Suffolk
We have many projects for wildlife and communities in Suffolk. Here are two examples of our work and how we are achieving the Big Vision in our county.
Sandlings heaths creation and restoration
Project Summary:
The Sandlings Heaths are a unique habitat along the Suffolk coast. Suffolk Wildlife Trust is undertaking a long term project to protect and restore vast areas of this valuable landscape creating vital refuges for many threatened species.
County: Suffolk
Area: Coastal Suffolk, stretching from Ipswich to Southwold
Habitats: Heathland, grassland, woodland
Key species: silver-studded blue butterfly, antlion, dartford warbler, woodlark, nightjar, adder, common lizard, natterjack toad, grayling butterfly and red-banded sand wasp.
The Suffolk Sandlings are classified as 'lowland heath', Britain's rarest habitat. Today these once large areas of land are much reduced in size and fragmented - about 80% of the area has been lost since the turn of the 20th century through agriculture and encroachment of trees and scrub.
Through the work of our award-winning Sandlings Project, we have already halted this loss and seen the resurgence of many rare and endangered species such as the silver-studded blue butterfly, antlion, woodlark and nightjar.
The Dartford warbler, which became extinct on the Suffolk heaths in the 1920s, has re-colonised and prospered in recent years and many other species have strongholds on the heaths including adder, common lizard and natterjack toads, the grayling butterfly and red-banded sand wasp.
Despite these successes our work continues, as much larger areas must be safeguarded.
The Sandlings Project continues to:
- Create networks of heathland corridors between sites to reduce fragmentation
- Remove bracken and scrub to create open habitat for heathland wildlife.
- Graze the heaths with sheep and ponies to provide short open areas of grassland that will allow butterflies and woodlark to thrive
The heaths represent a stunning area of the Suffolk coast and are important for their conservation value and social history - your support will help us safeguard their future.
Ecological Networks - Suffolk's changing landscape
Project Summary:
Suffolk's climate and landscape are changing. Less than 1% of Suffolk's land area is a nature reserve, but nearly 14% is considered to be important for wildlife. We believe a healthy future for Suffolk's Wildlife will depend on enlarging and linking up these key areas of habitat to create an interconnected landscape across Suffolk through which species can move and thrive.
County: Suffolk
Area: Countywide
Habitats: - all Suffolk habitat particularly grassland, farmland, hedgerows, community sites, wetlands and ponds.
With major flood alerts this winter including sea water flooding of Dingle Marshes nature reserve it is clear change is upon us. However, even the county's largest nature reserves are remnants of the countryside we have lost and often isolated from other wildlife sites.
To bring about the joined up landscape that wildlife needs, we have increased our work in the wider countryside. We have created a specialist team of conservation advisors to help local people to enlarge, link and restore wildlife habitat to create a joined up landscape in which animals and plants can cope with change.
Many of the county's most recognisable species will benefit form a more connected landscape. For example;
"Dormice populations in many of Suffolk's small woods are on a knife edge. With our encouragement, landowners are linking up hedgerows close to dormouse sites and improving the management of hedges to ensure good supplies of flowers and berries."
Simone Bullion - Senior Conservation Advisor, Suffolk Wildlife Trust
If we are going to achieve our goal of creating swathes of wildlife rich countryside, we need to inspire other people to invest their own energy and resources in habitat restoration and creation. Please help us ensure there is still a place for people and wildlife.
Make Smart Savings now:
Find out more about The Wildlife Trusts work across the Eastern Region: Our Big Vision
Visit the website of Suffolk Wildlife Trust
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