Local Wildlife News

Local September - December 2011 A news and events diary from wildlife and conservation groups in Wildlife the Ipswich area News © Darin Smith

Common Buzzard an increasingly common sight - see page 23

Produced by the

Welcome Local Wildlife News Welcome to yet another packed edition of LWN, produced primarily by the Greenways Project, on behalf of over a dozen local wildlife, conservation and other ‘green’ groups. We are still very keen to receive any feedback about the publication – good or bad – and

© Stephen Hammeersley 6 look forward to receiving any suggestions for improvements etc. Contributions We are also always happy to receive articles of anything up to 800 words, photographs of local wildlife or conservation work and local sightings or wildlife ‘snippets’ – so please do send in anything which may be of interest. Greenways Project, Stable Block, Holywells Park, Cliff Lane, Ipswich, IP3 0PG 9 [email protected] 01473 433995 Mailing lists – Please note We are aware that some who are members of several conservation organisations may well receive more than one copy of the newsletter. We are very sorry if this is the case, and would be very grateful if you could pass on the spare copy to someone who will appreciate it and contact the Greenways Project on 01473 433995 or greenways. [email protected], stating which organisations you are a member of, so that we can ensure that you receive just one in the future. If, on the other hand, you don’t currently receive LWN regularly, but would like to, simply contact us (details above) and we’ll add you to the list. 15

Contents Page

Ipswich Wildlife Group 8

Friends of Alderman Canal 10

Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group 11

Friends of Holywells Park 11

Greenways Countryside Project 12 © Reg Snook 20 IBC Wildlife Rangers 16

Butterfly Conservation 18

Friends of Christchurch Park 20

RSPB Ipswich Local Group 22

Portal Woodlands Conservation Group 24

Local Wildlife News Snippets 25

Chairman: David Munday 01473 217310 [email protected] Secretary: Wendy Brown 01473 259674 [email protected] Treasurer: Tony Clarke 01473 741083 [email protected] Newsletter Editor: John Ireland 01473 723179 [email protected]

We are the Ipswich Local Group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and we offer an interesting range of monthly meetings with guest speakers which usually take place on the third Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm in the hall of St Margaret’s Primary School, Bolton Lane, Ipswich. Trust members and non-members are equally welcome. During the Summer months we offer a variety of trips, some local, others by coach. Details of these and our monthly meetings can be found in our ‘Diary’ section which follows , or on the SWT website, www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org. New members are always welcome. Chairman’s Letter

Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Chairman Magazines

Out of the blue I had a call from the new Chairman, Sir A special word of thanks goes out to our magazine Kenneth Carlisle who said he was trying to meet all the distributors and deliverers who manfully struggled with groups and as he couldn’t make our AGM, could he the above mentioned book which created an extra thick come to meet the team. I readily agreed and he sat in on and weighty envelope which declined to go through and contributed to our next committee meeting. I think many an older style letterbox. Don’t despair though as it’s good that he wants to be involved and not just be a you will be pleased to know that forthcoming issues will figurehead. be even lighter than previously, as the Natural World has been dropped with only extracts going in our Wildlife AGM magazine.

The AGM came and went with the election of the same Suffolk Show committee; no new (young?) blood came forth to drag us screaming into 2012! I hope many of you managed to go to the Suffolk Show and to visit the SWT marquee and wildlife area. I thought 50th Anniversary the displays and activities for the youngsters were excellent and equally fascinated the adults and should In April you should have all received your copy of A encourage new young recruits. Living Landscape for Suffolk, a celebration of 50 years of the Trust and its 50 reserves. I think that Steve Aylward Sits Vac the author and Clare Sheehan the designer, have done a fantastic job. We are still looking for someone (or a team) to take on the role of fundraising for the Ipswich Group. Is this you? They both did all the work on the book in their own If so please do talk to a member of the committee. time with no cost to the Trust, and together with the generosity of all the businesses who supported the Dave Munday production of the book, the total cost to the Trust was an (Chairman) amazing £1each! © Dave Fincham I hope like me, it inspires you to visit all 50 reserves.

Dave Munday

4 Ipswich Group Newsletter

Alton Water 21st May, 2011 by Harry Price

When Ipswich became short of water in the 1960’s it was decided to create a new reservoir between Tattingstone and Holbrook. In 1978 a bridge at Lemons Hill was built to avoid the village of Tattingstone being split in two © Mike Ewart once the reservoir was filled. It was here that a party from Ipswich SWT met up with members of the Shotley Peninsula SWT group to be taken on a guided tour, led by members of the Shotley group. Ann, Alison and Mike are enthusiastic volunteers, eager to explain the work done by themselves and others to monitor and care for the natural environment of the area covered by the water and its surroundings, which are owned and administered by Anglian Water.

The lake is ringed by a surfaced path, some eight miles long, for walkers and cyclists. There are also side paths leading to the water’s edge and to observation hides, The new hide at Alton Water specially constructed by the volunteers for Alton Water is a naturalist’s paradise. What until 33 years ago was farmland has now developed into areas of woodland, The water itself is never far away. The eastern end is carefully managed so as to leave places of bushy available for (non-motorised) water sports such as sailing undergrowth, beloved by nightingales (we heard a and wind surfing, but the middle and western parts are couple). Near a clump of alder buckthorn a brimstone for wildlife. The lake supports a great variety of creatures, butterfly was feeding on sources of nectar. The former perch and pike in the deeper parts, while smaller fish field edges are still marked in places by standard provide food for the increasing numbers of common trees, some of them very ancient oaks – at least one is tern which can be seen hovering high above the surface estimated to be more than seven hundred years old. before they dive for their prey. These graceful birds used Volunteers have erected barn owl boxes at several to nest along the shore, but stoats and other predators points. This year one family of barn owls, another family made that too dangerous, so the volunteers have built of tawny owls and several families of jackdaws have rafts anchored in the lake on which the terns can be taken up residence. seen perching, resting and nesting in safety. The shore-

© Mike Ewart line is punctuated by many narrow inlets, where Greylag, Canada geese and Great Crested grebes abound. In one such inlet an unusual ripple in the water revealed a grass snake swimming into the shelter of the reeds.

Alton Water is of course man-made, and the numbers of cyclists and walkers along the track as well as the well-filled car park at the Visitors’ Centre testify to its popularity, so human pressure on its environment is considerable. But none of this detracted from the peace and beauty of the area and we were greatly impressed by the continued work being done by the volunteers as well as Anglian Water to make this a lively and viable wildlife habitat.

Our thanks go to Pam Ireland and our guides for setting Volunteers constructing a floating raft for nesting Terns up a delightful and fascinating afternoon.

see www.altonwildlife.co.uk

5 Ipswich Group Newsletter

The Wall - a butterfly we are losing from the Ipswich area by Rob Parker, Butterfly Recorder for Suffolk

The Wall, or Wall Brown, Lasiommata megera, has been allocated to the UK BAP category of ‘Research Only’, in recognition of the inadequately understood decline of this formerly common resident. Over the past 30 years it has lost 38% of its UK distribution, following a similar

pattern to the Grayling and becoming more coastal. In © Stephen Hammeersley Suffolk it is no longer found as a garden butterfly in the centre of the county and is retreating eastwards at an alarming rate. There have been occasional records from the Rushmere, Bixley and Purdis Farm areas over the past five years but sightings have been very thin around Ipswich in the past three years.

How you can help You may wish to participate in the Suffolk Naturalists’ special survey (you do not need to be a member of SNS). Go to www.sns.org.uk for more details. Alternatively you Wall from an unusual angle can send any positively-identified Wall records to the County Butterfly Recorder at: [email protected] and seems important. Given the progressive declines at these will be integrated with distribution maps for 2011. protected sites like Minsmere and North Warren, it is clear that effective measures will not be easy. Conservation Butterfly Conservation has sponsored a postgraduate Tailpiece study of the causes of the decline of the Wall. No The Wall is a sun-loving butterfly that likes to bask on practical conservation measures are being taken in rocks or south-facing walls. Thus it often lives up to its Suffolk, but safeguarding the sites where it is still found name.

How numbers of sightings in the county are declining

1995 to 1999 2005 to 2009 350 squares (32%) 122 squares (12%)

6 Ipswich Group Newsletter

Dates for your Diary - September 2011 to January 2012

Wed 21st September at 7.30pm Bradfield Woods and its New Centre by Michael Strand Bradfield Woods is a unique ancient woodland, having been in continuous coppice management since 1252. This has encouraged a wide variety of flora and fauna, including badgers and dormice. It is now a National Nature Reserve, owned and managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The Trust is building a ‘Green Oak Centre’ for visitors and education. Michael Strand, development officer for the trust, will talk about the Wood and its new centre. See http://bradfieldwoodscentre.blogspot.com/

Wed 19th October at 7.30pm BORNEO. The Wonders, Perils and Future of this Island Paradise by John Medlock. John and his wife Susanne have spent some considerable time in Borneo, trekking to remote areas and spending time in the off-shore islands. They have seen at first hand its amazing biodiversity, including orang-utans and proboscis monkeys. But the ecosystem is under threat from deforestation, mining, palm oil plantations and shrimp farming. So what does its future hold, and can the ‘Heart of Borneo Project’ give hope for its future? See www.heartofborneo.org/

Wed 16th November at 7.30pm Down The Deben by Robert Simper Robert left school in 1953 and started work on the family farms, when horses were still in use. But he was drawn by the lure of the sea, and went off crewing on some of the last barges trading under sail. He gained a passion for the old ways of life, in-spite of its hardships, and thought that it needed to be recorded, photographed and saved for future generations. He has spent a life time sailing and writing and there are few folk who know more about the Deben, its history and its people than Robert.

