Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership Partners’ News September 2010 In this issue: Partners News Spotted flycatcher nest box project Nine new ponds Dedham Vale AONB & Stour Valley project update Silver washed fritillary returns to Suffolk White-clawed crayfish transferred to second Suffolk ark site River Deben saltmarsh to be restored by community initative Aquarius paludum a new county record for Suffolk Project funding from Suffolk Naturalists’ Society Wildlife wonders make it all worthwhile High flyer stoops into Ipswich waterfront to grab the prize Fabulous new interactive bat protocol for planners? Essex & Suffolk Water Branch Out Project Barberry carpet final survey?
Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership News Information and news What’s on SBP information
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PARTNERS NEWS Spotted flycatcher nest box project Steve Piotrowski, Waveney Bird Club
The Waveney Bird Club (WBC) is about to embark on a community-based project that will attempt to reverse a worrying trend that shows a drastic decline in Spotted Flycatchers. The project will be run under a partnership arrangement with the diocese of Ipswich and St Edmundsbury and Norwich. The idea is to supply open-fronted nest boxes and fix these in churchyards in the Waveney Valley and northeast Suffolk. The project will draw attention to the plight of this muchloved bird, get people involved and provide nesting sites that would allow easy monitoring. Subsequently, WBC will monitor the nest sites and the data collected will make a valuable contribution to the national database at the British Trust for Ornithology. The success of the project can then be evaluated and further
contribute to scientific studies on breeding success as well as determining the requirements of Spotted Flycatchers locally. The species was once widespread throughout East Anglia, a denizen of mature gardens, churchyards, orchards, parkland and woodland edge. It was affectionately known as the wall-bird due to its habit of nesting on ledges and niches in dwellings and other buildings. A Suffolk Ornithologists Group/Suffolk Wildlife Trust survey, completed in 2007, gave an estimated population of around 200 breeding pairs (Chapman 2008). The survey found the species was generally confined to the vicinity of human settlements with few pairs located in farmland and woodland. The majority of records (84%) came from village and town gardens, although observer bias couldn’t be discounted. The nests were found mostly on walls, mainly on houses with climbing shrubs or ledges, but a few were located in pergolas, trees and open sheds. Otherwise, the distribution was churchyards and similar (9%), copses and orchards (4%) and farms (3%). Nationally, the Spotted Flycatcher’s population has declined critically since the 1960s, with survey results indicating a reduction of 87% in England for the period 1967-2005. It is consequently a Red List Species of Conservation Concern as well as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species. Various factors have been cited for its decline in Britain: cool weather during the early part of its nesting period, heavier nest predation by grey squirrels, cats and corvids (especially Jays), the deterioration of woodland quality due to lack of management and, of particular relevance to Suffolk, a reduction in insect food by agricultural pesticides. However, population modelling using data from BTO studies has shown that a decrease in first year survival rates may have driven this decline. The Spotted Flycatcher is one of a range of UK summer visitors that spend the winter months in equatorial Africa and quite possibly degraded habitat, drought and a heavier use of pesticides both in their winter quarters and on migration is responsible for the decline. The Suffolk Local Biodiversity Action Plan (February 2007) lists the loss of nest sites as a factor affecting Spotted Flycatchers, so this project could make a significant contribution to any recovery.
Spotted flycatcher family Photo: Jon Evans
Monitoring work by WBC members this summer resulted in a number of Spotted Flycatcher territories being located, most of them within the vicinity of churchyards. In consequence, meetings have been held with representatives of the diocese with a view to installing nest boxes. An article highlighting the project has been published in The Church’s own East Anglican Times. This enthusiastic response has encouraged the club to order 100 boxes which will be fixed in churchyards on National Nest Box Day on 14 February 2011. The nest boxes are currently being made by the citizens of Hollesley Bay Prison, using timber purchased by the club.
