the duckweed we found a thriving The disused swimming pool - a fantastic freshwater habitat ecosystem full of tadpoles, daphnia and dragonfly larvae.

Wildlife Rangers On the initial visit we Office : 01473 433998 removed as many amphibians [email protected] as we could from under Stable Block, Holywells Park, the liner. We then came Cliff Lane, Ipswich IP3 0PG back with nets and other The Wildlife & Education Rangers are equipment to rescue any responsible for the management of aquatic stage amphibians wildlife areas within the town’s parks from the standing water. and other green spaces. As well as This plastic pool held carrying out practical management, several hundred litres of the team runs an events programme shallow water and with and works with many local schools to engage and inspire the public about plenty of sunlight, created the wildlife Ipswich has to offer. good breeding habitat for amphibians. Once we had

Matt and Sam systematically cutting and removing sections of pond liner before removing newts underneath

Pool slowly draining as liner has been removed. We sifted through the detritus with nets and trays

sifted through the water for In total we removed 350 amphibians we had to pierce smooth newts, four frogs the liner. Water gushed and a bucket of tadpoles. out into the bottom of the These were taken to the concrete base before draining new wildlife pond area at and we had to be quick to get Christchurch Park, where A handful of immature newts from under a section of PVC material. out of the way! newts are yet to establish. 12 Bees on the Move Yvonne Westley and Andy Smuk Friends of Holywells Park bee-keepers

Holywells Park has many hidden gems. The orchard, in which we hold most of our events, is one of them. This is maintained by a hardy band of volunteers who meet every Wednesday to carry out various tasks according to the season.

Hidden in a corner of this beautiful space is our Holywells Apiary, currently accommodating ten hives. The beekeepers have been looking after bees here for six years and for the last three years, we have been able to supply honey from the bees for sale in the park reception. Holywells honey has a flavour of its own as the bees are able to forage over a 3km radius which incorporates orchard A colony of bees discovered under the garden shed blossom, meadow flowers, allotments and local gardens. bees had made their home of bees to stay in the hive underneath the shed but after they had been scooped However, the main aims of their ‘comings and goings’ up, it was essential that the keeping bees in the park are were beginning to restrict the queen was present in the for pollination and education. family’s use of the garden. new hive. It was impossible We’ve noticed that, since We were asked if we would to find the queen, so we just we’ve had the hives in the be able to remove the bees had to hope we’d transferred orchard, the trees are more and relocate them to a hive her successfully with the Friends of fruitful, which is a bonus as in the Holywells apiary. So, other bees. The new hive was Holywells Park the apples, pears and quince with the help of the family, left in position at the front are used at the Friends of we attempted to do this in of the shed, and when we The Group aims to work in partnership Holywells Park ‘Apple Day’ June this year. It was a tricky returned a couple of days with Ipswich Borough Council to event. The beekeepers also procedure which involved later, we knew we’d been improve and promote the Park. work alongside Suffolk the shed being ‘jacked up’ to successful because the bees Contact: [email protected] Wildlife Trust to put on access the colony, including were returning to their new www.holywellspark.org.uk courses for young people who the queen and her entourage home with pollen, and not facebook.com/holywellsparkipswich want to learn more about (up to 60000 bees at that time back to the original site. The bees. of year). We had to carefully hive was then moved to the cut away the comb, which Holywells park apiary, where from the sales go back into At the end of 2018, we included brood and eggs, it’s thriving. supporting the bees and were approached by a local and put them into an empty Friends events on the park. resident whose garden shed beehive. Holywells honey is for sale in We look forward to seeing had been home to a colony the park reception and also you at our next event, Apple of bees for eight years. The To encourage the vast amount at our events. All proceeds Day, on Saturday 12 October.

Up to 6000 bees in the colony We had to carefully cut away the comb 13 Local (and international) news from Ipswich RSPB Tim Kenny Leader, RSPB Ipswich Group © TimKenny We are now into the dog days of summer, when the frenetic activity of the spring is over, songs are largely sung, and young birds are exploring their new world and simultaneously presenting birders with identification challenges. I received a photo on my phone from a friend (who is by no means an inexperienced birder) asking the age old question – “what is this?” In this case it turned out to be a fledgling blackbird.

In early June I was delighted to attend a volunteers “thank you” event at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Welney reserve to find out about the project to boost numbers of breeding black- tailed godwits using a technique called headstarting.

Black-tailed godwit in summer plumage. In winter the reddish parts are replaced with grey. Look for the distinctive black and white wingbar and flesh-coloured base to the orange bill.