Wed 7th December at 7.30pm Mammals of Suffolk by Dr Simone Bullion Simone is the senior conservation advisor for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and an expert on Suffolk mammals. Her recent publication ‘The Mammals of Suffolk’ is an accessible and attractive book with stunning colour photographs and distribution maps of more than 60 species, from bottle-nosed dolphin and Minke whale to soprano pipistrelle bats and red deer. A special price for this book will be offered at the meeting to help you solve your Christmas present problems. See www.creeksidepublishing.co.uk/

A full listing of all Groups’ events can be found from page 26

7 Ipswich Wildlife Group

Acting Chair: Ray Sidaway 01473 259104 www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/iwg Ipswich Wildlife Group is a registered charity, relying entirely on volunteers, that promotes interest in, and conservation of, wildlife and habitats in and around Ipswich. We seek to inform and educate the local communities of Ipswich about the wildlife and habitats that can be found in the area, and the issues affecting them, as well as involve local people in practical wildlife conservation. We carry out practical conservation tasks, bid for grants to improve wildlife and green areas around Ipswich and work closely with the Greenways Project, Friends of Belstead Brook Park and other local groups with similar aims.

Earlier in the year, Dave Munday resigned as Chairman route. The grassland is therefore integral to supporting of the IWG. During his time as Chairman the group and maintaining the toad population, which is deemed to co-operated closely with the Greenways Project in the be exceptional and of national significance”. The survey launch and establishment of Local Wildlife News. We also shows that the grassland supports three species of also initiated the annual Primary School Prize to help reptile. According to the Froglife criteria, the presence of schools develop wildlife projects and instigated the three species of reptile qualifies the area as a key reptile ongoing struggle to protect the wildlife in Kiln Meadow. site, as does the presence of an exceptional population We would like to thank Dave for his constructive and of one species – in this case lizard Zootoca vivipara. conscientious leadership during this period. Ray Sidaway is now acting as Chairman – a permanent Chairman will However there is bad news. The developers, Redrow, be elected at the AGM in January. lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate against Babergh’s decision not to register their plans. They have Kiln Meadow Update won this appeal, and the Inspectorate has ordered a First the good news! The grassland to the north and west Public Inquiry. We believe that this Inquiry will make the of Spring wood including all of Kiln Meadow has been planning decision about future development of the site. designated as a County Wildlife Site (see map below). This will remove Babergh’s power to make a decision. The designation states: “Survey information has shown At the time of writing we don’t know a timetable or any that the grassland supports good numbers of toads details, for up-to-date information visit our website or (BAP species) and demonstrates that it is important contact Ray Sidaway on 01473 259104. terrestrial habitat for toads as well as part of a migration

Spring & Millennium Woods & associated grassland

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PRODUCED BY This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material Ben Heather with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf Spring & Millennium Woods & associated grassland CHECKED BY of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery  Office ® Crown copyright. Unauthorised  Babergh 133 reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may Suffolk Biological Records Centre DRAWING No. lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Ipswich Museum, High Street Scale 1:3000 Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 (2009) Ipswich, IP1 3QH DATE Tel: 01473 433571 June 2011

8 Ipswich Wildlife Group

Beanpole Day 2011 As Easter fell on the last Sunday in April this year, Beanpole Day was brought forward one week, giving gardeners and allotment holders a chance to stock up on poles and peasticks before the long Easter bank holiday weekend.

The venue was also changed, the sale being held at Spring Wood for the first time. This seemed to work rather well, logistically and aesthetically – reducing ‘pole miles’ and being more appropriate as the hazel was sold from its source.

A steady flow of customers during the day resulted in the sale of a total of 62 bundles of beanpoles and peasticks. Further orders were taken on the day and those orders have since been filled. Pea sticks and beanpoles awaiting collection Geoff Sinclair demonstrated authentic wood crafts which were much admired, and the children (as well as the All in all it was a successful Beanpole Day and next adults) were fascinated by his traditionally made wooden year’s festival will be at Spring Wood again but returns to toys and other examples of his work. its usual date of the last Sunday in April.

Spring Wood Day 2011

Spring Wood Day, held on the May bank holiday was a huge success. Over three hundred people came and were treated to a beautiful sunny day as well as some wonderful wood crafts and stalls. Among them this year were a chainsaw sculptor, basket weaver and a log lantern maker. We also had a bonfire going all day, which ensured a steady supply of baked potatoes! A giant toad was sculpted from a tree trunk and was erected in Millennium Wood. Sadly the toad was stolen a few days later. Lagabag Morris entertained us again this year with magical music and dancing and a couple of wandering minstrels also added to the atmosphere.

Ray Sidaway took many people on his guided woodland Making log lanterns walks and Chris Courtney from the RSPB led walks around the wood and wet meadows. It was lovely to who offered their help. We want to thank everyone who see so many families enjoying their picnics in the warm attended for making it such a successful, happy and Spring sunshine. Once again the help of volunteers friendly day and for helping to keep the wood tidy. We was vital to staging the event and we thank all those look forward to seeing you again next year.

May Work Party

We were delighted to welcome a photographer and the third Sunday of the month, throughout the year at reporter from the Evening Star to our May work party. Spring Wood 10.30am - 1pm. If anyone wishes to take We were pulling bracken, dead hedging, path clearing part in our activities please contact IWG at and board walk cleaning. We thank them for the great www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/iwg. We also have a pictures they took, and for the accurate reporting. Facebook page, just type Ipswich Wildlife Group into your Facebook search, click ‘like’ and you can keep in Ipswich Wildlife Group holds a morning work party on touch with the latest wildlife news.

9 Friends of Alderman Canal

Alderman Canal and Recreation Ground Update by Robert Kensit

June saw Access to Nature Ipswich celebrating its first birthday on the Alderman Recreation ground, an event that also officially opened the new boardwalks and bridges along the Alderman Canal. Many of the usual ‘Green’ activities were on offer, including wildlife photography, guided walks and building bug hotels. We were treated to visits from the mayor, a representative from the police, and several local councillors. We had a steady stream of visitors from the minute we officially opened at 5.30 until we had to pack away at 8pm. Quite a few were only passing by and stopped mainly for the free food, but this offer served its purpose of making more local people aware of what this area has to offer.

There are still a lot of people who barely know that the canal exists, as it is quite literally a quiet backwater of New bridge getting plenty of use Ipswich, tucked behind the football stadium and the County Council headquarters. Like many local authority I spoke to PC Rachael Partridge about the problems in employees, I walk through this area twice a day, passing the area, and asked whether officers could pass through under the shade of the impressively aged trees. Only five more often. She assured me that the police will take years ago it was still rather uninteresting, but then the action to stop street drinkers in the park and will issue on project to make a section of Handford Road a Shared the spot fines to anyone caught relieving themselves in a Space resulted in a new area which combines sculpture, public area. lighting and trees at the end of the canal, and then a new playground and football pitch was created on the The newly surfaced towpath (which this year became a Recreation Ground, both of which have been well used Public Right of Way thanks to the work of our colleagues ever since. in the Countryside Access team of the County Council), the two wooden bridges over the lower stream running Being rather isolated and having several overgrown by the canal, and the boardwalks running between them places to hide away, the area has not escaped the social and across the soggy land at the north of the recreation problems prevalent in this part of town and evidence ground, are the result of many months of sustained of drinking, drugs and worse can often be seen in the work by Greenways volunteers, the River Warden and area. Hopefully, by encouraging more positive uses of contractors. These new facilities have been put to use by this beautiful area, it will deter others from misusing it. locals from the day they were completed, and the quality of the workmanship has drawn praise from associated environmental groups.

The work to develop this area is far from complete. We are hoping to create a Friends group with the active support of local residents and workers, and it is hoped to establish new and more attractive fencing at the Handford Road end of the Recreation Ground. The ongoing problem of the thick green weed layer that covers the surface of the canal for much of the year, making it look as if it is solid (and at least one person unfortunately assumed that it was!) has still to be addressed, hopefully by establishing a pump to circulate the water.