The project is a community partnership between conservation bodies, The Church, parishioners in northeast Suffolk and Her Majesty’s Prison at Hollesley Bay. Hopefully, we will be able to build on the success of this project and have the resources to install nest boxes for Spotted Flycatchers in all Suffolk parishes. Reference Chapman A, 2008. Suffolk Spotted Flycatcher Survey, 2007. Suffolk Birds 57: 42-44
Nine new ponds Juliet Hawkins, Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Whilst targeted pond restoration remains Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s priority within their ongoing pond project, we have just created nine new– but slightly different - ponds the Trust’s Grove Farm nature reserve in Norton. Under Natural England’s Higher Level Scheme, the Trust has already restored several of its nine ponds in a mixed arable, woodland and marsh landscape to benefit great crested newt and other pond wildlife found holding on in two of the nine ponds. Within a year of opening up these existing ponds, smooth newts have colonised them and with a good network of connecting rough grass margins, the great crested newt won’t be far behind. This autumn 2010, as well as carrying out some opportunistic restoration work on some existing ponds on the marsh and arable field edges, pond contractors Miles Waterscapes went on to create these new ponds that have all been designed to provide slightly differing conditions. Retaining the historic integrity and character of an ancient pond is important. Thus, this pond creation project has provided the opportunity to incorporate lots of wildlife design features that can’t always be included when restoring an ancient pond such as an irregular underwater profile, the provision of raw clay banks facing in different directions and extensive shallows. These small design features can all make a huge difference in what plants colonise and, in turn, what invertebrates find it perfect habitat. Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s ongoing pond survey, which now has records of nearly 2000 ponds, shows that great crested newt occur in over 14% of Suffolk’s estimated 22,000 ponds, but that they are only really thriving in a small percentage of these ponds. The survey indicates that over two-thirds of our Suffolk pond resource is either neglected or polluted one way or another. However, newts and other wildlife are very mobile and will re-colonise ponds very quickly when restored if they are well connected to other ponds with grass margins, hedges and woods. Newts will walk over a km for a good fish-free and duck-free pond, and people often forget that water beetles and bugs can fly! Restoration very often simply involves opening up a shaded, neglected pond and removing the organic matter. The pond creation scheme is being generously funded by the Million Ponds Project which aims to create an extensive network of new ponds across the UK. Ultimately the aim is to reverse a century of pond loss, ensuring that once again the UK has over one million countryside ponds. Phase 1 of the Million Ponds Project runs from 2008 to 2012 and aims to create the first 5,000 clean water ponds in England and Wales. Around a quarter of the ponds will be targeted to support some of the 80 or so pond species that are national priority for conservation action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). The Million Ponds Project is a collaboration of partners, including major landowners and land managers, led and co-ordinated by Pond Conservation. Further info at http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/millionponds
Pond creation at Grove Farm Photo: Joe Davis
Grove Farm pond filling up Photo: Joe Davis
Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project update Sue Ellis, Dedham Vale AONB & Stour Valley Project
Good news across the Valley It’s been good news for biodiversity in the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley over the summer, and Project Staff and the Stour Valley Volunteers have been busily involved in many conservation tasks to keep up the good work. Tiger Hill Local Nature Reserve Six ewes belonging to a local farmer have visited Tiger Hill Local Nature Reserve (LNR) to graze the acid grassland that forms a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). When released on the heath in mid-July, they made straight for the areas of Sheep’s sorrel! After five weeks of grazing on the coarser grasses and browsing on the invasive bramble clumps, they have done a good job of maintaining the delicate balance of species that forms this particular habitat. Project staff have helped secure a HLS agreement for the site and the whole of the LNR will be included. Barn owls fighting back Following a poor breeding season in 2009 and a fairly harsh winter, barn owl numbers were low at the start of this season. However, the barn owl has fought back. In early summer, there were good numbers of voles and other small mammals which make up the majority of the barn owl’s diet. Over 10% of nest boxes were occupied with some lovely fat chicks to ring and by the end of the breeding season, 31 chicks had been ringed from our 80+ boxes as opposed to 14 in 2009. One adult breeding female caught with four healthy young in a box George and Mrs Storey with two young barn owls ringed at Wiston Hall, Nayland at Sturmer near Haverhill, had been ringed Photo: Neil Catchpole at Tiptree Heath by David Wilkin, five years earlier. Following the extremely wet weather since August, we hope the young barn owls survive through the autumn – some may get waterlogged and struggle when out learning to hunt with their parents.