website to report these birds is https:// from a wedding in Archangel, northern projectgodwit.org.uk/get-involved/ Russia. I do realise that the below photo Ipswich Local Group report-a-sighting/. Sightings of other of yours truly feeding a remarkably tame Group Leader Tim Kenny colour ringed godwits should be sent red squirrel doesn’t qualify as “local” but Tel 01394 809236 to [email protected]. I think sometimes, amid the welter of [email protected] The Orwell and Stour estuaries hold gloomy environmental news, we could www.rspb.org.uk/groups/Ipswich internationally important numbers of all do with a bit of the “aaah” factor. Ipswich RSPB Local Group is for everyone interested black-tailed godwits in birds and other wildlife in the Ipswich area and so keep your eyes beyond. Come along to our indoor talks, held peeled for colour monthly between September to April at Rushmere rings. St Andrew Church Hall, or (throughout the year), get out and experience nature first hand on one of It seems a while ago our regular field meetings, visiting some of the best now but we were spots for wildlife in the area. Three times a year delighted to attend the ‘Orwell Observer’, keeps readers abreast of the Spring Wood Day latest developments at nearby RSPB Reserves as well as news of Group activities, along with members’ during the early photographs and accounts of birding exploits from May bank holiday. A home and abroad. Membership costs £3 per year distant flyover hobby (£1 for Juniors). For more information see the Events was perhaps the Diary in this magazine, visit our website or write as highlight but great per details above. views were had of lesser whitethroat, common Volunteers remove eggs from breeding whitethroat, birds in the nearby Nene Washes (under garden warbler license, of course) and place them in and blackcap. incubators to hatch them. The young Common buzzards birds are then cared for in polytunnels are increasing in as they grow to the point where they can the Ipswich area, be released. Then comes the day when as indeed they are the doors of the last polytunnel are everywhere, and thrown open and the young godwits can a few were seen begin their new lives in the wild. over Kiln Meadow. There’s every chance that some of A nightingale had these birds might make it to our part been heard by the of the world, and the project would volunteers who had be delighted to receive your reports camped overnight. of headstarted birds. Birds ringed under the scheme wear a lime colour Finally I have ring stamped with the letter E and the recently returned 14 Our efforts make a big difference Ann Havard Friends of Belstead Brook Park The weather for our work party in April ran true to form – dull, rain, hail, snow and sun! I suppose it’s what makes England a green and pleasant land but I have to tell you that hail and snow when you are working outside in April is very cold.

The steps from Bobbits Lane to Kiln Meadow before and after our clean-up

But as good committed set of steps leading up to the Tesco Bags of Help grant conservationists we carried Kiln Meadow from the Lane, that we received recently. on regardless – well, after a whilst Ann chopped down warming cup of coffee and In July we completed the the odd biscuit or two. We laying of gravel at the top of got on really well actually A really good the path leading down into with only five of us out the reed beds from Whitland morning’s work Friends of Belstead Brook Park managed to clear the nettles Close. from behind the bird viewing despite what the www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/fobbp Email: [email protected] hide and the path leading up The Greenways volunteers sky threw at us. Facebook: www.facebook.com/fobbp to it in Bobbits Meadow. have also been busy during Friends of Belstead Brook Park their regular work parties and (FoBBP) was set up in 2002 to help Then four cleared away the now the path through the look after the 250 acres of informal vegetation from around the dogwood from around the wood linking up to Bourne country park on the south-western kissing gate into the Meadow. Park is looking really inviting. fringe of Ipswich. The group runs A really good morning’s work The previously very steep practical work parties, helps raise despite what the sky threw slope down from Whitland funds for improvements and acts as at us. Close is now much easier and ‘eyes and ears’, passing information The Spring Wood May Day safer to use. A big thank you back to the Greenways Project. celebrations were the usual to everyone who has helped. success, read about them elsewhere but thanks to FoBBP members who helped in the information tent.

Thanks to James for leading our June work party as I was away in the Rocky Mountains of Canada – wildlife on a totally different scale! Friends helped at Whitland Close with the preparatory work of planning and clearing vegetation ready to improve the access down into the reed bed. This will open up the area ready for more major work to re-profile the path down into the reed bed which Lois and James on the new path we are able to do thanks to The view over the reed beds from the hide 15 The importance of bird survey work Gi Grieco Suffolk Bird Group Council Member © Gi Grieco One aspect of Suffolk Bird Group’s work is to protect the birds of the county. One action is to lobby to protect habitats, another is to organise and promote bird surveys.

In the previous issue there was a piece on the group’s Suffolk Rookery Survey and how to get involved. To date we’ve had a positive response with great participation. We will shortly assess coverage in this first year to find areas that still need to be covered and will publish details in a later edition of the group’s magazine, The Harrier.

Enquiries: [email protected] www.suffolkbirdgroup.org One of the rookeries found on our Suffolk Rookery Survey Twitter: suffolkbirds1 project whose aim, amongst others, is of Cuckoos too and on a trip to Essex to SBG is the Group for people interested in to promote the recording of Swifts nest visit Fingringhoe Wick where we heard the birds of Suffolk, providing a network sites. So this is a reminder for everyone some Nightingales. and a voice for birdwatchers in the county. to log their records of Swifts on the Suffolk Swift Survey – www.suffolkbis. A more recent trip was to the west org/uk/swift. of the county, to the RSPB reserve of Three of us from the group did a road Lakenheath Fen. Here, although we trip to do the rookery survey where we There is also a very handy app, called saw some great birds such as Bittern covered a large swathe of Suffolk, often Swift Mapper. The purpose of the app and Marsh Harrier, a lot of the trip we in out-of-the-way places, going to some is to record the location of Swifts and were mesmerized by the great selection areas for the first time even though we’ve Swift nest sites around the UK. This of insects, dragonflies, damselflies and covered a lot of Suffolk previously. What information can be used to monitor butterflies. We had a talk by Conor is great is that not only is it a fun way distribution and population changes. Jameson on ‘Looking for Goshawk – the to do the survey but it is nice to explore The data can also be used by local Lost Raptor’ in April and it was great to these lesser-known areas and great authority planners, architects, ecologists learn about this fantastic raptor. We do to see some lovely parts of the Suffolk and developers to find out where Swift occasionally encounter the species but countryside. In addition you may come hotspots are. can only dream of the views Conor had across other birdlife, such as having in parks in Berlin. great views of Nuthatch as we did in one The group has had its usual selection of village. great walks during the Spring; always a In the coming months we’ll be thinking treat to be outside hearing and seeing of autumn migration; how breeding During the summer we’ve been those birds that are the herald of warmer birds have fared in the county and what promoting another survey, the annual weather. A couple of the trips were on passage birds we’ll encounter on our recording of Swifts, part of the joint the Suffolk coast and we had a number forthcoming field trips. See the Events SBG/SWT Save our Suffolk Swifts of warblers singing, fortunately a couple section. © Gi Grieco © Chris Courtney