Spanking new boardwalks

10 Membership Secretary Bill Stone, 27 Draymans Way, Ipswich, IP3 0QU www.sogonline.org.uk SOG is the Group for people interested in the birds of Suffolk, and provides a network and a voice for birdwatchers in the county. The Group is administered by Suffolk birdwatchers for Suffolk birdwatchers, keeping them in touch with what is going on and with each other. Through the Group’s Council, SOG has good links with other naturalist and conservation organisations in the region.

The Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project (SCBOP) is SOG organises an extensive programme of field a joint project between Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group meetings and indoor meetings - see Events Diary. The and Suffolk Wildlife Trust. SCBOP has been a great Group’s bulletin, ‘The Harrier’ keeps members in touch success in providing nest boxes for the barn owl with what’s going on - stories about birds, conservation, across the county. Several groups, organisations, reserves and people. farmers, landowners and local communities have worked together to help this beautiful bird of the Suffolk Membership of SOG is open to anyone with an interest countryside. SCBOP recently won an award in the in the birds of Suffolk. Rates are £13 for singles and Greenest Community section, within the Landscape £15 for families. A joint membership with Suffolk and Biodiversity category run by Suffolk: Creating the Naturalists Society is available for £26 for singles and Greenest County, who work with local communities and £30 for families representing a saving of £2 on combined businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and enhance membership rates and entitling members to a copy of their natural environment. The annual awards celebrate ‘The Suffolk Bird Report’ as well as to the SNS bulletin excellent environmental achievements. ‘White Admiral’, published three times a year.

Friends of Holywells Park

Contact Peter Scotcher 01473 463860 or [email protected] The Group aims to work in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council to improve and promote the Park.

It’s been a busy time for the Friends Group. The Group Camping in the Park in June included campfire sing- has been involved with Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) songs, bug hunts, wildflower walks, a bat walk and a who are putting together a Lottery Bid for improvements discovery trail. All visitors to the Park enjoyed the event to Holywells Park. Work parties have put down dead and learnt more about this beautiful Park. wood habitats and installed seven rustic benches and the Group has put on a number of events - some of their own and some supporting IBC.

Easter Saturday coincided with St George’s Day and the © Peter Scotcher annual FOHP Easter Event duly had a dragon-slant. In early May the Friends Group provided refreshments at the Bird Fest along with IBC Rangers, Ipswich RSPB and Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group.

2011 is the 75th anniversary of the opening of Holywells Park having been given to the people of Ipswich by Lord Woodbridge. At Tea in the Park in May some 350 people saw the Mayor and Anthony Cobbold unveil interpretation boards about the Cobbold family and their connections with the Park. A bench was given by the Friends Group to the Park and officially opened and sat upon. Popular event in the Park

11 Stable Block, Holywells Park, Cliff Lane, Ipswich IP3 0PG Office: 01473 433995 [email protected] www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/greenways The Greenways Countryside Project exists to protect and enhance the countryside, landscape and open space across an area of about 100 square kilometres in and around the town of Ipswich, and home to around one quarter of the population of Suffolk, for the benefit of wildlife and local people. The project relies on volunteers to complete much of its practical conservation work. The Greenways Project is a very successful and well-established partnership between Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk County Council, Babergh District Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council and the local community. Annual Report – April 2010 to March 2011

The map shows the sites where the Project and its Routine maintenance can include litter picking, path volunteers have carried out practical management work cutting, cleaning information boards, repairing fences, between April 2010 and March 2011. The management boardwalks, bridges, hedge trimming, coppicing etc. work is intended to maintain and improve wildlife The case studies here try to capture some examples habitats and access for local people. Most of the of the more significant improvements that have sites listed will have had routine maintenance tasks been carried out in the year. If you would like further carried out in addition to more major work and new information on any of the sites, please contact the infrastructure. Project. Greenways Project Area Map

12 Key Achievements

• The second year of grant funding from the Haven Gateway Partnership (HGP) has allowed considerable improvements to be made at Alderman Canal and in Belstead Brook Park (see case studies). © Margaret Regnault • The HGP funded River Ranger has been in post for most of the year, helping to manage the river corridor and involve more people in its management.

• Funding this year from the HGP has totalled over £173,000 – a massive amount by the Project’s standards – allowing considerable infrastructure to be put in place or improved. © Dave Davies

• 1624 days of volunteer time given by regular volunteers, local groups and others – across the sites. This represents a colossal effort (the equivalent of more than 7 full time staff!) for which we are extremely grateful to all of those who have helped.

• The first year of the Big Lottery Funded ‘Access To Nature’ partnership with CSV has seen the project grow and involve a wide range of people who have not been interested in nature conservation and the countryside previously. The project has benefited from a grant (administered by Natural England) of List of sites more than £350,000 over three years.

Belstead Brook Park Northern Fringe 1 Spring Wood (LNR) 32 Whitton Footpath Link • Funding was secured from the Big Lottery via Mind 2 Millennium Wood (LNR) 33 Grundisburgh Millennium Meadow for a partnership with CSV and Family Action to 3 Bobbits Lane Meadows (LNR) 34 Lyttleton’s Meadow, Grundisburgh provide opportunities for people accessing mental 4 Ashground Plantation (LNR) 35 Kiln Farm Meadow (CWS), Gt 5 Bobbits Lane – upper area Bealings health care to get out into the countryside and get 6 Butterfly Ride 36 Former St Mary’s Convent site, involved in our work. The ‘Ecoroutes’ project has 7 Stoke Park Wood (LNR) Woodbridge Rd. 8 Ellenbrook open space and 37 Fonnereau Way been running since June 2010 with great success – Playing Field see case study. 9 Thorington Park open spaces Western Fringe and the River 10 Belstead Meadows 38 Alderman Canal (LNR) 11 Belstead Lower Meadows (CWS) 39 River Path – Stoke Bridge 12 Thorington Hall Farm area 40 River Path – Princes St to West 13 Belstead Heath End Rd 14 Bobbits Lane Allotments 41 River Path – West End Road 42 River Path – West End Rd to Southern fringe Handford Rd 15 Netley Close open space 43 River Path – Handford Rd- © Margaret Regnault 16 Belmont Road Wood Yarmouth Rd 17 Belmont Road open space 44 River Path – Yarmouth Rd to 18 Braky Wood Riverside Road 19 Maidenhall Allotments 45 River Path – Boss Hall (Community Garden) 46 River Path – ex-Sugar Factory 47 River Path – A14 to Sproughton Eastern Fringe 48 Churchman Way 20 Purdis Heath (SSSI), Purdis Farm 21 Martlesham Heath (SSSI) Wider Area 22 Sinks Valley (SSSI), Kesgrave High 49 Priestley Wood (SSSI), Barking School. 23 Martlesham Common (CWS) 24 Mill Stream (LNR), Rushmere St Andrew 25 Sandlings, (LNR), Rushmere St Andrew 26 Warren Heath (CWS) • Future Jobs Fund – during the year, the Project has 27 Farthing Wood, Kesgrave benefited from the help of six FJF employees for six 28 Long Strops Pond, Kesgrave 29 Cedarwood Green, Kesgrave months each - entirely funded by the scheme. The 30 Legion Green, Kesgrave six individuals have worked extremely hard assisting 31 Chestnut Pond, Rushmere St Andrew with our larger than normal workload. Many thanks are due to Mike Baldwin, Colin Snell, Sean Howard, Margaret Regnault, Adrian Garlick and Matt Mudd.

13 20010/11 Annual Report continued Case Studies

Ecoroutes Alderman Canal Local Nature Reserve During the year, volunteers have been very busy at Alderman Canal LNR, utilising the grant funding from the Haven Gateway Partnership to build two new footbridges and over 200 metres of raised timber boardwalk. The new bridges allow more choice for people walking through the reserve, making the site feel safer. The boardwalks provide all-weather paths across some of the wetter areas and have worked well at ‘pulling people in’ from the recreation ground area. The main path alongside the Canal has also been resurfaced by contractors – a major task, involving the A partnership between Greenways, CSV and Family need for new fencing between the path and the Canal. Action has attracted grant support from the Lottery via The new bridges and paths were officially opened by the mental health charity Mind. Each week the scheme the Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor John Le Grys on 21st provides opportunities for people accessing mental June 2011. health care to join us on one of the sites to carry out practical conservation work. A number of volunteers have helped by supporting the scheme’s participants Belstead Brook Park – Ellenbrook area – ensuring that there are many benefits, including exercise, motivation, social interaction, sense of achievement and learning new practical skills. The scheme has been very well attended and has seen several of the participants develop substantially. CSV have produced a short film about the project – itself involving more volunteers, filming and editing.