Otters on the increase Signs of otter activity continue to be recorded along the Stour. Local landowner, Robert Kemble at Bures, observed an otter feeding on a large pike over a few days until the head was all that remained! Robert Kemble and pike head Photo: Neil Catchpole
Anyone for tea? Funding from the AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund is contributing to the restoration of the Old Tea Gardens in Flatford, a 1/3 hectare site on the banks of the River Stour in Dedham Vale AONB, in the heart of ‘Constable Country’. The RSPB were left the gardens in a legacy by local sisters, Sylvia and Margaret Richardson with instructions to use it for the positive benefit of wildlife. The three year project aims to transform the Flatford site into an inspiring, professionally designed wildlife garden, developed in line with the AONB objectives and in keeping with the distinct local character of the surrounding landscape. The Old Tea Gardens will show the local community and visitors from further afield that their own green spaces can be vital havens for birds, insects and mammals. Creating the Greenest County awards For the first time, there will be an AONB category in the Creating the Greenest County Awards. Although a Suffolk-based organisation, the AONB category will be open to both the Essex and Suffolk side of the Dedham Vale AONB and will include the wider Stour Valley Project area as well. This award celebrates the individual or community (parish, business, school etc.), which has made an exceptional contribution to our AONBs, including their project areas. This category will be assessed against the following criteria: conserving and enhancing natural beauty; conserving and enhancing cultural or natural assets and contributing to the enjoyment and understanding of these special areas. Please promote the award to anyone who you think might be interested, see http://www.greensuffolk.org/ctgc_awards/greenest_community_awards for more details. For more information about the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project, please see http://www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org/ Contact 01473 264263
Silver-washed Fritillary returns to Suffolk Rob Parker, Butterfly Conservation Suffolk branch
A butterfly absent from Suffolk since the late 1950's has made a remarkable recovery across East Anglia this summer, moving in to a handful of secluded woods. The Silver-washed Fritillary became extinct in the county after the war as forest management practice changed and intensive farming cut links between woods. Butterfly Conservation was delighted when records of the butterfly started coming in during the hot spell in July. It is believed that colonies established recently in Essex dispersed from their home woods after successful breeding there last year. The butterflies emerged early in July, and made their first appearance in two Suffolk
woods on 20 July. To date, they have been reported and photographed from a total of 8 Suffolk localities, usually on thistle – their favourite source of nectar. The beautiful orange butterfly is a denizen of open woodland clearings, and relies on dog violet as the foodplant of its caterpillar. The recent sightings are thought to be the result of natural dispersal in search of fresh habitat, and in several cases the woods, including Dunwich Forest, are large enough to support a colony. Members of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation have been working hard to conserve rare species including the White Admiral, and it has often been in woods known to support White Admiral that the Silver-washed Fritillary has been sighted.
Silver washed fritillary in a Suffolk wood Photo: Rob Parker
It comes as a wonderful surprise to have the Silver-washed Fritillary back in Suffolk. Because it has also invaded Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, we are optimistic that some of them will find suitable woods in which to breed. It is a testament to local landowners and conservation charities who manage their woodlands for wildlife that suitable habitat now exists. We all hope the butterflies will stay. Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation: www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk
White-clawed crayfish transferred to second Suffolk ark site Julia Stansfield, Environment Agency
The Suffolk crayfish group has been busy establishing the second ark site in the county. An isolated river in the east of the county was checked out during the summer in terms of water and habitat quality and surveyed for the presence of alien crayfish. It passed with flying colours. Looking at the map, we also found over 20 ponds and lakes near the river or directly connected. These would also pose a risk if alien crayfish were present. Two lakes at Ipswich Golf Club posed a particularly high risk and were intensively trapped. Nearly all the other water bodies were visited and checked for habitat suitability and risk of crayfish being able to move to the river. Surveys were carried out at 14 ponds but, luckily, no alien crayfish were found anywhere.