Swift nest sites are recorded Scarce Chaser dragonfly 16 Portal Woodlands Conservation Group News Sam Cork with contributions from George Pennick © D. Sweeting The sustained wet weather Nature Explorers Award in Our annual glow- earlier in the year had recognition of his contribution worm survey and certainly taken its toll on to conservation in the Parish bat walk took the paths, keeping our of Martlesham. The meeting place on a slightly volunteers busy. was rounded off with a windy Wednesday fascinating talk by Duncan at the end of June. In addition to clearing mud Sweeting on badgers in the We were lucky to from the perimeter track, Suffolk area. see and hear (with laying down wood chippings detectors) common on the muddy woodland Later in April, our Volunteers pipistrelle and paths, and clearing the French cleared brambles, saplings soprano pipistrelle drain which had become and other young shoots from bats flying around completely blocked with the southern tumuli (Bronze the trees hunting run-off sediments, the rain Age burial mounds) before for insects, and had also contributed to the the new spring growth had at times only just collapse of one path into the become too wild. We were above our heads. northern revetment’s trench, pleased to see that lush green Noctules were and so this was rebuilt and grass was establishing itself in heard but not seen. reinforced with the old the areas we had previously Disappointingly, sandbags (having turned to cleared and that wildflowers, only six female George Pennick Nature Explorers Award stone over the years), that had such as bluebell and forget- glow-worms were Winner 2019 become detached from the me-not had already started counted, and main revetment structure. to take hold. It was good to no males. The count was see some of the large stumps consistent with the low Our AGM took place in of the trees, which had been numbers of recent years with April, where our Committee previously growing on the notably fewer found along the was voted in and George mounds, nicely decomposing hedges and in grassy areas Pennick was crowned helped by an impressive that have been disturbed or Portal Woodlands this year’s winner of the covering of fungi. cut back due to clearance and Conservation Group © S. Corley landscaping. Enquiries: Martlesham Parish Council The Nature Explorers made 01473 612632 www.pwcg.onesuffolk.net a new wildflower bed in the or email [email protected] The group was formed to conserve grassy area by the northern the woodlands west of the Suffolk tumulus, with the aim of Police HQ and alongside the A1214. adding some colour and Volunteers meet each month to work attracting insects. The seeds on a variety of projects. Anybody is were specially selected welcome to join this friendly group. UK native species, kindly Training and tools are provided. provided by Kew Gardens as part of their ‘Grow Wild’ Campaign. If all goes well For more details of the we look forward to a display Group’s events, and to check of flowers, such as corn for date changes, please go to: chamomile, ragged robin and www.pwcg.onesuffolk.net/ or foxglove over the summer join our members’ Facebook - we hope you can visit to Group by messaging Duncan Work Morning volunteers clearing the path enjoy the woods and wildlife. Sweeting. © S. Corley

Volunteer Work Mornings (all ages welcome - no need to book) Meet at the Education Area from 10.00am – Noon. Saturday 21st September, Sunday 20th October, Saturday 16th November, Sunday 15th 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 21st September, Saturday 16th November.

Nature Watch Club (5 to 11 year olds) Dates to be announced. Please email pwcg.martlesham@ gmail.com for more information or alternatively look at our website: www.pwcg.onesuffolk.net An impressive covering of fungi on a tree stump 17 Rats! Reg Snook Friends of Christchurch Park

An SOS from the FoCP. Please, is there a Pied Piper, formally of Hamelin, out there who can rid our Park of rats?

We have known for a number of years disappearance of most mallard and Success was mainly due to the very that the colony of rats which live mandarin ducklings was blamed on large band of volunteers who serviced very close to the Wilderness Pond are the lesser black-backed gulls but now this operation. The number of nesting increasing in numbers and expanding it has been suggested that rats may sea birds on Lundy now totals more in range. Despite the notices intended also be responsible. This theory has than 21,000 birds. Puffin pairs now to dissuade people from feeding the come about following reports of ‘rat stand at 375 and the Manx Shearwater waterfowl, bread, sometimes in large clearance’ in important bird reserves has now risen to 5,504 pairs (75% quantities, is still being thrown into the such as Lundy, Skomer and some of of the world’s population of Manx water and also along the concrete path. the Isles of Scilly (and even in New Shearwater breed on British islands). Some ‘kind’ park-goers have even been Zealand). This happy situation is due to the seen feeding these furry animals. extermination of rats.

