The team at Oulton Marshes almost completed installation of a new wind powered pump this week, the final task being to attach the sails, but this needs to wait for less windy conditions.  

The wind powered pump will source water from an adjacent dyke, enabling water levels on the new wetland habitat on the northern marshes at Oulton to be sustained, thus creating a habitat ideal for waders like avocet, redshank and pink-footed geese to feed and breed. We look forward to seeing the arrival of many of these and other magnificent wading birds at this habitat.  

The wind pump installation and habitat creation were funded through generous grants from the Swire Charitable Trust, Anglian Water Flourishing Environments fund, Geoffrey Watling Charity and Alfred Williams Charitable Trust and a very kind donation from Michael and Penny Thomas. 

Warden Jamie cut bunds through the reed at Hen Reedbeds this week. The bunds allow the wardens safe passage through the reeds during bird surveying, and enable additional monitoring via trail cameras. Soon after the work was complete, this bittern was spotted exploring the newly cut areas – photos thanks to David Borderick. 

The recent extremely high tides have brought change once again and posed us with management challenges, as footpaths and river walls have been eroded by flooding at Carlton Marshes and Hazlewood Marshes.

Storms Eunice and Franklin have certainly kept our teams busy with tree safety work clearing unsafe trees and branches from trails but where possible leaving deadwood for invertebrates and fungi to feast on. Tree safety was also on the agenda at Groton Wood this week, where roadside visibility was improved by coppicing the hazels, thus allowing the verge to be mown or brush cut. 

Bradfield Woods is a fantastic place for wildflowers, including early purple orchids and the rare oxlip – Suffolk's county flower.

The boardwalk at Lound Lakes was made of recycled plastic and was straining and warping as the material hasn't got a tolerance in the changing climate, creating buckling and movement. So warden Andrew and his team partnered with Essex & Suffolk Water and contractors to replace plastic frame and hand rails with more heat tolerant timber, resulting in a stable walkway. Thank you to our visitors for walking that extra mile during the works!