Releasing a crayfish at the new ark site Photo: EA
The new site is quite a small river but has good groundwater input meaning flows are maintained even in dry weather and quality is good. It has good habitat in the middle reaches, particularly where it flows through woodland, and there are lots of nooks and crannies to act as refuges among the tree roots. This was augmented with
engineering bricks – the ones with holes through the middle – in the hope these will be attractive ready-made burrows. So, once all the necessary licences were in place, it was all systems go for transfer. The source water was the River Wensum in Norfolk. Two trips yielded 130 healthy white-claws which were carefully transported and released. They decided against the bricks as new homes, but readily disappeared into the tree roots. We will be back to monitor formally in the late summer over the next five years. Fingers crossed for a happy, healthy new Suffolk population.
Brick refuge in situ Photo: EA
In the meantime, the first annual survey of last year’s ark site was carried out. Twenty traps were placed in the lake and checked daily. Twelve were caught in all with the maximum on any one day being five – as animals are released each time we can’t be sure we’re not catching the same ones! So this shows at least some animals are surviving and provides a good baseline to see if the population increases in future years. Hopefully in a couple of years we will be catching the young of the berried female that was caught earlier in the year. Crayfish in situ Photo: EA
River Deben saltmarsh to be restored by community initiative Malcolm Farrow, Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB
The saltmarshes in front of Sutton Hoo are to benefit from an exciting new restoration scheme. The scheme is the first outcome of a working group set up by the Suffolk Estuaries Officer and Deben Estuary Partnership to explore the possibilities of slowing down and eventually reversing the loss of saltmarsh on the Deben. Working with Natural England, the Environment Agency and the National Trust, the Partnership has been successful in attracting funding from Suffolk County Council and the AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund for the scheme that began on 4 October. The site is on land previously reclaimed from the river that had flooded again in the early1940s, following the breaching of the river wall during the War. After the land became inundated, natural habitats – saltmarsh, mudflats and lagoons – began to develop. Over the past 70 years the remnants of the flood defences have continued to deteriorate, and these valuable habitats are now being lost due to sea level rise and erosion. The condition of the site, which is part of the River Deben Special Protection Area (SPA), has been recently assessed by Natural England as ‘declining’. The proposed project is small scale and involves building up the sill in the main breach to capture sediments on the ebbing tide. The project will also create screens in the main areas of eroded sea wall to slow down and restrict tidal flow, allowing sediments to settle and recharge the site and enabling new areas of saltmarsh to
develop. Saltmarsh is particularly valuable because it absorbs wave action, reducing the maintenance costs of river walls. It also provides important habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife, and has the hidden benefit of taking pollutants out of the river system and locking them into the plants’ roots. The new scheme follows on from work to reduce erosion opposite the Tide Mill at Woodbridge which is already showing positive benefits. For more information contact Trazar Astley-Reid, Suffolk Estuaries Officer, on 01394 384948 or visit the BBC website >
Aquarius paludum a new county record for Suffolk Adrian Chalkey, County Recorder, Freshwater Invertebrates
Aquarius paludum is a skater, one of those true bugs that live on the surface of ponds, lakes and streams. They live up to their name by using their middle legs to row and the other four legs to skate across the surface film looking for prey. There are 10 Female Aquarius paludum species in the British Photo: Adrian Chalkey list which can be divided into a group of 7 smaller and 3 larger insects. Most people know them as pond skaters though this common name is more often applied to the smaller species, of which we have 6 recorded from the county. Often the larger species are referred to as River Skaters; these are commonly seen in large aggregations on even fast flowing waters. Such an aggregation is referred to as a flotilla. However no species from this group of larger skaters had been recorded from Suffolk until the 5 August 2010 when I found a large flotilla of some 30 plus skaters on a lake on the Mill River. It was instantly obvious from the large size of the individuals that these were none of the usual species recorded in the county. A closer look confirmed them as A. paludum which has a current threat status of Nationally Scarce (Notable B). I have subsequently searched in vain further along the Mill River for more specimens though many more individuals were spread widely across the lake. It seems unlikely that this is an isolated colony and I would ask any reader passing by any water body, still or flowing, to keep their eyes open for this species. It is quite easy to separate from the more common species. The vast majority of pond skaters you will see in the county will have a body 10 mm or less in length. Aquarius paludum is around 15 mm long. The final detail to look for is at the rear end of the body. A. paludum has two pointed processes which extend to, or just past, the end of the abdomen as can be seen from my photographs. All common Suffolk pond skaters have very short processes, if indeed any can be seen at all. These processes can be seen with the naked eye or with binoculars if you cannot get close enough and have no net.