Rats are well-known to be carriers ... the vast majority of Needless to say, Animal Rights of disease. I have to admit that the ‘our’ rats appear to be in organisations are not happy since vast majority of ‘our’ rats appear to the culling of one species to benefit be in extremely good condition with extremely good condition another is not on their agenda. (A cull shiny coats. However, our Park would with shiny coats... of about 40,000 rats cost an estimated probably benefit if rattus norvegicus £50,000.) was not present. Clearing rats from land surrounded The bird population on Lundy Island by water is far easier than ridding in the Bristol Channel off the Devon Christchurch Park of them since those coast has boomed following the in our Park have no boundaries. In fact extermination of the island’s rats. In it is a reverse situation – the rats are on 2002, a decision was made between dry land with water in the middle – but RSPB, Natural England, the Landmark they are capable swimmers and are Trust and National Trust, to rid often seen in the Wilderness Pond. It Friends of Christchurch Park Lundy of rats which were unwittingly seems that if the large gulls do not get Secretary: Sylvia Patsalides 07971 467042 imported from visiting ships or the ducklings, then the rats will. Membership Secretary: Robert Fairchild shipwrecks. 01473 254255 So should we eliminate rats and if so www.focp.org.uk Follow us on Facebook@ Puffin numbers had plummeted from how? Using poison may be the answer Christchurch Park and Twitter@ChristchurchPk 3,500 pairs in 1939 to less than 10 but we have tawny owls that breed

pairs in the year 2000 with Manx close by. Dead rats lying on pathways The sole purpose of the Friends Group is to help look after the Park for the public good, and to Shearwater numbers down to 297 pairs or in the water is also undesirable. promote its welfare. Anyone who shares this aim in 2007. The rats were subsequently is welcome to join. For a small annual fee of £10 poisoned – which could have been I fear, however, that the rat population you can join in Friends activities all year round, disastrous for the island’s short- will continue to increase if no action is including Illustrated talks and discussions, Guided eared owls and visiting birds of Park walks and Practical conservation work. You prey – but careful control of the will also receive an informal seasonal newsletter. poison and the prompt removal of deceased rats was paramount. The first clutch of coot’s eggs successfully hatched and the young are now fully grown. The second clutch failed as did the nest of little grebes which is a shame.

Of course, the failure of these two species taken and and the difficult decisions are urgently needed to be taken. Perhaps I should take lessons on how to play the flute as I already have a black and white suit!

© Eric Isselee | Shutterstock.com 18 Fantastic flight of the Painted Lady Julian Dowding Secretary, Suffolk Butterfly Conservation

Some of you may have seen Kev Ling and © Jim Black Ross Bentley’s piece in EADT entitled, “Butterfly fans anticipate a once in a decade ‘Painted Lady Summer.” For those who didn’t catch the news, I’ll recap:

The enigmatic and beautifully coloured Painted Lady travels to us each year from as far away as North Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Their story begins in early spring as the butterflies hatch from their pupae or chrysalids. Rising temperatures drive them northwards into southern Europe where they find thistles and other plants to lay their eggs upon. This second generation of eggs, caterpillars, pupae and adults then continues northwards in the same fashion as their parents. Painted Lady showing underwing

Ultimately, several generations later, they down the wing edge to the mid-point, find their way to Britain. Occasionally this almost level with the spot on the forewing. can be in huge numbers, as happened in 2009, which was the largest on record This summer has also seen a spread and since 1976. Given the large numbers influx of other species moving here across already reported abroad and a first wave county borders. Internal migration, or here in June and early July, it may be that the expansion of species’ known ranges 2019 turns into another Painted Lady Year. here in the UK often come as a result of a Those that arrived in early summer, will good year, or a hot year, as was the case Butterfly Conservation produce eggs which eventually give rise last summer. Some of these species have Saving butterflies, moths and our environment to a mass hatching of adult butterflies this also turned up in coastal locations too, summer. Even more interesting perhaps certainly suggestive of migrants. Might Membership Secretary is that radar tracking has demonstrated it be that climate change is now having 01379 643665 that the late summer brood then head a profound effect upon such ordinarily www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk southwards, making the incredible ‘immobile’ species? I think so. email: [email protected] Butterfly Conservation is dedicated to saving wild multigenerational journey back to North butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout What will come next? Africa. the UK. All Butterfly Conservation members who The propensity to expand range is not a live in Suffolk are automatically members of the Southern Small White - already new phenomenon but given the way things branch and receive our newsletter, the Suffolk here? are warming up climatically speaking, one Argus, three times a year. The Suffolk branch is Butterfly Conservation Europe have has to wonder what will come next. How run by volunteers and we would be very pleased postulated that Southern Small White about Marbled or Lesser Marbled Fritillary? to hear from you if you would like to get involved. should be the next butterfly to arrive from Only 10 years ago, Marbled Fritillary abroad. Possibly it’s already here, as it’s (which is a bramble feeder) was a southern travelling this way at about 100km per European species. Distribution maps in had a much more northerly distribution. year and could easily be mistaken for field guides show it ranged from northern Tristan Lafranchis -renowned author and the ubiquitous Small White. The main Spain across to Turkey and only as far naturalist- drew my attention a few years difference to watch for is the longer north as southern France and southern ago to a lightning fast spread northwards of black mark around the tip or apex of the Germany. It’s close relative, Lesser Marbled Marbled Fritillary into Normandy and the upperside forewing which extends further Fritillary (which feeds on meadowsweet) pas de Calais several hundred miles further

© Matt Berry north. How about Black-veined White? This was one that Winston Churchill tried to introduce at Chartwell but failed miserably because WW2 diverted his focus and gardeners entrusted with caring for his butterflies didn’t understand his instructions! The butterfly is now just across The Channel.

So, with all this in mind, please keep your eyes open, enjoy the Painted Lady and if it whets your appetite, please send your sightings (with a photo if possible) to the sightings page of Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation www. suffolkbutterflies.org.uk/sightings and to our county butterfly recorder Bill Stone: Painted Ladies arrive from North Africa, Asia and the Middle East [email protected] 19 Glow-worms Lighting the way David Dowding and Daniel Cable-Davey Ravenswood Wildlife Group

The Orwell Country Park is a 250 acre nature reserve encompassing a range of habitats, from meadows and heathland through to scrub and ancient woodland. This mix gives rise to varied flora and fauna of which our wildlife group actively surveys during the summer months.