Bobbits Lane Local Nature Reserve – wildlife

viewing tower © Margaret Regnault Following the extensive wetland improvement works of last year, the Friends of Belstead Brook Park had The former playing field alongside Ellenbrook Road long wanted a way to be able to see into the wetland has had a ‘face-lift’ – including a new path from by way of a raised platform. The metal tower was end to end (with viewpoints of the Brook, where constructed by a local contractor, with volunteers kingfishers can be seen); a new timber fence (much building the boardwalk link to it. From the tower, one more welcoming than the old chain-link fence there can look over the wet meadows, the Brook itself, and before) and new access gates. Across the road a new into the trees of Ashground Plantation. footbridge and tarmac path leads into the Ellenbrook open space with access to the play area. The bridge © Margaret Regnault and paths help to link the two sites across the road, further strengthening the connectivity of Belstead Brook Park.

How to get involved If you would like to be involved in any way with the work of the Greenways Project, or would like any further information about the Project, its aims and its work, please contact the Project on 01473 433995, or email [email protected] Some further information can be found on our web pages at: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/greenways

14 Access to Nature

For more details about Access to Nature Ipswich see www.a2nipswich.org.uk or contact Becky on 07717 507348 or [email protected].

The Access to Nature Ipswich project has had an exciting few months with lots of activities and events and an even more packed Summer coming up!

We had a shockingly good turnout at 4.30am for a Dawn Chorus walk around Spring Wood on May Day, followed by a great day in Alexandra Park for the May Day Festival. The next day we spent making potato-grass-heads and pine cone creatures at Spring Wood Day – another wonderful event! We’ve been horseriding, learning to make toys from local wood, been on walks and done conservation activities.

On June 21st we celebrated a year of the project – doesn’t time fly?! We had a great evening at Alderman Canal, the site of our launch and of lots of work this year. We also celebrated the official opening of the new bridges and boardwalks on the Nature Reserve, and the start of a new ‘Friends of Alderman Canal’ group. Over 150 people came along, new faces and old friends, to take part in bug hunts, guided walks, kid’s activities, nature trails, making insect boxes – and food and drink – the sun shone, and a fantastic evening was had by all!

Our radio show continues to go from strength to strength, with brilliant guests and subjects ranging from beekeeping to Forest Schools, geocaching to bird migration. Make sure you tune in – every Monday 7-8.30pm on 105.7fm if you’re in the Ipswich area or online at www. icrfm.co.uk

We are busy attending events over the Summer including Music Day in Christchurch Park and the Community Garden’s Big Garden Party, as well as running loads of our own activities including wildlife walks, bushcraft and conservation activities. The highly popular River Cleanup will return in September (see ad on inside front cover).

We’re also collaborating with the Wildlife Rangers on a wildlife photography competition, which is open all summer, closing date 30th September. There are photography workshops to help you hone your skills. Contact Becky to find out more and book in a workshop, or check the details on the website – www.a2nipswich.org.uk

There are loads of opportunities for volunteers to join the a2nipswich project. We need people to help with everything from conservation work to radio show, events and activities to film-making. Volunteers can do as much or as little as they like, and there is the opportunity to access free training and learn new skills too! Get in touch with Becky to find out more! [email protected] or 07717 507348.

You can also find out more and keep in touch with us by going to our website www. a2nipswich.org.uk or following us on facebook - www.facebook.com/a2nipswich or twitter - @a2nipswich.

15 Wildlife Rangers

Office : 01473 433993 [email protected] Stable Block, Holywells Park, Cliff Lane, Ipswich IP3 0PG The Wildlife & Education Rangers are responsible for the management of wildlife areas within the town’s parks and other green spaces. As well as carrying out practical management, the team runs an events programme and works with many local schools to engage and inspire the public about the wildlife Ipswich has to offer.

This article is included here as it features a site the Rangers look after Another Butterfly Bonanza by Richard Stewart

Like Rushmere Common, Piper’s Vale on the southern The main species lacking is the White-letter Hairstreak*, edge of Ipswich is also an excellent inland Butterfly site. though a late and tattered one was found further along at If you enter from Raeburn Road the upper path passes Bridge Wood some years ago. Compared to Rushmere below veteran oaks that are host to dancing Purple Common this site has a wider variety of habitats but is Hairstreaks on summer evenings. A tall holly clump is under more threat, mainly from repeatedly resurrected often a good site for Holly Blues and when this path attempts to build an East Bank Link Road. Hopefully any reaches the Orwell Bridge a left turn takes you through future threat to this vital ‘green lung’ will be met with the dappled shade of damper woodland – a good place to same mass opposition as previous attempts. see Speckled Woods. Before reaching the many houses there is an open, sunlit field and earlier in spring this has Species common or occasional at Piper’s Vale: Small, Green Hairstreaks laying eggs on gorse or broom and Essex and Large Skipper, Large, Small and Green-veined often visiting nearby gardens. White, Clouded Yellow, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green and Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper, Brown Argus, The wider path from Raeburn Road, closer to the river, is Common and Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, more open with many nectar sources. Look hard and you Small Tortoishell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, may find the remains of a fenced off area of heathland. Wall, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small This was the scene of the unsuccessful translocation of Heath, Ringlet. Total: 27 species. Silver-studded Blues from the development of Warren Heath. The jetty area off right, close to the Orwell, is N.B. In my article about the butterflies at the Fynn Valley less visited but has an abundance of nectar sources, in the last issue of LWN, there was a transposition including clover, Bird’s-foot trefoil, fleabane and mistake. In the third paragraph it should be 28 species, knapweed. Here there is a colony of Common Blues and not 38, to agree with the list at the end. migrant butterflies often stop here, having followed the course of the river from the coast. This is a good place to see rarer Clouded Yellows.

White-letter Hairstreak at Pipers Vale

© Matt Berry * This year the Wildlife Ranger team have been surveying some of the Parks & Open Spaces in Ipswich for, amongst other things, White-letter Hairstreaks. I am pleased to report that a reasonable number have been recorded in the Gainsborough Lane part of Piper’s Vale, aloft the numerous Elms that line this historic track down to Pond Hall Farm. On one visit in the last week of June I counted approximately 20. This addition to Richard Stewart’s list makes a total of 28 species for the site. At the time of writing (first week in July) further surveys have revealed the presence of the Butterfly in a number of other locations too - Holywells Park, Landseer Park and Bramford Lane Allotments.

Matt Berry (Head Wildlife Ranger)

16 Wildlife Rangers

Reptiles in Ipswich by Matt Berry

The Wildlife Rangers are part of the Parks & Open Spaces The Wildlife Rangers will use the data from the surveys to team that manages over 500Ha of parkland in Ipswich. design and implement a series of measures to improve A major function of the Ranger team is to increase the and increase habitat and enhance site connectivity. Areas biodiversity of the parks and, where possible, enhance with existing populations will be targeted first, with new wildlife corridors to strengthen links between them. In habitat being created such as long grass meadow, scrub order to target resources in the best and most efficient and refuges for breeding and hibernation purposes. way possible the Rangers carry out regular wildlife surveys Work will be undertaken during the next few months at to audit the species that are present and to try and gauge a number of locations. Volunteers are always welcome population size and densities. This in turn provides vital to help so please do get in touch if you are interested in data to steer the most effective way of managing sites to helping reptiles in Ipswich. balance protection of wildlife and access for the public.

This year the Rangers have been working with local ecologists George Millins and Marc Woolnough to survey a number of sites in Ipswich for reptiles. All species of reptile in England have been in decline © Mark Woolnopugh in recent decades due to loss and fragmentation of habitat, poor management of habitat and to a lesser degree persecution due to unjustified fear or a lack of understanding and predation by domestic animals. Due to these factors all native reptile species in England (Slow Worm, Grass Snake, Viviparous Lizard, Adder) are protected against killing, injury and sale, with Smooth Snake and Sand Lizard afforded added protection against disturbance or capture and damage to their habitat. All species are also listed as priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), with action plans produced Wild-encounters at park event to aid their conservation. The Wildlife Rangers have also teamed up with ‘Wild Encounters’ to host a number of special events around the town. Marc at Wild Encounters educates and inspires

© Matt Berry children about reptiles, both exotic and native, and allows the children to get close to them – an unforgettable experience for many that may not have even seen a reptile before! The Rangers also tell visitors about the parks and take them on a walk to show them how they are being managed to help reptiles and other wildlife.

Finally, if you have a garden you can help them too! Grass snake pictured at landseer park during survey Consider managing an area for reptiles. This could be an area of long grass, a log pile, a compost heap, The full results of the surveys are not available yet but it a pond or better still all four! For further information seems that the scenario facing us is that Grass Snake about reptiles and gardens follow this link to the Natural is the most prevalent species in the parks, with a much England website, where they have a specially designed smaller number and size of Slow Worm and Viviparous leaflet available to download: http://naturalengland. Lizard populations. This is perhaps not surprising; Grass etraderstores.com/NaturalEnglandShop/NE15 Snake are the most mobile of the three species and is able to travel far more easily between areas of suitable habitat There is also a Reptile Habitat Management Handbook (including gardens). In contrast Slow Worm and lizards are available, which is packed with invaluable information. far less mobile and thus are prone to demise where habitat This can also be downloaded at: http://www.arc-trust.org/ is not available to support viable populations. downloads/RHMH.pdf

17 Butterfly Conservation Saving butterflies, moths and our environment

Membership Secretary 01379 643665 www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk [email protected] Butterfly Conservation is dedicated to saving wild butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK. All Butterfly Conservation members who live in Suffolk are automatically members of the branch and receive our newsletter, the Suffolk Argus, three times a year. The Suffolk branch is run by volunteers and we would be very pleased to hear from you if you would like to get involved. Brimstones & Buckthorn by Julian Dowding

for East Suffolk in the five year period 2000-2004 and this had risen to 644 for the period 2005- 2009.