Further sightings needed! If you see any unusual skaters, anywhere in Suffolk, which are larger than normal with long tail processes I would very much appreciate an email to the county recording scheme: aquatics@sns.org.uk
Dorsal view showing abdominal processes Photo: Adrian Chalkey
Project funding available from Suffolk Naturalists’ Society Gen Broad, Suffolk Naturalists’ Society
Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, founded in 1929 by Claude Morley, pioneered the study and recording of the County’s flora, fauna and geology. Today the Society’s members provide many of the biological records held by Suffolk Biological Records Centre. These records provide an invaluable source of biological information used by local authority planning departments, ecological consultancies, land developers, researchers, conservation agencies and others. There are county ‘recorders’ for the major groups of organisms such as ants, bees and wasps, butterflies, moths, birds and mammals as well as the major plant phyla. Recorders often work on a voluntary basis, surveying sites out of a personal interest and generously sharing their records for the benefit of the wider community. Suffolk Naturalists’ Society supports “There are 5 types of bursary naturalists who wish to study aspects of available, each of which offers Suffolk’s flora and fauna by offering up to £500 annually.” bursaries. The funding can be used, for example, to buy equipment, pay for travel expenses to survey sites or pay the expenses of publishing a report. There are five types of bursary available, each of which offers up to £500 annually: Name of award Study/topic area Morley Invertebrates other than butterflies and moths Chipperfield Butterflies and moths Cranbrook Mammals or birds Rivis Flora Simpson Flora
What to do if you would like to apply for project support: Write to the Hon. Secretary with an outline of the proposed project showing the question being asked, methodology, expected outcomes, projected timeframe and an outline of how the bursary will be spent. A form will be available on the SNS website bursary page shortly. The project should be largely original. A report should be provided within 12 months of receipt of a bursary and should be in a form suitable for publication in one of the Society’s journals - Suffolk Natural History, Suffolk Birds or White Admiral. The SNS is always prepared to discuss financial assistance with larger group projects that fall outside the remit of a bursary but still meet with the objectives of the society. Initial contact can be made with any of the officials of the society who will be pleased to advise how best to progress suitable proposals. Hon. Secretary, Suffolk Naturalists’ Society, c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3QH. Tel: 01473 213479, email: gen.broad@suffolk.gov.uk SNS website
Wildlife wonders make it all worthwhile Deborah Wargate, Suffolk Coastal District Council
Thirteen people who attended a Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB Wild Walk and Talk organised on behalf of the Greenprint Forum were treated to the ‘Churr Churr’ and several sightings of the nocturnal Nightjar, summer time treasure of our heathlands. Keen eyes also spotted the silent winding of the slow worm, our legless lizard. These joys followed an interesting talk by Malcolm Farrow with an overview of the geology and ecology of the AONB and the vital work of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Unit. Not just in utilising the passions of local people in observing and Suffolk Coast & Heaths protecting these wonderful species and their habitats for their AONB Wild Walk and Talk own sake but also for the sake of the local economy. For Photo: Dan Wareing example did you know that tourism in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB is worth over £160,000,000 a year? This incredibly high contribution is cited in Economic Impact of Tourism, East of England Protected Landscapes and the Brecks East of England Tourism, 2006. We also picked up snippets of interest about species such as the Dartford Warbler which has flown in from warmer climes to make its home here. Indeed, it has been sighted testing out the climate as far north as Derby in recent years. And the exciting project to assess the effect potential changes to the climate may have on our farming communities and the landscape of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which spans our coastline, (and of which 60% is given over to farming). Then walking out and seeing these species reminded those present that work in the environmental and community sector really is worthwhile, even in the face of all the change and financial challenges that are underway.