Glow-worms are a particular favourite, their bioluminescence truly captivating and during the summer months our group spends many evenings monitoring this species. Only glowing for an hour or two after dusk there is a finite window of opportunity to survey.

Wild Ipswich All the conservation organisations working together to inspire local people to help wildlife throughout the town and beyond. displaying adults need more open habitats The average size in woodland was 1.8cm www.wildipswich.org in which to display effectively. As a result and the average size at the edge of wet the densest concentrations are found on habitats was 2.4cm. One female at the open heathland. They are very much a edge of Morland Road allotments and warmth-loving species so favour banks, gardens had reached a whopping 3.4cm, scallops, logpiles and heaps of rotting double the usual size! Larger females vegetation. Managed woodland habitats have a higher fecundity so although glow- with sheltered glades and rides have worms struggle to form viable populations also shown to be good habitats such as in gardens and wet meadows (due to light Gainsborough Lane, Braziers Wood and pollution/flooding etc) they can provide Bridge Wood. welcome additions to the species across the wider landscape. Due to their ecology the beetle can’t survive in very wet areas but where they The skylark meadow (old airport site) adjoin dryer habitat the individuals are shows good open mosaic habitat for often quite large, due to the density glow-worms but numerous surveys of snails. This size difference was also highlighted the insect’s absence. The Since we began surveying in 2015 we noted on females displaying near to good news from our annual family have noted good populations in the open allotments or gardens, presumably due glow-worm walk is that the species is mosaic habitats at Piper’s Vale, Elm Hill to the availability of larger prey in garden spreading through Brazier’s Wood towards and Pond Hall meadow. Glow-worm snails. Out of 100 female glow-worms Ravenswood, it’s just a very slow process larvae favour well vegetated habitats measured, the average size on heathland/ as the female’s inability to fly means they where they feed on snails but the bracken and dry grassland was 1.5cm. only move a few metres each year.

Map data ©Google 2019

Size difference between female glow-worms of Map showing glow-worm records in the 2019 season and the gradual spread through Brazier’s wood the same metapopulation but living in different towards Ravenswood. Continual woodland management through glade creation and coppicing will habitats likely facilitate this species spread. 20 These wonderful volunteers Joan Powell Secretary, Friends of the Dales

Where would we all be where it was noticed that the without our volunteers - I path was being trod as visitors wonder if the visitors to the went around the site - this is various sites around The making it easier and safer to Dales, and the various parks travel around. More steps are - Christchurch, Holywells, yet to be put in. Belstead Brook, Martlesham Heath - (just to mention a There were two work parties few) understand just how that removed the rubbish that much work is undertaken by had been thrown into the site, ‘these wonderful Volunteers’ . which necessitated a bonfire - this work is ongoing to remove The cutting of meadows, a lot of metal objects. pruning, digging, repairing, chopping, making paths, If you would like to become a moving grit, soil and hoggin, member of our Friends group putting in steps - working with please email jayempowell@ the Ipswich Borough Council btinternet.com or find the Wildlife Rangers - these areas group on Facebook at Friends. are unique and worth a visit. I say we should be proud of these volunteers and workers who deserve a huge thank you from us all.

In early May this year I was delighted to take a group of ladies from the Trefoil Guild Friends of around the reserve, we were all dressed well against The weather has brought an abundant crop of sugar plums. the Dales possible bad weather - which The Dales is a small Local Nature did not happen until the end. me to listen to them talking A gall on one of the trees left Reserve situated off Dales Road about the area as we walked us all wondering what had in Ipswich. They were astounded to know around - seeing the pond and caused it - would anyone how large the site was (14½ its size was of interest. It was a know? For details of the Friends Group please contact secretary Joan Powell acres), some of the ladies pleasure for me to show off the [email protected] or find had travelled along Dales area - pointing out the work There has been a lot of work us on Facebook by searching Road but did not know of undertaken by volunteers and making more steps, especially Friends of the Dales the site - it was a pleasure for the council workers too. on some of the steeper slopes

Ladies from the Trefoil Guild prepared for wet weather in their springtime The large pond will be receiving some tender care during winter months to visit to the Dales reduce the amount of growth. 21 For events covering a broader range of environmental issues go to www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/diary/ Events Diary diary.php