© Matt Berry The campaign also raised awareness of the merits of the bush for other species as well. Buckthorn flowers provide nectar which seems particularly attractive to bees and hoverflies, and later in the year shiny black berries provide a valuable source of food for birds. As for other Lepidoptera, it is known that Green Hairstreak occasionally oviposit on Common Buckthorn and Holly Blue will utilise Alder Buckthorn as well as their more normal larval food plants. A number of moth larvae including Bucculatrix frangutella, are occasionally found on F. alnus and Brown Scallop and Dark Umber have also been found on R. cathartica.

That the bush is found more often in hedgerow mixtures sold at garden centres these days must be good for biodiversity but there is still room for improvement. Thirteen years on therefore, and Suffolk Branch are rolling out Brimstones and Buckthorn once again. We aim to increase both the range and number of Brimstones Brimstone egg laying on Alder Buckthorn in Holywells Park seen in the county whilst at the same time, getting more people involved in wildlife gardening and in caring for In 1998 Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation, along the wider environment, by providing the butterfly with with Ipswich Organic Gardeners Group, Ipswich Wildlife valuable stepping stones across the county. Group and the Wildlife Rangers at Ipswich Borough Council launched the Brimstones and Buckthorn This time around, the campaign will be using the initiative. The scheme was essentially a wildlife gardening internet to collate data and plot the whereabouts of any exercise encouraging people to plant Buckthorn bushes Brimstones arising from bushes planted through the in their gardens and thus attract Brimstone butterflies, initiative. This should make it a bit more interesting and since Buckthorn is the sole food plant of the butterfly interactive than before because people will be able to which is known for its ability to travel miles to find the view their records of plantings and sightings online with bush to lay its eggs on. a map containing details of all the other records from the scheme. It also has the potential to provide far more up The initiative, which also addressed a certain scarcity of to date feedback and to find out what other insect taxa the butterfly in the east of the county, was successful. are associated with Buckthorn. In just two years over 2000 bushes of both Common/ Purging Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and Alder To these ends, this Winter we will be sending out bare- Buckthorn Frangula alnus were planted in the target rooted whips to the public along with planting details. area, and female Brimstones soon homed in with the first Bushes will be free although any donations will be one turning up during fine sunny weather at a home in gratefully received. Participants will be asked to monitor Bildeston on May Day, 1999. Bushes were planted for growth and to look out for Brimstones and egg laying a further three years until 2003 and as a consequence activity over the following two years. £1,000 has been butterflies were to be seen in increasing numbers in the received so far for the project which includes £500 area. For example, there were 242 records of Brimstones from Suffolk Naturalists’ Society and further help from

18 Butterfly Conservation Saving butterflies, moths and our environment

HSBC. We will be producing a poster to help promote the campaign and seeking to publicise it through local media outlets once again.

The value of wildlife gardening and in particular, the fascination for insects, was brilliantly emphasised by TV celebrities Jimmy Doherty and Steve Backshall, at Jimmy’s Farm this April. At the opening of Jimmy’s tropical butterfly house at Wherstead, three Buckthorns were ceremonially planted in the adjacent wildlife garden to increase the availability of Buckthorn planting - Steve Backshall, Rob Parker and Jimmy Doherty habitat for native butterflies. We also collected names and addresses from around The initiative is open to anyone in Suffolk. If you are 75 families and three schools wishing to sign up to the interested then please contact us at brimstones@ scheme. suffolkbutterflies.org.uk

Silver-washed Fritillary makes a welcome return to Suffolk by Rob Parker

Climate change appears to be good for the Silver- (FC), Minsmere (RSPB). Another good wood is Stour washed Fritillary, Argynnis paphia, which used to grace Wood (RSPB), which is just into Essex. Two of the private Suffolk woodland in the 1940s and 1950s, but has woods have public footpaths going through them: suffered a long absence since then. Recently, it has been Pakenham and Norton, both in the west of the county. strengthening its colonies in the south of England, and The butterflies will have been on the wing from late in 2007 a couple of stray males turned up in Suffolk. June until late July, and will have laid their eggs close to At the time, these were put down to overspill from a violets - the larval host plant. re-introduced colony in Essex, but a few more in a private wood near Stowmarket gave cause for hope in Why not visit a wood near you next summer, spending 2009. That hope turned to excitement in 2010, when time in sunny glades with violets. If you find any Silver- the butterfly had a very strong year across Essex, Herts washed Fritillaries, you can report them via the Butterfly and Cambs, and suddenly turned up in a dozen places Conservation website: www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk in Suffolk and Norfolk. It is a woodland species, and several of the sightings were in woods that seemed to offer good prospects for breeding. © Rob Parker The early hot dry spring of 2011 brought more success than anyone had expected. Searches of the prospective breeding woods in late June discovered paphia flying in numbers that proved that colonisation had taken place last year. At the time of writing, they have turned up in 13 Suffolk woods, and pairing has been observed in at least one of these. The woods in question are mainly large oak woodlands, and are spread across the county. Most of them already support colonies of the White Admiral too. Some that are accessible include: Bradfield Woods (SWT), Wolves Wood (RSPB), Theberton Wood Paphia in a Suffolk wood

19 Friends of Christchurch Park

Secretary: Ann Snook 01473 251037 Membership Secretary: Robert Fairchild 01473 254255 Events/Meetings: David Routh 01473 255680 The sole purpose of the Friends Group is to help look after the Park for the public good, and to promote its welfare. Anyone who shares this aim is welcome to join. For a small annual fee of £5 you can join in Friends activities all year round, including Illustrated talks and discussions, Guided Park walks and Practical conservation work. You will also receive an informal seasonal newsletter.

A recent survey suggested that certain species of bird fare better than others in Christchurch Park. These include Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Jay, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, our two remaining © Reg Snook species of Woodpecker and of course our pair of resident Sparrowhawks. Blue Tit, Great Tit and, to a lesser extent Coal Tit use the numerous bird boxes in the Wildlife Reserve. The report also indicated that although many species of songbird can be seen in the Park throughout the year, a large proportion choose the nearby gardens in which to nest. There appears to have been an increase in Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch and Linnet who have decided to nest not only in back gardens but some using relatively small front gardens in which to raise young. Add Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow and A Herring Gull caught with a goldfish lunch at the Round Pond Collared Dove to the list and you will see that the gardens near to the Park are very important nesting sites. With the of his irises, which he has bred, on behalf of the FoCP in disappearance of Mabel, the Park’s famous Tawny Owl, the Wolsey Garden next to the Mansion. Barry’s idea is to breeding of this species has not been confirmed this year, produce colour nearly all year round and he has planted but Tawnies are still regularly heard in both the Park and several species of Iris to achieve this. This is a welcome the neighbourhood. innovation and a splendid addition to the Wolsey Garden. Barry, born in 1954 in Leiston, (he still lives there), has This year we have again held two very successful and worked at the Victoria Nurseries in Westerfield Road, interesting Spring bird walks, led by Philip Murphy, with Ipswich for the past 20 years. He breeds and grows only numbers attending steadily increasing. Philip’s knowledge Irises, which now number about 500 varieties. Barry of local birds is second to none. For many years he has joined the British Iris Society in 1990 qualifying as an Iris been recording sightings of birds in Christchurch Park judge and becoming Shows Secretary in 1992. Inspired by from the time when Rooks nested in the Chestnut trees Bryan Dodsworth, Barry has been a member of the Royal near Soane Street, when Hawfinches could be seen in Horticultural Society’s Joint Iris Committee since 1996. the Arboretum, and when migrating Pied Flycatchers With Simon Dodsworth, the late Bryan’s son, Barry has were regular visitors in late Summer. Philip is one of the helped to ensure the future of Bryan’s Iris collection which original members of the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group and is open to the public in Nottingham for one weekend © Reg Snook has seen incredible every year. changes in the bird world. Forty years You may be interested to know that over the Winter ago we would not months the Friends have been developing a new website have seen Peregrines which will have been launched online by the time you over Ipswich - who read this (www.focp.org.uk). Our goal was to create a would have thought site which would be both a useful source of current and that Peregrines would historic information for visitors to the Park and give a actually nest on the detailed calendar of all the events organised by the FoCP, Orwell Bridge and Ip-art, Christchurch Mansion, the Council team and many regularly hunt over other external bodies. The site is attractive as well as Ipswich? useful, with an expanding photo-gallery to which visitors’ contributions are encouraged, wildlife photographs taken At our March AGM, in the Park are particularly welcome. For up to date news Barry Emmerson or information, also pay a visit to our dedicated Facebook introduced us to his page www.facebook.com/ChristchurchParkIpswich Barry Emmerson’s Iris bed at the love of irises. He has Wolsey Garden also planted up a bed REG SNOOK

20 Friends of Belstead Brook Park

Temporary Contact: Greenways Project on 01473 433995 or [email protected] The Friends of Belstead Brook Park (FOBBP) was set up in 2002 to help look after the 250 acres of informal country park on the south-western fringe of Ipswich. The group runs practical work parties, helps raise funds for improvements and acts as ‘eyes and ears’, passing information back to the Greenways Project.

