Launched in October 2022, over 2,300 individuals, community groups, and local organisations have got involved with fundraising with marathons and musical challenges, to business support and guided walks – including Suffolk Building Society who were one of our most enthusiastic business supporters. All for this special place for nature.
We did it! We have raised £1million for Martlesham Wilds!
Martlesham Wilds - Charlie Zakss
Thanks to the response from our supporters, volunteers, members, and local businesses, we have secured £1,000,000 to complete the land purchase for ‘Martlesham Wilds’ – a new 300acre nature reserve on the banks of the River Deben.
Andrew, JJ, Jenny and John at Martlesham Wilds, Michael Strand
Dagne Ciuksyte
Towards Wildness - Artwork by Dick Dolan
Credit Woodbridge Shufflers Running Club
William and Ewan reaching the summit of the South downs hill 75km in at sunset. Ewan looking a little weary... Image credit: William Oliver
Read more inspiring Martlesham Wilds stories here
At close to 300 acres, Martlesham Wilds will be a substantial new nature reserve – becoming part of our countywide-network of sites that are vital havens for wildlife. Our vision for this new nature reserve is to create a space in which nature can recover – to allow wilder habitats to return and become homes to species such as curlew, avocet and redshank, as well as reptiles, mammals and invertebrates. As thickets of hawthorn, blackthorn, gorse and wild rose establish on the dry sandy soils, they will support growing flocks of linnets and yellowhammers, and in time we hope nightingale will return. Small mammals will thrive in the dense undergrowth and insects will abound. Grass snakes, slow worms and common lizards will expand into the new areas of habitat and barn owls will come a regular sight at dusk. This ‘wilded’ land will become part of a connected landscape of ancient woodland, scrub, grassland and saltings, linked by the River Deben.
We have a vision for a wilder Suffolk – where nature is thriving and abundant, because everyone is doing more to help. To help achieve a wilder Suffolk, we are championing two collective targets in Suffolk that every sector of society needs to help achieve:
- To protect and restore 30% of Suffolk’s land and sea for nature recovery
- To inspire and support 1 in 4 people in Suffolk to take action for nature and climate
Martlesham Wilds is a big step in reaching these goals.
“We are thrilled with how local Suffolk communities, businesses and volunteers have come together to help us create this stunning new nature reserve. By securing this small piece of the Deben landscape, the Trust makes a big step forward in helping nature in Suffolk to recover. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible.”Chief Executive at Suffolk Wildlife Trusts
You can visit Martlesham Wilds for walking and there is a small car park for those travelling by car. The reserve can be reached by bus routes operating to Martlesham from Ipswich and Woodbridge. Dogs are welcome however must be on leads to help the animals, plants and landscape to recover and reestablish.
You can still contribute our vision for Martlesham Wilds by heading to our campaign page, which will continue to go towards our work transforming this special place for nature.