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Saturday 12th October 11am – 2pm Friends of Holywells Park APPLE DAY Saturday 7th September 8am Suffolk Bird Suffolk Wildlife Trust Wild Learning events Enjoy fruit, fresh apple juice, apple fritters, Group OUTDOOR EVENT during October homemade soups and more. Have a go Trimley Marsh SWT – Ringing Session. at apple bobbing and pumpkin carving. Meet at Cordy’s Lane car park, Trimley St. Wednesday 9th October 10am-2pm Also enjoy story telling from the hammock, Mary transport to the reserve available. Map WILD IN THE WEEK Apple quiz and making the longest peel. Ref: TM277357. Leaders Justin and Ellie Join us for a wild activity day for home Sales of honey and fruits from the Orchard. Zantboer Tel. 07786 656888. educated children aged 6 - 10 years. Location: The Orchard, Holywells Park Location: see website. Thursday 12th September 7.30pm RSPB Tuesday 15th October 10am RSPB Ipswich Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING Thursday 10th October 10am-2pm Group MIDWEEK WALK ‘Costa Rica Explored’ Ian Barthorpe RSPB WILD IN THE WEEK © Lydia© Woods Pipers Vale. Meet at car park at Vale Minsmere Visitor Experience Officer. Join us for a wild activity day for home entrance TM178419. Leader Kathy Rushmere St Andrew Church Hall, The educated children aged 11 - 16 years. Reynolds 01473 714839. Street, Rushmere, Ipswich. IP5 1DH. Location: see website Sponsored by A W Hart Builders. Details from Tim Kenny 01394 809236. Saturday 12th October 1.30pm-3.30pm YOUNG WARDENS Saturday 14th September 8.30am Suffolk Practical conservation skills in Holywells Bird Group OUTDOOR EVENT Park. Age: 11-16 year olds. Want to join in? Shingle Street and Hollesley Marsh. Meet at Coastguard Cottages (Long walk possible). Monday 21st October 10.30am-12.30pm Take a look at Regular Map Ref: TM369431 Leader Steve Fryett OWL PELLET DISSECTION Tel. 01394 383413. Dissect owl pellets to discover gruesome Events on page 24 finds inside. Holywells Park for families. Tuesday 17th September 10am RSPB Ipswich Group MIDWEEK WALK Tuesday 22nd October 10.30am-12.30pm Holywells Park including Conservation FAMILY CAMPFIRE COOKOUT Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October Area. Meet at Stable Block off Cliff Lane. Cook tasty treats over a campfire with the Suffolk Bird Group OUTDOOR EVENT TM176432 All welcome. Leader Kathy family in Holywells Park. Orfordness (National Trust) Reserve. Reynolds 01473 714839. Some places available to stay overnight Wednesday 23rd October 9am-3.30pm on Saturday in self-catering dormitories. Saturday 21st September 9am - 11am WILD HOLIDAY CLUB Current entrance fees will apply. Map Portal Woodlands Conservation Group Join us for games and wild activities in Ref: TM425495. For further details and to NATURE EXPLORERS Holywells Park. Age: 6-11 years old. reserve your place, contact Gi Grieco Tel. 11 to 18 year-olds. Meet at the Education 07951 482547. Leaders Gi Grieco and Area. Booking essential. Email pwcg. Friday 25th October 10am-1pm Eddie Bathgate. [email protected] CAMPFIRE COOKOUT Light a campfire and cook up a storm in Sunday 20th October 10am - noon Portal Holywells Park. Age: 11-16 year olds Woodlands Conservation Group WORK MORNING Friday 25th October 6.30pm-8.00pm All ages welcome meet at the Education THE BIG HOOT HUNT Area. More information from email pwcg. Join us in Christchurch Park after dark in [email protected] or website pwcg. search of Tawny owls hoots and other urban onesuffolk.net wildlife. Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 890089 Wednesday 23rd October 7.30pm Suffolk suffolkwildlifetrust.org Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK Sue Alderman (Hare Preservation Trust) Thursday 10th October 7.30pm RSPB ‘Hares’. One of Britain’s best loved Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING mammals, have inhabited these islands Saturday 21st September 10am - noon from ancient times, but today they are under Portal Woodlands Conservation Group ‘A Wildlife Photographer’s Year’ Kevin Sawford, Multi Award Winning Wildlife serious threat. Museum Street Methodist WORK MORNING Church, Blackhorse Lane, IP1 2EF. All ages welcome meet at the Education Photographer. Rushmere St Andrew Church Area. More information from email pwcg. Hall, The Street, Rushmere, Ipswich. IP5 1DH. All welcome. Sponsored by Mind The Saturday 26th October 8am Suffolk Bird [email protected] or website pwcg. Group OUTDOOR EVENT onesuffolk.net Crustacean, The Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of. Details from Tim Kenny 01394 Autumn Open Morning at Landguard 809236. Bird Observatory. Meet at main car park, Wednesday 25th September 7.30pm View Point Road, Felixstowe. Map Ref: Suffolk Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK TM284319. Leader Nigel Odin. For details Michael Strand ‘Creating Wildness’. contact Gi Grieco Tel. 07951 482547. Michael, who is fund raising manager for the SWT, will explain how they go about Saturday 26th October 10am to 3.30pm this and the benefits it provides for the Greenways Project RIVER PATH wildlife. Museum Street Methodist Church, MEGABASH Sproughton Blackhorse Lane, IP1 2EF. Come and help look after the island wildlife reserve and Gipping River Path at Thursday 26th September 7.30pm Suffolk Sproughton. More details available from Bird Group TALK Saturday 12th October 9am RSPB Ipswich Group FIELD MEETING Greenways nearer the time, but likely ‘Birding In Bhutan & Snow Leopards to include path construction, meadow In Ladakh’ Andrew Raine. The Cedars Hollesley and Boyton Marsh RSPB reserves for geese, waders and wildfowl. Meet at management and scrub clearing. Meeting Hotel, Needham Road, Stowmarket, IP14 point and parking details available from 2AJ Additional information from Adam Hollesley Reserve Car park. TM370448. 4-5 hours. Bring refreshments. Can be muddy Greenways from mid-October – 01473 Gretton Tel. 01473 829156 Adam.gretton@ 433995 or 07736 826076 or james.baker@ naturalengland.org.uk and exposed. Leader Stephen Marginson 01473 258791. ipswich.gov.uk

