The Wilder Landscape team delved into the tracks and signs of deer in an established woodland within the Constable and Gainsborough County Landscape Recovery Project area. Identifying key signs of deer activity looking for scrapes, grazing evidence, and even droppings during their survey. Each species of deer leaves different signs in the landscape and has varying impacts on their environments when at high density, such as hindering the growth of naturally regenerating habitats. Whilst searching for these signs the team also came across a harvest mouse nest, these small rodents have prehensile tails to help them scale grasses – a very impressive feat!

Our Farm Cluster advisers have also been busy, hosting an event with soil expert Niels Corfield. Demonstrating soil sampling techniques with farmers, including in-field sampling and infiltration tests. The session also covered how poor compacted soil can become ideal places for yield impacting weeds.

Dr Dan Wade, Waveney and Little Ouse River (WaLOR) project manager has been in the news this month speaking to news agencies across Suffolk about the exciting prospect of a flood mitigation project along the River Waveney and Little Ouse.

Currently under discussion with the Government, the WaLOR project proposed to work to ‘rewiggle’ the river and create new fen habitat to help mitigate the effects of flooding. This exciting project could see new valuable habitat created and act as a blueprint for future flood mitigation plans.

Find out more about the project here

March has seen the beginning of four new events to connect families with nature at our Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve.

Wild in the Week – A monthly Forest School session for home educated children aged 8–11-year-olds

Wild families – A monthly session for families exploring the reserve, learning about wildlife, and taking action for nature

Young Naturalists – A monthly wildlife club for teens aged 11-16 years

Warden Walks – open to all, walk with a warden the last Friday of each month and discover seasonal themes across the reserve

Aiming to encourage great nature connection and appreciation for young people and families. We are looking forward to welcoming and inspiring a new generation of nature lovers and conservationists to Lackford Lakes.

Already a nature lover, or want to get more connected to nature? Discover our events.

Surveying across our reserves has shown the signs of the beginning of breeding beginning season for nesting birds. At Trimley Marshes, 5 pairs of Lapwing have been seen displaying and identifying suitable areas for nesting on islands around the main lagoon.

As the breeding season comes into full swing there are many ways you can help support a successful nesting season for key species:

Keep to footpaths – ground nesting birds can be masters of camouflage, keeping to footpaths is key to prevent alarming birds on nests, treading on and damaging nest sites and even stepping on chicks (they can blend in well!)

Some areas that you may usually be able to access might be cordoned off during nesting season to help prevent damage to nesting sites.

Keep dogs on short leads in signposted areas – one of the biggest disturbances to nesting birds are dogs, you can minimise this impact by keeping dogs on leads. Stress can cause birds to abandon their nests and use up valuable energy needed to look after chicks.

Leave no trace – litter can cause risk of entanglement, choking and in some cases poisoning. Make sure to bin any litter or take it home with you for recycling. If you see litter during your walks, be a wildlife hero and pick it up to prevent harm to our valuable species.

Read more about dogs on reserves

Our wardens at Lackford Lakes have been clearing and reshaping a sandy bank on the reserve to support the bee population. The bare, loose soil in the bank makes perfect habitat for ground-nesting solitary bees, which will be ramping up activity in the coming months. The machinery also allowed the team to carry out management work on lakes and ditches around the nature reserve, and create some bare ground areas in the Breckland field, to benefit solitary bees and wasps, spiders and may other invertebrates.

Thank you to M. O'Brien Group of Companies for donating the use of the machines for our wardens to get stuck in a create a bee haven on the reserve.

Solar panels have been installed on the roof of our Carlton Marshes Visitor Centre. The power generated from these panels will be used to run our visitor centre including the café, learning room, gift shop and office helping to reduce energy consumption.

Alongside this the team at Carlton Marshes have begun an accessibility audit of the reserve and centre in order to improve information about the site’s facilities, helping people with accessibility needs feel more comfortable planning their visit and connecting with nature.

Can you help raise vital funds to help save wildlife in Suffolk? This year we are gathering teams for the Ipswich Half Marathon and Whole Hog events, and we need you!

Whether you run marathons regularly or just fancy getting stuck into something to help your local wildlife, we want you on our team.

Join us as a team member for:

Ipswich Half Marathon - Sun 21^st September, Ipswich

The Whole Hog - Sunday 5^th October, Rendlesham

If you’d like to see more of our news on social media, you can now also find us on Bluesky! Follow us to hear more about our wildlife sightings from our nature reserves, photos & videos you’ve sent in, and actions you can take to help wildlife.

Follow us here

https://bsky.app/profile/suffolkwildlife.bsky.social