Whether you are a Friend of Belstead Brook Park who My partner Chris cannot always make the organised activities or someone frequently sets that just loves our gorgeous green areas, you can still do off for a walk in

things that help and support the park. the park armed © Sarah Waterson with a large bottle It is often the small things that make the big difference, of water with here are a few suggestions: sadly, not everyone takes washing-up liquid litter home, so when walking through the park, take a bag added and a cloth. and some gloves and pick up the rubbish as you go. It is He then cleans the a great idea to involve children by adding a bit of fun and information boards, awarding a prize to the most pieces of litter retrieved! and also reports wear or damage that may need more expert attention. Part of the pleasure of having a wander is observing the natural world, roaming the paths and looking into None of these things take long and can easily be a part the brook. If you notice that something is wrong, for of a walk, but is a great way of giving some tender loving example a fence needs repairing, or you have an idea for care to a beautiful area that takes care of us! improvements, phone or e-mail the Friends of Belstead Brook park/Greenways. Sarah Waterson Come and join us

The Friends of Belstead Brook Park is a group of local can be found in people who are volunteers that enjoy and love the park. the brook, woods The area is made up of Bobbits Lane, Spring Wood, and the meadows Grove Hill, Belstead Meadows and the surrounding of the park areas. - Planning for the © Sarah Waterson future of the park So far we have worked for and received £4,000 funding from planning for improvements to Stoke Park Wood and £25,000 to proposals to build bridges, improve footpaths and replace old and hedgerow planting worn out information boards. We have also carried out – you can have many practical tasks around the Park ourselves, from your say! litter picking to the planting of hedges. - Practical conservation All that we do ensures that the Park benefits both the activities such community and wildlife, so we make improvements to as tree planting, the wildlife habitat as well as monitor and record wildlife coppicing in within the park. We also like to promote knowledge of, Spring Wood and interest in, the area and work in partnership with and building existing organisations. bridges and rustic benches Why not become a friend of Belstead Brook Park? The activities are a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills Newsletters keep our members updated on all that such as coppicing, finding out more about the local area is going on. We also organise a range of activities, and also meet new people. If you would like to become meetings and talks such as: a member of the group, just contact James Baker on - Guided walks around areas of the park 01473 433995. - Picnics and barbecues with other friends of the park - Talks by local wildlife experts about the wildlife that The membership is free and open to anyone of any age!

21 Ipswich Local Group

Membership Secretary: c/o 19, Marlborough Road, Ipswich, IP4 5AT Email: [email protected] www.rspb.org.uk/groups/Ipswich Ipswich RSPB Local Group is for everyone interested in finding out more about the birds and other wildlife to be found in the Ipswich area and beyond. Why not come along to one of our indoor talks, held monthly between September to April at Sidegate Primary School, or (throughout the year), get out and experience nature first hand on one of our regular field meetings, visiting some of the best spots for wildlife in the area. Received by members three times a year the ‘Orwell Observer’, keeps readers abreast of the latest developments at the nearby Suffolk RSPB Reserves as well as news of Group activities, along with members’ photographs and accounts of birding exploits from both home and abroad. Annual Membership costs just £3 per year (£1 for Juniors). For more information please see the Events Diary in this magazine, visit our website or write to the Membership Secretary, all as per details above. Local Walks on the Wild Side by Stephen Marginson

The RSPB Ipswich Group runs a programme of outdoor Tit is the most elusive but can be noted in Bourne and trips each year to see and observe local wildlife. These Holywells Park. Great Spotted and Green woodpeckers range from the midweek walk programme, which covers also occur along with the usual members of the Crow the park areas of Ipswich and trips at weekends to local family. Birds of prey noted have included Kestrel, bird watching spots which we try to keep within a 15 Sparrow Hawk, Common Buzzard and peregrine Falcon. mile radius of Ipswich. This is because so much can be The Buzzard has become increasingly common soaring seen locally without having to travel miles to enjoy good over the parks whilst the Kestrel has suffered a decline bird watching. We also take an active interest in the flora, in numbers. In the Winter the parks become home to fauna and insect life of the places we visit as these often flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare along with Siskin and affect the birdlife and what can be seen. Brambling. In the hard weather of the last two winters large flocks of other finches have also used the parks Ipswich is blessed with four very fine park areas; for foraging and feeding in the cold conditions. Summer Christchurch Park, Holywells Park, Bourne Park and sees the arrival of the warblers with the Blackcap and Chantry Park. These form the backbone of the midweek Chiffchaff being the most common. Willow Warbler, walks programme. The Bourne Park trips usually include Whitethroat and Garden Warbler can also be found. If a look at the River Orwell from the Bourne bridge area you wish to explore the parks with like minded RSPB and path that runs by Fox’s Marina towards the Orwell members you are most welcome to come along on these Bridge. walks. Details can be found on our programme or the group website. A wide variety of the resident woodland and suburban birds can be found in the parks, these include Blackbird, The walks at the weekends tend to go slightly further Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Wren and Dunnock. afield but keeping within easy reach of Ipswich. The With the exception of Willow Tit all the other members winter walks tend to be centred around the estuaries of of the tit family can be found in the parks. The Marsh the Orwell and Stour with popular spots being Mistley © Chris Courtney

RSPB Local Group on walk in Holywells Park, Ipswich

22 Ipswich Local Group

Walls, Holbrook Bay, Shotley, Freston and Wherstead. The marvellous sight of the wintering waders and wildfowl is the target of these trips. Early January always sees the group at Mistley Walls for the superb views of the waders and wildfowl than can be got from this © Chris Courtney point irrespective of weather. Large flocks of Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Grey and Golden Plovers and Black Tailed Godwit can all be seen at close range along with Wigeon, Teal and Pintail. Goldeneye and Merganser can be noted from Mistley Quay. Holbrook Bay and Shotley provide other hot spots for large flocks of waders and wildfowl and are popular regulars in the programme. Shotley marshes is also an excellent site for watching Common Buzzard, an increasingly common sight Brent Geese at close range. Other winter trips have taken us to Wrabness and Copperas Bay on the Stour, particularly good wildlife spots. The Sandling heaths Woodbridge and Melton on the Deben and to the Butley are also the destination for our Nightjar evening, these and Boyton areas for wintering geese and wildfowl. varying between Tunstall, Blaxhall and Sutton Heath.

The Autumn migration in Suffolk is always better than in Spring and visits to see migration underway have been at Landguard and Cobbolds Point at Felixstowe. Most of the migrants noted have been Swifts, swallows and martins heading south along with parties of meadow pipits and flocks of finches. Out at sea large movements of gulls and terns have been noted along with some of the commoner waders. As yet we have not hit on that mega rare migrant. We have also visited the Deben at Melton which is a good spot for migrating waders in August and September with Greenshank, Common On the trailer - field trip to Barker’s HLS award-winning Lodge Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover being noted along Farm, Westhorpe, Suffolk with early arrivals of godwit and Lapwing.

The first trip of the Spring is the visit to the ancient All our Ipswich Group trips are open to all, whether you woods complex of Barking woods. This popular are members of the RSPB or not and there is no charge trip is as much for the flora as much as the birds, or need to book for them. Just turn up at the appointed with a superb array of Primroses, Bluebells, Yellow time and place to join like minded birdwatchers for a Archangel and orchids amongst other flowers noted. couple of hours or so birding and enjoying the pleasures In the spring and summer we do a variety of trips to of bird watching together. Full details are in the group’s woodland and farmland areas to look at local birdlife programme and on the website. The website also and the biodiversity of areas. Trips have visited Earl contains reports for the last two years’ trips, so have Stonham, Cotton, Orwell Country Park and The a read if you want to know where we go and what has Grove at Felixstowe amongst others. Alton Water is been seen. We look forward to welcoming you. always a popular favourite with its prolific summer and winter birdlife both on the reservoir and its surrounds. Nightingales are particularly good at this site. One of the most popular trips was to the Barker family’s high level

stewardship farm at Newton where the now-rare Grey © Chris Courtney Partridge, Turtle Dove and Corn Bunting were all noted.