22 Thursday 31st October 7.30pm Suffolk Bird Tuesday 19th November 10am RSPB Group TALK Ipswich Group MIDWEEK WALK Wednesday 11th December 7.30pm Suffolk ‘Birds of Kenya’ Ellie and Dan Zantboer. Bourne Bridge area and park. Meet at Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK University of Suffolk, Waterfront Bourne Park car park (Bourne Bridge Dr Chris Gibson ‘ An East Anglian Story’. Building, Neptune Quay, Ipswich IP4 entrance) at. TM161419. Leader Kathy Chris has worked for most of his life for 1QJ. Additional information from Adam Reynolds 01473 714839. English Nature, and now, in his “retirement” Gretton Tel. 01473 829156 Adam. is sharing his love of the natural world [email protected] Wednesday 27th November 7.30pm Suffolk through his passion for photography, Wildlife Trust Ipswich Group TALK lecturing, writing, and being a tour guide. Dr Hugh Hanmer ‘Sounds of the Night’. I am sure you will enjoy this Christmas NOVEMBER Hugh is a BTO research ecologist and the talk and the mince pies to accompany co-ordinator of the BTO’s “Project Owl”. In it. Museum Street Methodist Church, Suffolk Wildlife Trust Wild Learning events his talk he will discuss all the owls of the UK, Blackhorse Lane, IP1 2EF. during November their distribution and movements, the current monitoring efforts, and the many gaps in Thursday 12th December 7.30pm RSPB Tuesday 5th November 10am-2pm our knowledge about this often mysterious Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING WILD IN THE WEEK family of birds. Museum Street Methodist Christmas social evening with “bring and Join us for a wild activity day for home Church, Blackhorse Lane, IP1 2EF. share” finger buffet, plus “Zambia”, Paul educated children aged 6-10 years. Mealing, local photographer. Rushmere St Location: see website. Thursday 28th November 7.30pm Suffolk Andrew Church Hall, The Street, Rushmere, Bird Group TALK Ipswich. IP5 1DH. All welcome. Details Saturday 9th November 1.30pm-3.30pm ‘Another Time, Another Place: Birds In The from Tim Kenny 01394 809236. YOUNG WARDENS Ancient World’ Jeremy Mynott. University Practical conservation skills for 11 - 16 of Suffolk, Waterfront Building, Neptune Saturday 14th December 9.30am Suffolk year olds in Holywells Park. Quay, Ipswich IP4 1QJ. Bird Group OUTDOOR EVENT Additional information from Adam Gretton Martlesham Creek. Meet at Martlesham Wednesday 13th November 10am-2pm Tel. 01473 829156 Adam.gretton@ church car park, (Long walk possible). Map WILD IN THE WEEK naturalengland.org.uk Ref: TM261469. Leader Steve Fryett Tel. Join us for a wild activity day for home 01394 383413. educated children. Age: 11-16 years Location: see website. DECEMBER Saturday 14th December 9.30am RSPB Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 890089 Ipswich Group FIELD MEETING suffolkwildlifetrust.org Suffolk Wildlife Trust Wild Learning events North Warren RSPB Reserve for geese and during December wildfowl. Meet at Thorpeness car park. TM472596. 3-4 hours 3-4 miles. Walking Saturday 9th November 9am RSPB Ipswich Sunday 8th December 10.30am-12.30pm Group FIELD MEETING can be muddy and exposed. Leader CRAFTY CHRISTMAS MAKES Stephen Marginson 01473 258791. River Deben at Melton for waders, wildfowl Make natural crafts just in time for and woodland birds. Meet at Melton Christmas. Location: Holywells Park Riverside car park. TM28853. 2-3 hours 2-3 miles. Walking can be muddy and exposed. Tuesday 10th December 10am-2pm Leader Stephen Marginson 01473 258791. WILD IN THE WEEK Join us for a wild activity day for home Sunday 10th November 8.30am Suffolk educated children aged 6-10 years Bird Group OUTDOOR EVENT Location: see website. Dingle Marshes, Dunwich. Meet at Dunwich beach car park Map Ref: TM479707. Wednesday 11th December 10am-2pm Leader Gi Grieco Tel. 07951 482547. WILD IN THE WEEK Saturday 14th December 10am to 3.30pm Join us for a wild activity day for home Thursday 14th November 7.30pm RSPB Greenways Project BELSTEAD BROOK educated children aged 11-16 years. PARK MEGABASH 2 Ipswich Group INDOOR MEETING Location: see website. “Birds in the Ancient World” Jeremy Mynott, Join Greenways, the Friends of Belstead Lifelong Birder and author. Rushmere St Brook Park and IWG for a day of winter Saturday 14th December 1.30pm-3.30pm habitat management in Kiln Meadow area. Andrew Church Hall, The Street, Rushmere, YOUNG WARDENS Ipswich. IP5 1DH. All welcome. Sponsored Meet at the Marbled White Drive entrance Practical conservation skills for 11 - 16 year to the site. More info from Greenways by Alder Carr Farm Needham Market. olds in Holywells Park. Details from Tim Kenny 01394 809236. 01473 433995/07736 826076 james. [email protected] Sunday 22nd December 4pm-6pm Saturday 16th November 9am - 11am WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATIONS Sunday 15th December 10am - noon Portal Portal Woodlands Conservation Group Join us as we celebrate the winter solstice NATURE EXPLORERS Woodlands Conservation Group WORK with a lantern lit walk and hot chocolate in MORNING 11 to 18 year-olds. Meet at the Education Holywells Park. Area. Booking essential. Email pwcg. All ages welcome meet at the Education [email protected] Contact Lucy Shepherd 01473 890089 Area. More information from email pwcg. suffolkwildlifetrust.org [email protected] or website pwcg. Saturday 16th November 10am - noon onesuffolk.net Portal Woodlands Conservation Group Saturday 7th December 9am Suffolk Bird WORK MORNING Group OUTDOOR EVENT Tuesday 17th December 10am RSPB All ages welcome meet at the Education Abberton Reservoir. Meet at visitor centre Ipswich Group MIDWEEK WALK Area. More information from email pwcg. car park Map Ref: TL965179. Leader Ashley Christchurch Park. Meet at Soane Street [email protected] or website pwcg. Gooding Tel. 07808 044611. entrance TM165448. Leader Kathy onesuffolk.net Reynolds 01473 714839. Saturday 7th December 11am - 2.30pm Sunday 17th November 10am to 3.30pm Friends of Holywells Park CHRISTMAS Greenways Project BELSTEAD BROOK FAYRE JANUARY 2020 PARK MEGABASH 1 Holywells Park Conservatory and Garden, Come and join Greenways, Ipswich Wildlife Includes craft stalls, craft activities for Saturday 25th January 10am to 3.30pm Group and others for our first annual children, warming refreshments. Greenways Project WINTER MEGABASH Megabash in BBP. Coppicing and scrub Join Greenways and other local clearing in Spring Wood, Millennium Wood conservation groups to really make a and Kiln Meadow – including a bonfire difference at one of our nature reserves with baked potatoes! Meet at Bobbits Want to join in? – location to be determined in early Lane car park. More info from Greenways Take a look at Regular January. More info from Greenways 01473 – 01473 433995/07736 826076 james. Events on page 24 433995/07736 826076 james.baker@ [email protected] ipswich.gov.uk

