Your Local Wildlife News
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Stowmarket area September 2019 Your local wildlife news Bradfield Woods & Stowmarket Bradfield Woods has again this year, proven to be one of the best sites in Suffolk for young people to connect with the natural world. Joanne Atkins explains how lessons learnt in the woods are now being brought to Stowmarket. Will Cranstoun West Suffolk Sites We were very relieved when the rain came insects, hopefully feeding their young. Manager in early summer, as the woods had been so The wonderful thing about spending so 01284 728541 dry. It wasn’t so great for the two pairs of much time in the woods, is that we see the spotted flycatchers that were nesting near changes. As I write this, butterfly season is BRADFIELD WOODS the education centre though: one pair in a getting into full swing, sunny rides 01449 737996 tree, the other on a ledge in the craft area. attracting numerous butterflies including They had been delighting us all with aerial silver washed fritillary and white admiral, displays of insect catching, and although as well as bees, hoverflies and other Giles they coped with large numbers of school insects. There are more benches in the Cawston groups, our greenwood gallery event, the wood now, so you can sit, relax and take Woodlands rainfall proved one step too far and one of time to enjoy the wildlife, or why not join us Warden the pairs abandoned their nest. The other for one of our monthly Wild and Well pair hung on in there, in their little cupped sessions? Joanne nest on the trunk of a small oak tree. In the past year as well as running many Atkins Having survived the rain and shortage events in the woods, we have taken our Wild of flying insects, we came in one morning learning activities out into the community Learning to find their nest hanging in pieces from the and have been running Wild Tots and family Officer tree. Predators! All was not lost though, as sessions on Pikes Meadow in Stowmarket. we were relieved to see one pair flying into We will be continuing Wild Tots in a tree more recently with beaks full of September too. Black Bourn Valley The natural regeneration at Black Bourn is now really kicking in, providing a For more wildlife news, follow the refuge for wildlife and a real sense of old Suffolk wildness. Joe Bell-Tye team on facebook: explains how the team have been working hard to make this site easier to Bradfield Woods – access and enjoy. Suffolk Wildlife Trust At Black Bourn the purring sound of turtle diverse structure that is key to wildlife. dove was heard again this year. It was a Path restoration work has continued welcome return, although we believe the through the wet wood and a new, call may have only been a single male. waymarked circular trail is almost Other species have appeared in stronger complete. On this route you will be able to numbers, with 10 yellowhammer territories walk through varying ages of naturally recorded on site and two lapwing pairs regenerated habitat, a chance to see what successfully fledging chicks. happens when arable land is left from two What were once fallow areas are now to five years. beginning to look increasingly diverse as We’re also looking looking to enhance different grass species and broad-leaved the current footpaths and improve herbaceous moving in and becoming connectivity between new and old ones widespread. Cattle continue to graze the ready for visitors to explore the site in wet meadows, their movements creating a autumn. Your most local reserves Black Bourn Valley l Bonny Wood l Bradfield Woods Directions & maps Bulls Wood l Combs Wood l Mickfield Meadow 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 separated from its mother and too young to survive on its own. After being checked Bonny Wood Wed 25 September 7.30pm over, the RSPCA advised taking it back to Peter Holborn Talk: BUZZARDS where it had been found, with a chance of 01449 736683 With Zoe Smith. being reunited with its mother. However, on release it disappeared back Wed 30 October 7.30pm into the logs, so they left food and water MAGAZINES Talk: PESTS AND DISEASES OF TREES nearby. They even moved 2 fence panels, Delivering your Suffolk so they could observe the log pile. Later, as Wildlife magazine by hand With Sid Cooper. Steve went to the barn, he saw the cub saves the Trust thousands of Plus SWT cards and gifts sale moving in and out of the electric fence pounds each year. We always making high pitched squeals. Once again, Wed 27 November 7.30pm welcome extra volunteer they used the net and box to secure the cub deliverers. If you would like Talk: GLOW-WORMS and called the RSPCA. to help, please contact: With Tim Gardiner. An hour later, an RSPCA lady arrived Hella Crosby Plus WILDLIFE QUIZ and RAFFLE and transferred the cub to her transport container. In there, it moved around and 01449 721226 Wed 26 February 2020 7.30pm appeared uninjured. The RSPCA officer or Talk: TBA thought the mother otter was either killed Sam Grange or had pushed the cub out because she had Membership Manager too many to rear. Female otters live in a 01473 890089 Talks are held at the Village Hall, Church holt, often away from the riverbank, and membership@ Road, Stowupland IP14 4BQ. Entry £2.50. hidden in a smaller area within the male suffolkwildlifetrust.org For full description of events, visit territory. This cub was about 2 months old. suffolkwildlifetrust.org/events It would have been helpless for the first 6 weeks, relying entirely on its mother’s milk. Cubs are dependent on adults for over a If you would like to year. Otters are shy, solitary animals, a have a copy of the A SPECIAL ENCOUNTER priority species in the UK Biodiversity current newsletter or Action Plan and fully protected. Therefore, programme, these Judith and Steve’s land is sandwiched it was agreed to ensure the cub’s survival, it can be downloaded between the Museum of East Anglian Life should move from the River Rattlesden and Tinkler’s Meadow along the River valley and go to the RSPCA Wildlife Centre from: Rattlesden. At 7am one morning, Steve saw in East Winch, Norfolk. suffolkwildlifetrust. a wild animal moving under the electric The River Rattlesden valley through org/wildlifegroups fence of their animal enclosure. They Stowmarket is designated a Special or by emailing us on thought it was unusual by its size, colour Landscape Area, perfect habitat for otters. swtstowmarket@ and the way it travelled. They turned off the The riverbanks have minimal human gmail.com fence, but thought it might be injured from disturbance, appropriate bank cover and an electric shock, and searched the whole vegetation, clean water with a good supply area. Though small, they thought it might of food, and secluded sites for holts. be an otter. Although living near the River Rat for 22 Later, Steve heard a high-pitched years, Judith and Steve have never squealing which he tracked to the log pile, encountered otters. Sometimes, fish scales where huge, black eyes looked out at them. and bones have been found around their By using a fish keepnet, they edged the pond, probably evidence of otter visits. animal forward and put a box over its head They now know the land is otter territory. and successfully transferred the animal They hope the river valley continues, to without any human touch. thrive as a unique, fragile place of The animal is safely secured, they rang biodiversity. Their rare wildlife encounter is the RSPCA for advice. It was agreed, to take a strong reminder that this hidden gem of a the animal to the vet. The vet confirmed it location is an extra special wildlife was an otter cub which had probably been environment. 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.