We also do an annual trip to one of the Sandling Heaths to observe birds such as Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Stonechat and Dartford Warbler amongst the rich wildlife of these areas. In recent years these trips have been based round Sutton or Hollesley heaths both areas being Black-tailed Godwit

23 Portal Woodlands Conservation Group

Enquiries: Martlesham Parish Council 01473 612632 www.martlesham.org.uk/portalwoodlandsgroup or email [email protected] The group was formed to conserve the woodlands west of the Suffolk Police HQ and alongside the A1214. Volunteers meet each month to work on a variety of projects. Anybody is welcome to join this friendly group. Training and tools are provided.

Duncan Eighteen people ventured out on the evening of Friday Sweeting’s 24th June to enjoy our Glow Worm Survey and Bat Walk. presentation, Despite the damp weather we counted 29 females and display and tour one male. Although we were pleased to count more than of the woods the one female last year, the count was still down on as part of the typical numbers, particularly in the area by the Police ‘Trees and HQ next to the A12 where there has been much building Woodlands: work and ground disturbance. Several pipistrelle bats A Community were heard through the bat detectors and we had the Resource For added bonus of observing dragonflies emerging from Humans and their exuvia on reeds in our pond. Wildlife’ day in April organised This year volunters have been clearing an area of dead by SCDC was elms and replanting it with hazel to create what we hope well received by will eventually be a home for dormice. We have all age a mix of over 45 groups helping, families included. If you would like to Tree Wardens, come and help, see above for details. For the children, Greenprint we host a couple of clubs, teaching them about nature Forum members and conservation. More details can be found by looking and local on our web pages, or contacting us. people. Dragonfly emerging LYN PARKER Wild about Westgate Supported by the Greenways Project, the ‘Wild About Westgate’ Group got together on the first Saturday in April to plant some wildlife-friendly plants at the T-junction between Riverside Road and the River Gipping and River Path in west Ipswich. The idea was to create a community project that promotes wildlife and enhances the entrance to the River Path and the right-hand leg of Riverside Road. The event generated a lot of interest from passers-by with many people

keen to stop and chat. Sadly some of the plants were © Ryszard Laskowski | Dreamstime.com stolen shortly afterwards – no doubt for someone’s own garden! Let’s hope the stolen plants are benefiting wildlife somewhere else – not that that justifies theft and damaging the efforts of others! Great Green Bush Cricket Just at the time of going to press, WAW held its now annual Bug Hunt next to the river at a fabulous meadow bush-cricket. After biscuits, squash, colouring-in and between the river and Riverside Road (and next to the wordsearches, everyone then went ‘Dipping in the Felixstowe railway line). Here, the wildlife comes to Gipping’ for aquatic life. Animals found included an you with grasshoppers jumping onto tables, chairs and elver, water scorpions, leeches, freshwater hoglice, and equipment before the hunt had even begun. Amongst damsel and dragonfly nymphs. Next event is a Bat Walk the usual suspects of spiders, woodlice, beetles and in August (see Events from page 26). snails, a terrestrial bug hunt revealed Roesel’s bush crickets and Britain’s largest cricket, the great green For more information contact Carole Jones 01473 210586.

24 Local Wildlife News Snippets

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) micro-moth found at Turtle Dove Riverside Road Meadow A turtle dove (one of six headline farmland birds © Robert Garrod of concern because of large population declines) purring away in mid- June in scrub next to

Peter Scotcher

Celebrations as parks fly the green flag Two of the best-loved parks in Ipswich

have today © Matt Berry been given Local naturalist and wildlife photographer Rob Garrod prestigious recorded this beautiful micro-moth Nemophora fasciella Green Flag on 14th June whilst on a bug hunt along the river through awards – while a Ipswich. The moth is a Biodiversity Action Plan species and popular park in is the first record for Suffolk this year. The larval foodplant of Woodbridge has this species is Black Horehound which grows nearby on the also received Riverside Road meadow. This site is also good for seeing the the accolade. Great Green Bush-cricket (our largest cricket). Christchurch Park has become a Green Flag regular, but this year’s Free tree packs award is a first for Holywells Park. Holywells Park play area

Green Flags recognise the best parks in the country and applicants had to demonstrate an excellent use of green space, well-maintained facilities and high standard of safety and security.

Byrony Rudkin, culture portfolio-holder at Ipswich Borough Council, said: “This is a fantastic result and shows that we have some beautiful and well-run parks. But it also shows the hard work put in by the Friends groups of both parks and by our dedicated staff. I thank them all for their efforts and for this The Woodland Trust has a range of free tree packs achievement.” available to schools, youth groups and communities. Individual trees, small copses, traditional hedgerows and woodland are invaluable features of thriving Early sightings of neighbourhoods in our villages, towns and cities. Trees Damselflies can transform an area by introducing welcome shade, Two adult large red protective shelter and wildlife, and are a great, green damselflies in vicinity investment for future generations. of the River Gipping in western Ipswich on Monday 11th April. If you know of some public land in your local area that Typically the first of our would benefit from trees, apply now to receive a free Odonata (dragonflies community tree planting pack to plant in autumn 2011 and damselflies) to be or spring/autumn 2012. seen in the year but © Tim Heusinger Von Waldegge | Dreamstime.com late April to May is All the detail is at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk click on more typical! ‘More Trees More Good’ Peter Scotcher

25 Events Diary

Saturday 20th August 8:00pm FOHP Holywells Park BATS OVER HOLYWELLS PARK Find out about bats and join our quest for bats in Holywells Park using electronic bat detectors. FREE EVENT - handouts on bats and instructions for making a bat box. Bring a torch. Meet at the Stable Block (near Car Park from Cliff Lane). Walk expected to finish at 9:45 pm. Park will lock-up during the event and cars and visitors will have to exit via the main Cliff LaneAug entrance. Details from Peter Scotcher 01473 463860

Saturday 3rd September NATURE WATCH CLUB Martlesham Nature Watch is a club mainly for 5 - 11 year olds to come into the woods with their parents or guardians to enjoy organised nature projects, develop conservation skills and work for awards under the RSPB Explorer Award Scheme. To book a place please email [email protected] Details from Duncan Sweeting 01473 612632

Thursday 8th September 11:00am IDNHS Butley FIELD MEETING: DAISY’S WALK & STAVERTON THICKS – GENERAL INTEREST Meet at Butley Corner car park TM349502. Distance approx. 4 miles, bring packed lunch. Leader: Janet Watchman. Details from Janet Eley 01473 785557

Thursday 8th September 7:30pm RSPB Sidegate Lane TALK: THE ECOLOGY OF WADERS (AN EASY GUIDE) This illustrated talk by Dr Simon Gillings of the BTO, is sponsored by AW Hart, Builders and hosted by the RSPB local group at Sidegate Lane Primary School, Sidegate Lane. Ipswich RSPB group Members £1.80, non-members £3.00. Details from Chris Courtney 01473 423213

Saturday 10th September 10:00am - 1:00pm FoBBP Belstead Brook Park WORK PARTY Friends of Belstead Brook Park will be working on conservation and access tasks. Details from Steve Pritchard 07834 750970 or [email protected]

Sunday 11th September 10:00am - 2:00pm Greenways/Access to Nature IPSWICH RIVERS CLEANUP Join us for a morning of conservation activities in and around the waterways of Ipswich with a free lunch at 2pm. See notice on inside front cover. More information from Becky Marley 07717 507348 [email protected]

Sunday 11th September 10:00am – 1:00pm MCG Martlesham WORK PARTY Join the Martlesham Conservation Group on Martlesham Heath SSSI today for their regular work party. Meet at the Douglas Bader pub. Details from Phil Smith 01473 625630

Tuesday 13th September 10:00am RSPB Holywells Park MIDWEEK BIRDING WALK A walk around the park, including the conservation area, lasting approx 2 hours. All welcome. Meet at the Stable Block off Cliff Lane (TM176432). Details from KathySept Reynolds 01473 714839 Saturday 17th September 10:00am - 12 Noon PWCG Martlesham Heath WORK PARTY Join the Portal Woodlands Conservation Group for the regular work morning. Meet opposite the Police sports field entrance in Portal Avenue. Details from Duncan Sweeting 01473 612632

Saturday 17th September 9:00am - 11:00am NATURE EXPLORERS CLUB Martlesham Nature Explorers is aimed at young people 11 years or older, to come into the woods with their parents or guardians to enjoy organized nature projects and develop practical conservation skills. For more details and to book places please email [email protected] Details from Duncan Sweeting 01473 612632

Sunday 18th September 2:00pm RSPB Woodbridge BIRDING WALK FOR WADERS AND WILDFOWL Meet at Woodbridge Rail Station (TM273487) for a 4-5 mile walk, lasting about 3 hours. Details from Stephen Marginson 01473 258791 [email protected]

Sunday 18th September 10.30am - 1pm IWG Spring Wood Work Party Join Ipswich Wildlife Group and the Friends of Belstead Brook Park for for a morning of work in the wood. Meet at the stepped entrance to the wood. Details from Gerry Donlon 01473 726082

Wednesday 21st September 7:30pm SWT TALK: BRADFIELD WOODS AND ITS NEW CENTRE Illustrated talk by Mike Strand at St Margaret’s School Hall, Bolton Lane, Ipswich. Admission £2. Details from Dave Munday 01473 217310

Saturday 24th September 6:00pm Butterfly Conservation AGM & Members’ Evening Village Hall in Levington Lane, Bucklesham, near Ipswich The AGM will be followed by light refreshments and members’ slides.

