Martlesham Wilds Engagement Officer, Charlie Zakss, asked Simon Couchman, who designed the (now sold out) tea towel, how the idea came about:

"For as long as I can remember I have always been interested in the natural world. I grew up in Felixstowe so spent a lot of time on the beach, exploring the rockpools at low tide, which 50 years ago, seemed always to be full of sea life. A neighbour introduced me to birdwatching and I was soon enrolled as a member of the Young Ornithologist Club, spending much of my time cycling down to Felixstowe ferry and beyond to birdwatch along the river wall and around the reeds of Kingsfleet. When our own children came along, we moved to Woodbridge, and when they were old enough we took them to Foxburrow nature reserve on Saturday's for Wildlife Club. Now in my late fifties, I have been around long enough to witness a lot a change in our local environment. Especially in our rivers and the sea. I don't see many common sunstar's washing up on the beach, or see the iridescent flash of shoals of elvers swimming through the shallows. The large snakeslock sea anenomes that we used to fear trending on when swimming in the sea have gone. The sea rarely goes clear for long in the summer now, and those wonderful rockpools have all silted up. 

However, I've also seen new creatures coming to these parts and staying: buzzards, kites, little egrets; all very rare in this county when I was growing up. Avocets then were only to be seen at RSPB Minsmere reserve, and otters then were terribly endangered, too.

Now living in Waldringfield, I was thrilled to hear of the news about Suffolk Wildlife Trust's new Martlesham Wilds nature reserve. Our local wildlife group started talking about ways we could raise funds to support this project. Designing and selling tea towels was one suggestion which I thought matched my skill set. Having spent much of my working life in the graphic design industry."

We are very grateful for the Group's support - thank you to everyone!

If you'd like to support our Martlesham Wilds campaign, you can make a donation here - thank you!