Wild news from our reserves – 4 August 2023
We are lucky that our wonderful volunteers at Lound Lakes are also talented photographers. These stunning images show some of the wonderful summer wildlife seen recently, including mating common blue butterflies, hare’s foot clover, hornet mimic hoverfly and a painted lady butterfly.
Fruiting trees feed wildlife
Donated trees of mulberry, rowan, and medlar are coming into fruit in Fen Barn Garden at Lound Lakes. The species were picked as both flower and fruit attract and feed insects, birds, and small mammals.
Thrilling bird life
Visitors to Trimley Marshes have been thrilled by recent sighting including, cattle egret, spoonbill, hobby, and kingfisher.
Favourable conditions
The North East wardens have been busy topping the marshes at Castle Marshes today. This, in combination with cattle grazing, will keep rush under control and create a habitat structure favourable for wintering wildfowl and breeding waders next spring.
Water soldier for raft spiders
The ditches at Castle Marshes look great with plenty of water soldier which is the preferred plant for fen raft spider maternity webs. The spiders have expanded their range at Carlton Marshes again this year, and we hope survey work happening soon at Castle will show a continued increase in numbers too.
Bracken management
Bracken needs to be managed across our reserves because, if not controlled, it will dominate and open habitat will be lost along with important species.
Our teams have been busy with bracken bruising at Lound Lakes using a bracken roller which helps to control the spread of bracken by crushing the plant's fronds and bruising its stems.
At Snape Marshes the wardens and volunteers got stuck in the cutting and raking excess bracken.
Animal detectives at Martlesham Wilds
This week saw our very first family activity at Martlesham Wilds nature reserve! The families became animal detectives and looked for signs of creatures that live here. It was very apt that they found a poo in the shape of a question mark for who's poo?! The footprints next to it were a little clue!
The children were absolutely delighted to find a wasp spider & a baby toad which were briefly observed in the bug box before being released.