Saturday 24th September 11:00am-12:00pm Bird Ringing Mornings Orford Ness National Nature Reserve (National Trust) See conservation in action by spending up to an hour with volunteers from the Landguard Bird Observatory to learn about this important part of our work. Gates open: 10am. Cross on ferry by 10.20am to allow time to walk to the wardens office for 11.00am. Free event (normal admission charges apply). More Information: Duncan Kent 01394 450900 or [email protected]

Saturday 15th October 11:00am-12:00pm Bird Ringing Mornings Orford Ness National Nature Reserve (National Trust) See conservation in action by spending up to an hour with volunteers from the Landguard Bird Observatory to learn about this important part of our work. Gates open: 10am. Cross on ferry by 10.20am to allow time to walk to the wardens office for 11.00am. Free event (normal admission charges apply). More Information: Duncan Kent 01394 450900 or [email protected]

Sunday 16th October 10:00am - 12 Noon PWCG Martlesham Heath WORK PARTY Join the Portal Woodlands Conservation Group for the regular work morning. Meet opposite the Police sports field entrance in Portal Avenue. Details from Duncan Sweeting 01473 612632 Oct

26 Sunday 16th October 10.30am - 1pm IWG Spring Wood Work Party Join Ipswich Wildlife Group and the Friends of Belstead Brook Park for for a morning of work in the wood. Meet at the stepped entrance to the wood. Details from Gerry Donlon 01473 726082 Make it a great day out - stay for the event below . .

Sunday 16th October 2:00pm - 4:00pm - Greenways Project/RSPB WINTER BIRDS EVENT Bobbits Lane and Bourne Park Local Nature Reserves. A free family event looking at birds from our new viewing tower and hide, with related fun and educational activities. Meet at Bobbits Lane car park. Call the Greenways Project 01473 433995

Wednesday 19th October 7:30pm SWT TALK: BORNEO The Wonders, Perils and Future of this Island Paradise Illustrated talk by John Medlock at St Margaret’s School Hall, Bolton Lane, Ipswich. Admission £2. Details from Dave Munday 01473 217310

Saturday 22nd October 11:00am – 2:00pm FOHP Holywells Park APPLE DAY Celebrate National Apple Day in the Holywells Park Orchard in the south-west corner of the Park. Family fun with traditional games, apple-bobbing, things to make and do, lunch-time refreshments, sing-along, story-telling, pumpkin carving, apple juice-making and sampling, longest apple peel competition. Explore the Orchard, woodland trail and willow tunnel. Follow signs from Stable Block. Donations please for refreshments and pumpkins (to cover our costs). Details from Peter Scotcher 01473 463860

Saturday 22nd October Suffolk Naturalists’ Society ANNUAL CONFERENCE Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge. Booking essential via email: conference@sns,org.uk

Sunday 23rd October 10:00am - 12:30pm Greenways Project FUNGI WALK Rushmere and Foxhall areas - learn about many different types of fungi, their relationship with trees and their importance. Part of Suffolk Coastal District Council’s Woodwose Festival. A free event forOct all the family to learn about fungi rather than collecting for food. Booking essential call the Greenways Project 01473 433995

Wednesday 26th October 10am - noon IBC Rangers FASCINATING FUNGI Join a local fungi expert to explore fungi and their life cycles in an ancient woodland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We shall be observing fungi and not collecting them. Cost £4 adults, £2 children. Booking essential with the Rangers 01473 433994

Thursday 27th October 7:30pm Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group INDOOR MEETING Local Patch Evening: Melton, Holywells Park and The Bawdsey Peninsula. Gi Grieco, Bill Stone & Nick Mason. Holiday Inn, London Road, Ipswich

Saturday 29th October NATURE WATCH CLUB Martlesham Nature Watch is a club mainly for 5 - 11 year olds to come into the woods with their parents or guardians to enjoy organised nature projects, develop conservation skills and work for awards under the RSPB Explorer Award Scheme. To find out more and book a place please email to naturewatch. [email protected] Details from Duncan Sweeting 01473 612632

Saturday 5th November 11am - 1.30pm IBC Rangers BIRD WATCHING CRUISE A fantastic opportunity to see some of the 50,000 waders and wildfowl that winter in the Orwell Estuary. Hot jacket potatoes will be served on board. Don’t forget your binoculars! Cost £14 adults, £12 concessions, £8 children. For more information contact Rangers 01473 433994

Wednesday 16th November 7:30pm SWT TALK: DOWN THE DEBEN Illustrated talk by Robert Simper at St Margaret’s School Hall, Bolton Lane, Ipswich. Admission £2. Details from Dave Munday 01473 217310

Saturday 19th November 9:00am - 11:00am NATURE EXPLORERS CLUB Martlesham Nature Explorers is aimed at young people 11 years or older, to come into the woods with their parents or guardians to enjoy organized nature projects and develop practical conservation skills. For more details and to book places please email [email protected] Details from Duncan Sweeting 01473 612632

Sunday 20th November 10.00am - 3.30pm Belstead Brook Park MEGABASH! Join the Greenways Project, Friends of Belstead BrookNov Park, Ipswich Wildlife Group and Access To Nature for a day of coppicing, dead hedging, bonfires and more in and around Millennium Wood and Spring Wood. Refreshments including baked potatoes and toasted marsh mallows! Meet at Bobbits Lane car park. More details from the Greenways Project 01473 433995

Thursday 24th November 7:30pm Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group INDOOR MEETING On Parish – 1000 Species: Seeing Nature in the Round. Mark Cocker. Holiday Inn, London Road, Ipswich

Wednesday 7th December 7:30pm SWT TALK: MAMMALS OF SUFFOLK Illustrated talk by Dr Simone Bullion at St Margaret’s School Hall, Bolton Lane, Ipswich. Admission £2. Details from Dave Munday 01473 217310

Saturday 17th December 10:00am - 12 Noon PWCG Martlesham Heath WORK PARTY Join the Portal Woodlands Conservation Group for the regular work morning. Meet opposite the Police sports field entrance in Portal Avenue. Details from Duncan Sweeting 01473 612632

Sunday 18th December 10:30am IWG SPRING WOOD CHRISTMAS WORK PARTY Join Ipswich Wildlife Group coppicing and making bean poles and pea sticks. Meet at the stepped entrance to the wood. Details from Gerry Donlon 01473 726082 Dec

27 Sunday 18th December 10:00am - 12 Noon PWCG Martlesham Heath WORK PARTY Join the Portal Woodlands Conservation Group for the regular work morning. Meet opposite the Police sports field entrance in Portal Avenue. Details from Duncan Sweeting 01473 612632

November/December IBC Rangers PLANT THE TOWN GREEN In this, the International Year of the Forests with its theme of ‘Forests for People’, help the Rangers to increase tree cover in the town. Help plant trees in the town’s parks and open spaces. We’ll provide the tools, you bring plenty of energy and enthusiasm. For dates and locations call the Rangers 01473 433994 Dec

Regular Events

TUESDAYS 9.30am Greenways CONSERVATION WORK PARTY Meet at the Stable Block Holywells Park to visit one of over 40 sites around Ipswich for a day’s practical task. Contact 01473 433995

MOST FRIDAYS 9.30am Greenways CONSERVATION WORK PARTY As well as Tuesdays, the Greenways Project, has a smaller but just as welcoming group of volunteers most Fridays. Meet at the Stable Block, Holywells Park from where we travel to one of our sites around Ipswich for a day’s practical task. Contact 01473 433995 to confirm before coming. Please contact us before coming to check that we are holding the work day.

MOST SATURDAYS 10.30am - 1pm IWG Northgate Allotments WOODCRAFT & WILDLIFE Get involved in coppicing and woodland skills at the Wildlife area. Call Geoff Sinclair to confirm dates01473 327720

SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH 8pm ‘Green Drinks’ Dove Inn, Ipswich DRINKS AND CHAT Join us at the Dove Inn for a drink, a chat and a bit of networking with other environmentally-minded people. Look out for the ‘Green Drinks’ sign on the table. All welcome. Details from Steve Pritchard on 07724 004272

THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 10.30am - 1pm IWG & FoBBP Spring Wood Work Party Join Ipswich Wildlife Group and the Friends of Belstead Brook Park for for a morning of work in the wood. Meet at the stepped entrance to the wood. Details from Gerry Donlon 01473 726082 © Peter Evans Ltd www.peterevans-design.co.uk

Messing about on the River Orwell