A team from Willis Tower Watson donated their time this month to help our Trimley Marshes Warden create habitat for waders. Staff helped to cut and rake grass by hand around scrapes and on islands that are tricky for machinery to complete. 

This creates an ideal habitat for nesting birds come the spring. Waders like short grass and a good 360 view to spot predators easily whilst nesting – we’re hoping to see birds such as avocet make use of this freshly cut area for nesting next year. As the water levels increase in some scrapes during the winter the wet edge of this habitat is enticing for winter visitors such as snipe.

To kick-start National Marine Week our South-East reserves team began with a juvenile fish survey at Martlesham Wilds. The salt marsh habitat at the reserve acts as a refuge for estuarine fish species. Working with IFM (Institute of Fisheries Management) and RDA (River Deben Association) for this work the team are steadily building an important database for the Deben estuary. 

Later in National Marine Week the South-East team took a trip to Northey Island reserve, managed by the National Trust, to learn about the intertidal restoration project which included new saltmarsh creation, reprofiling of sea walls and improving causeway structures. The team also discussed modern survey techniques used for assessing saltmarsh condition, which was extremely useful for building knowledge for future projects we will be working on in the Suffolk coastal strip. Our sincere thanks go out to Matt Wilson, Katy Gilchrist, and Rebecca Bromley, who were our National Trust guides.

Eleven representatives of councils throughout Suffolk came along to the ‘Wildlife in your Community’ course in Hadleigh to share ideas and discover how to prioritise wildlife in their local initiatives, Biodiversity Action Plans or Neighbourhood Plans.

Conservation adviser, Cathy Smith led the course at the Cricket Pavilion in Hadleigh and inspired those attending to take action back in their own parishes. It was inspiring to hear first-hand how Hadleigh Environment Action team have taken on many climate and biodiversity projects as well as how they had influenced the, now adopted, aspirational Neighbourhood Plan for Hadleigh.

Interested in how your community can take action for nature? Find out here.

We’re excited to announce the speaker line-up for our upcoming Ecotourism for Businesses event, kindly supported by East Suffolk Council. This morning gathering will bring together industry leaders, local businesses, and nature advocates to explore the future of sustainable tourism in Suffolk

Businesses are being welcomed to our Carlton Marshes nature reserve Visitor Centre for a morning of discussions, panels and networking focused on how nature can benefit business and drive opportunity. 

We’re excited to introduce our key speakers including:

Joss Mullett (East Suffolk Council), Jo Burton (Tourism Director at Larking Gowen) and Hugh Braidwood (Engagement & Visitor Operations Manager, Suffolk Wildlife Trust). 

Themes of the talks will include the Sizewell C Mitigation Fund, data supported industry insights, the annual Tourism Survey completed by Larking Gowen, and how Carlton Marshes is embracing ecotourism and connecting people with nature. 

Places are free but limited, we recommend booking your ticket now to avoid disappointment. 

It has been a good year for moths and butterflies in Suffolk. The drier weather in spring combined with a warm summer have proved a winning combination. 

Jersey tiger moths have been a star of the show with many reports from our team members and supporters. The jersey tiger moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria) has striking brown and white pattern with a peep of orange. Flying both in the day and at night, if you’d like to spot one keep an eye out in gardens, hedgerows and high-ground coastal areas.

Did you know you can report your sightings of all species to the Suffolk Biodiversity Information service online. If you can do this, it’s one of the best things you can do for wildlife as it builds a more accurate and up-to-date picture of the distribution and condition of our local species. 

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our biggest celebration of nature this year at our Nature’s Day in September. 

Join us in Woodbridge and be part of the conversation, with talks on our vital conservation works, how we can all speak up for nature, and uplifting community stories. 

Places are free but limited so we recommend booking your tickets now to avoid disappointment.