So stop reading, get out there and enjoy and maybe join the band of volunteers who do such vital work in keeping our landscape special for little terns, grayling butterflies, silver-studded blues, hawker dragonflies and hobby’s, many other species and us. Visit http://suffolkcoastandheaths.org/ to find out more about volunteering.
High-flyer stoops into Ipswich waterfront to grab the prize Ipswich Borough Council is proud to announce this year’s winner of our Urban Biodiversity Photography Competition 2010. David Hermon, based in Felixstowe, took a spectacular photo of one of our resident peregrine falcons perching on The Mill, one of Ipswich’s most recognisable landmarks. The Cranfield brothers founded their mill business in 1884 to produce bread and confectionary flours. The Mill has since been re-developed into the most exciting mixed-use development in Ipswich – a fabulous combination of strong heritage and the best in contemporary architecture. In the International Year of Biodiversity we thought it apt to launch our photography competition celebrating urban biodiversity. Ipswich is blessed with many parks and open spaces which host a wealth of wildlife. The event has been so successful that we have decided to run it again next year. The rangers run a wide range of events for the whole community throughout the year. For more information, visit: www.ipswich.gov.uk/rangerservices Our winner, David Hermon began his love affair with wildlife as a child, although he only started to take a serious interest in wildlife photography six years ago. His work has been selected for the BBC Countryfile calendar for 2010 and the British Wildlife Photographer Awards, 2009. He has also won the Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s wildlife photographer of the year in 2005, 2008 and 2009. His wildlife photography website can be visited at: www.davidhermonwildlifephotography.co.uk Peregrine falcons only began successfully breeding in Suffolk again in 2008 after a 200-year absence. They are currently breeding in a nest box under the Orwell Bridge but are regularly seen in Ipswich feeding on pigeons around the docks. These impressive birds of prey can fly up to 200 miles per hour in a stoop, making it one of the fastest creatures on the planet. David explains how he got his shot, “One of my favourite birds is the peregrine falcon and I have been photographing the peregrines on the Orwell Bridge for the past few years. This year, 2010, a pair of birds showed a bit of interest in nesting in the box on the Mill and this shot was taken after many hours and days observing the birds to see if they were going to breed. Unfortunately, this year they did not, but fingers crossed for next year.”
Our two runners up: Parrish Colman and Andrew Culley took their winning photographs in Holywells Park, where they are regular visitors. This heritage park, situated in the heart of Ipswich is a haven for wildlife. This year the park has been blessed with frequent visits from local kingfishers, breeding willow emerald damselflies and the rare lesser whitethroat. When asked for some advice for people starting out in wildlife photography, David responded, “Anyone can take photographs of wildlife as it is all around us. It does not matter what equipment you have but you do need to understand the limitations of your camera. Patience is the main asset required and a bit of knowledge of the wildlife you are photographing helps enormously.” All winning photos and the other winners submissions will be on public display at the Reg Driver Visitor Centre, Christchurch Park, Ipswich throughout October. The overall winner will receive an exclusive Foliopic Plus membership, a professional quality website for photographers and artists – worth £119 and provided by the competition sponsors, ephotozine.com.
