We have had a busy spring across our the teams at Suffolk Wildlife Trust, as wildlife is waking up from the long winter we’ve had! Across Suffolk, the dawn chorus is building up, and the days are noticeably coming lighter. 

United for Nature campaign launched

Local government in Norfolk and Suffolk is changing, and with elections taking place in May - and plans underway to establish a new Combined County Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk - we've joined forces with Norfolk Wildlife Trust to launch a new manifesto: United for Nature, with the support of National Trust, RSPB and other local environmental charities. 

At a time when climate change and biodiversity loss are approaching critical tipping points, the two Wildlife Trusts say the region faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver genuinely sustainable growth that benefits both people and wildlife. 

Read the full story here and find out here how you can ask your County Council election candidates to pledge to take action for nature. 

It is prime time for listening to bird song

Our Farm Advice team have been busy this spring with bird surveys on farmland. This involves listening out for bird song, and counting how many different species of birds there are in a specific area. This year, the team have documented plenty of yellowhammer, fieldfare, skylark and linnet.

Find out more about the work of the Farm Advice team here.

Stag Beetle sculpture on display at Arger Fen

If you have visited Arger Fen recently, you may have spotted a huge sculpture made from willow. 

The sculpture has been woven from willow and has been made by our Weaving in the Landscape group, funded by Dedham Vale National Landscape Sustainable development fund.

Over the winter, the group met once a month to create the sculpture, under the guidance of willow weaver Jo Hammond. The sculpture highlights one of the flagship species prioritised by Suffolk Wildlife Trust for conservation action, and they can be found in Arger Fen.
 

Brie Harrison x Suffolk Wildlife Trust collaboration launched

We are delighted to have teamed up with local illustrator Brie Harrison to bring some playful nature to your wardrobe.

Printed on 100% organic cotton and to order to reduce waste, each purchase supports our mission to bring back nature in Suffolk.

These would make a lovely gift for someone with a spring birthday coming up. Explore the full collection Brie Harrison | Suffolk Wildlife Trust Shop

Ashok returns to Suffolk briefly!

You may remember last May, at our Worlingham Marshes nature reserve, Ashok the cuckoo was tagged as part of the satellite-tracking cuckoos project run by the British Trust for Ornithology.

Since taking flight from Worlingham Marshes nature reserve, Ashok has embarked on a major migration journey – crossing the Sahara, Africa and Europe before heading back to Suffolk.

New updates received from Ashok's tag showed that he flew was one of the earliest spring arrivals in the entire history of the BTO's project! But, he didn’t stay very long, in less than 48 hours Ashok had flown 300 km (186 miles) south and returned to France! He is currently on the banks of the River Seine, close to the city of Rouen in Normandy. Hopefully he will find plenty of food here to fuel his journey back to Suffolk!   

Head to the BTO's website to see Ashok's journey across the world and find out where he is currently: Ashok | BTO

Congratulations to our two Forest School Trainers, Emma and Jo

Our two Forest School Trainers, Emma and Jo, have received endorsement by the Forest School Association (FSA) showing that our training meets the professional standards for Forest School Training.

They now sit alongside a national network of Forest School trainers endorsed by the Forest School Association - the UK’s professional body and voice for all things Forest School 

If your interested in leading Forest School, why not start your Forest School journey with our Endorsed Trainers and check out our upcoming courses here. 

Suffolk Community Libraries x Suffolk Wildlife Trust Pollinate and Create residency

It was lovely to welcome artists on the Pollinate and Create residency hosted by Suffolk Community Libraries to Carlton Marshes in March. We were delighted to be a partner in this project, which welcomed 6 talented local artists to explore the nature landscapes and create an engaging community art project for Lowerstoft Libraries. 

Our Senior Wilder Communities Officer Vicky hosted a playful workshop exploring creativity and connection, and the artists enjoyed a walk around the reserve under the big Suffolk skies.

Find out more about the residency programme here: Pollinate & Create: Residency Intensive - Suffolk Community Libraries

RSBP Minsmere and Suffolk Wildlife Trust collaborate on Dunwich beach clean

Our North East Suffolk reserve team collaborated with RSPB to help install rope fences along the beach at Dunwich. These fencing areas play a crucial role in protecting important species, such as the ground-nesting little plover, as well as areas of vegetated shingle.

Thank you to everyone who joined and volunteered their time!