23 Regular Events

THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 10.30am THURSDAYS 10am Greenways FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 10am - 1pm SPRING WOOD WORK PARTY CONSERVATION WORK PARTY Butterfly Conservation WORK PARTY Join Ipswich Wildlife Group and Friends of A smaller group than on Tuesday, but operates (October to March) Belstead Brook Park for a morning of work in the same way – please see details above for More information from Helen Saunders in the wood. Meet at the field gate at top Tuesdays Work Party [email protected] of bridleway in Kiln Meadow. Details from Gerry Donlon 07733 968481 SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH EVERY SECOND SATURDAY 10am – 12pm 9 – 10pm ‘Green Drinks’ Dove Inn, Ipswich SWT Wild Learning WILDLIFE WATCH TUESDAYS 10am Greenways DRINKS AND CHAT Holywells Park. Join our wildlife themed CONSERVATION WORK PARTY Join us at the Dove Inn for a drink, a chat and a club to explore the park, learn about wildlife, The Project’s largest weekly work party – bit of networking with other environmentally- meet new friends and earn awards as you go. carrying out a wide range of practical tasks minded people. Look out for the ‘Green Drinks’ Age 6 – 11 years. Cost £3. Please book at across the 50 or so sites that we manage. For sign on the table. All welcome suffolkwildlifetrust.org or 01473 890089 all Greenways work parties, volunteers need to be registered via a short informal induction FRIDAYS 10am Greenways SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH prior to joining us – please contact us for CONSERVATION WORK PARTY 10am - 1pm Friends of Belstead Brook Park further details. Work party runs from 10am Another opportunity to work on the 50 or so CONSERVATION WORK PARTY to about 4pm. Contact greenways.project@ sites managed by the Project – please see the Come and join us for a morning working ipswich.gov.uk or call 01473 433995 details above for Tuesdays Work Party in the fresh air. For further details visit our FRIDAYS FORTNIGHTLY 10am Ipswich website: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/fobbp WEDNESDAYS 10am Friends of Holywells or email [email protected] Park HOLYWELLS PARK WORK PARTY Wildlife Group/Greenways BOX KIT MAKING Join our small team of volunteers doing Come and join in making the kits for bird, MOST SATURDAYS 10.30am - 1pm Ipswich valuable work around the Park. Meet at the hedgehog and insect habitat boxes for our Wildlife Group Northgate Allotments Stable Block located down the driveway Wildlife Homes project. Only the most WOODCRAFT & WILDLIFE from Cliff Lane. Contact Martin Cant for rudimentary of woodworking skills needed. Get involved in coppicing and woodland skills details 07858 436003 Thorington Hall Barn, Bobbits Lane, Ipswich. at the Wildlife area. Call Geoff Sinclair to More information from Martin Cant 07858 confirm dates 07860 595376 SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH 436003 [email protected] Friends of The Dales WORK PARTY LAST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH 10am Contact Joan Powell for the details FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH 10am - - 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group WILDLIFE [email protected] 1pm Ipswich Wildlife Group RIVER WORK ALLOTMENT PARTY Come and lend a hand to help create our EVERY THURSDAY/FRIDAY 10am – A joint work party with the River Action wildlife friendly plot. More information from 11.30am SWT Wild Learning WILD TOTS Group along Alderman Canal and the River Colin Hullis 07979 644134 Outdoor adventure and play for tots age 18 Gipping, maintaining footpaths and making months – 5 years and their carers. these splendid waterways areas to be proud of. Christchurch Park Thursdays, Holywells Meet at Bibb Way alongside Alderman Road Park Fridays. Cost £4. Please book at recreation ground. More information from suffolkwildlifetrust.org or 01473 890089 Colin Hullis 07979 644134

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.

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