In preparation for nesting season, improvements to the scrapes at Trimley Marshes have been underway. Scrapes are shallow pools of water in a wetland environment which are often full of invertebrate life. Wading birds such as avocet and lapwing feed on the scrapes, and in the spring this environment is appealing for these species to nest and raise their chicks. Due to their shallow nature of these habitats, scrapes can dry out over time or get filled with sediment, making ongoing management of these vital features necessary.

Our Volunteers and South-East & Trimley Warden Joe have also been hard at work making repairs to the Reservoir Hide by replacing the walkway entrance. A new boardwalk has been laid with grip mesh over the top at the entrance of the hide, after these repairs the hide is now back open for visitors to enjoy the views over the reservoir.

This year we launched our first ever Christmas Gift Appeal for wildlife. Your donations will help us deliver vital work for habitat and species in Suffolk including key species such as dormouse and lapwing. Suffolk Building Society kindly provided match funding for a week to celebrate #GivingTuesday, a global movement to spread cheer and build community spirit in the run-up to Christmas.

The closing date for the Christmas Gift Appeal is Christmas eve and so far, we are pleased to say your festive donations have raised over £14,000 for wildlife!

Find out more about the appeal here. 

Our Engagement team hosted a thank you event for our Martlesham Wilds volunteers this month to celebrate two years of Martlesham Wilds nature reserve and all the time the volunteers have dedicated to the reserve. Talks on the day ranged from butterfly and dragonfly surveys, researching the rich history of the land, getting up close with the soil and the creatures that call it home, and capturing beautiful images of the wildlife.

We are fortunate to have a range of people giving their time for wildlife on the reserve, from regulars walking the route to greet and speak to those using the reserve, to survey helpers and soil samplers! To all those who give their time volunteering for us, thank you! Your support is invaluable for wildlife in Suffolk.

West Suffolk Warden Becky and Assistant Warden Linsey have created a new sluice gate for Lackford Lakes to replace a damaged one. Sluice gates are an important feature of our nature reserves that help to control water levels, ensuring that our habitats are enticing to key species. 

The weather may have got chillier, but our wardens and volunteers are hard at work year-round on the reserve. The team have recently coppiced trees along the edge of the Sailing Lake, cutting trees down to the base to encourage many stems of new growth to pop up and creating a varied age structure which benefits a wider range of wildlife.

Elsewhere, tree clearance on Breckland patches maintains the low-growing, open nature of this unique and rare habitat, so that woodland does not take over and moss, lichen and other small, rare Breckland plants can thrive. Take a closer look next time you walk past the Breckland patch opposite the viewing platform!

Our North-East Wardens have been undertaking winter habitat management tasks at Carlton Marshes and other reserves in the North-East of the county. A particular focus has been on removing scrub to maintain precious fen habitat.

Scrub habitat is a transitional area between open habitats such as grassland and heathland, where larger plant species become the dominant vegetation. Whilst scrub is important for wildlife itself, to help maintain and restore nationally important fen and marsh habitats, it is important to reduce scrub in carefully selected areas, to allow a wider range of plants to establish and diversify.

In a particular area of Carlton Marshes, the team left an alder tree as a perch for cuckoo; which we regularly see in our reserves in the Lower Waveney Valley.

Our Wilder Ecology team have been carrying out low tide bird surveys across Suffolk this winter to monitor the number of winter migratory birds. Ongoing surveying work is vital to monitor numbers of species and for understanding how different environmental factors impact their populations.

Joining David and Georgia during part of this survey series along the River Orwell a range of mudflat wading species were recorded including heron, curlew, pintail ducks, mute swans, and redshank. We were also treated to a brief flash of brilliant blue from a kingfisher.

Dan, and Sam from our Wilder Landscapes team and our Planning and Advocacy Manager Rupert,  met Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Minister Daniel Zeichner MP in December. They discussed how Suffolk Wildlife Trust is working with farmers and land managers on ambitious plans to restore nature through Landscape Recovery in the Waveney and Little Ouse headwaters.

By changing how land is used, we can increase biodiversity, reduce flooding, improve water quality and river health, store more carbon in soils, provide access to nature for people whilst still producing quality, local food.

Find out more

Our finance team took a day out of the office to assist with conservation work at Lackford Lakes with seasonal tasks. Getting stuck in with scrub clearing and brash management the team helped maintain vital habitats for wildlife at our reserve.

As we come to the end of 2024, we would like to wish you a peaceful and nature filled winter period. Thank you for your support this year, every membership, every event attendee, every hour volunteered, every donation has helped wildlife in Suffolk. Thank you.

We look forward to seeing you in 2025 as we continue our mission for 30% of land and sea to be claimed for wildlife.

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust team x