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Arable farmland Steve Aylward Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Farm wildlife advice

Our Farm Advisers work with farmers across Suffolk to encourage, support, and develop wildlife-friendly management - helping to make more space for nature.

Over 70% of land in Suffolk is farmed; therefore farmers and landowners play a vital role in nature's recovery across our landscapes. We are lucky in Suffolk to have a great variety of farming systems which simultaneously provide food for the wider population, whilst also supporting wildlife. The traditional patchwork of farm hedgerows, meadows, woodlands, scrub, crops, and ponds are important for many species, and deserve to be preserved, restored and celebrated.

We work with large-scale farms and smaller, traditional farms to enhance their land for wildlife whilst maintaining productivity by providing free advisory services and helping navigate funding and grant options. We also lead or work with a number of Farm Clusters including the Wool Towns, Blyth Valley, Stour Valley, Upper Deben, and Upper Gipping Farm Clusters.

If you would like to find out how we can help your farm, please contact us by email:

farm.advice@suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Common frog

2 -WildNet - Richard Burkmar

Our FREE farm wildlife advice includes:

  • Design, creation, management, and restoration of habitats
  • Pond creation, restoration and management 
  • Support with scope and set up of new Farm Cluster groups
  • Guidance and advice on environmentally-sound farming practices
  • Guidance and advice on applications to environmental land management scheme
Meadow on a sunny day

© Matthew Marshall 

Other support we can provide:

  • Countryside Stewardship applications (Wildlife packages, Mid tier, or Higher tier)
  • Other funding applications e.g. woodland grant applications, Farming in Protected Landscapes, England Woodland Creation Offer

The fees of these services go towards Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s vital conservation work.

Meet our Farm Advice Team

Jenny Rawson, Senior Farm Adviser

Jenny Rawson, Senior Farm Adviser

Jenny studied Geography at the University of Plymouth and then went on to work as an ecological surveyor, gaining skills in wildlife identification and monitoring. Prior to joining Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Jenny worked at Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust for 10 years, with responsibility for planning and delivering practical management on 20 nature reserves in East Hertfordshire; including a range of woodland, wetland and grassland sites. Jenny has a detailed ecological knowledge and understands the practicalities of managing productive farms for nature.

Jenny was brought up in Suffolk and spent her early years helping out with sheep at Foxburrow Farm. She is passionate about Suffolk wildlife and the importance of landscape-scale conservation.

Maddie Lord, Farm Wildlife Adviser

Maddie Lord, Farm Wildlife Adviser

Maddie started as Farm Wildlife Adviser in 2021. Her role is to advise landowners on how to support nature alongside production. She enjoys working with landowners on agri-environmental schemes, informal wildlife plans and flagging funding opportunities.

Maddie has balanced expertise in both the environmental and agricultural sectors. In 2016 she received her BSc in Conservation Biology and Ecology from Exeter University, which provided knowledge on the guiding principles of ecosystems and survey techniques. Later she worked at a local rural surveyors and land agency firm, whilst achieving her master’s degree in Rural Estates and Land management from Harper Adams University.

Maddie is a keen hiker and photographer and comes from across the Suffolk/Essex border where she lives on her family’s farm in Thorpe-le-Soken.

Follow us on Twitter, we’d love to see your farm wildlife highlights!

@SWTWildFarms 

Help us to help you - please complete our questionnaire: 

Which species are on your farm?