Fabulous new interactive bat protocol for planners? Mike Oxford, Association of Local Government Ecologists
Is it what it says on the tin ... a fabulous new interactive bat protocol? Visit: http://www.buffalodesign.co.uk/clients/bats/bio_bats.html and tell me what you think. This is our attempt to move away from turgid long paper documents that nobody feels inclined to read ... and to present how to tackle bats in the planning system in a more innovative and digestible manner. We have drawn heavily upon the Habitat Regulations, the Habitats Directive and EU Guidance ... and believe that it sets out a true picture of what an applicant and a Local Planning Authority must do to ensure that bats are given due regard in the determination of a planning application. The protocol is something that I have been working on for Countryside Council for Wales and the Planning Officers' Society for Wales through much of this year. It has had substantial input from Penny Simpson the environmental lawyer and Lisa Hundt at the Bat Conservation Trust, Hannah Powell of Powys County Council and a number of key staff from CCW and SNH. But you be the judge ... it is fit for purpose as we hope?
Essex & Suffolk Water Branch Out Project Working in partnership to reconnect habitats for the benefit of people and wildlife This initiative will encompass a number of projects with the aim of helping the region build resilience and adapt to the changing climate whilst bringing benefits to water, wildlife and communities. Our partners will include other utility companies, conservation organisations, farmers/landowners, local authorities and the general public. To find out more visit Essex & Suffolk Water website >
Barberry carpet final survey? Tony Prichard, Suffolk Moth Group
The Barberry carpet moth is found in hedgerows or sunny woodland edges with abundant Barberry Berberis vulgaris, the larval foodplant. Larvae have also been found on cultivated varieties of Barberry. The moth is now believed to be limited to a few small sites, mainly in Wiltshire, with colonies also in Gloucestershire, Dorset, Oxfordshire and introduced colonies elsewhere. I have recently been doing some surveying for Barberry carpet at the Bury St Edmunds site and a re-introduction site. It has not been seen in Suffolk for several years despite surveying and this year's survey could be the final one for the moth as it is probably now extinct in the county, although fortunately not in the UK. I suspect the Bury St Edmunds SSSI site will eventually be de-classified in the absence of the moth. The Barberry Carpet moth is fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981), so the survey work was undertaken under a Natural England licence arranged by Butterfly Conservation. Suffolk Moth Group > Butterfly Conservation >
Above: Barberry carpet larva Photo: M. Parsons, Butterfly Conservation
Top left and bottom left: Barberry carpet adult Photo: Ian Hughes
Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership News
6th annual Suffolk and Norfolk planning seminar
This annual event has become increasingly popular with the planners of our two counties. It provides up-to-date information about the latest developments and best practice related to biodiversity, spatial planning and development control as well as a unique opportunity for networking. This year, over 60 planners came together for the event on 9 September, organised and supported by the Norfolk and Suffolk Biodiversity Partnerships. Mike Oxford of the Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) focused on the new Biodiversity Planning Toolkit, for which a pilot was launched in August. The aim of the toolkit is to help the planning community contribute to the conservation, enhancement and sustainable use of bio- and geodiversity. The toolkit has a traditional website which provides relevant information and an Interactive Landscape with animated scenarios to provide clarity on various aspects of bio- and geo-diversity conservation. Mike Oxford (ALGE) describes the interactive
The presentations covered a wide landscape on the Biodiversity Planning Toolkit Photo Su Waldren range of topics including views from planners on evidence-based Habitat Regulations Assessment and access to biodiversity data and ecological services and those of Mott MacDonald, a management, engineering and development consultancy, on whether monitoring and mitigation really works. Gen Broad, Suffolk’s Biodiversity Officer, gave some examples of the county’s public bodies demonstrating implementation of the NERC (2006) Biodiversity Duty. Matt Shardlow (CEO of Buglife) gave an entertaining and enlightening presentation about the high conservation value of some open mosaic habitats on previously developed land (a Priority Habitat) and their lack of effective protection. He cited the example of West Thurrock Marshes, a brownfield site famous for being home to over 1,200 species, many of them extremely rare, but which could not be protected from development. Buglife: “If you can't protect the second best invertebrate wildlife site in the UK, what's safe?” The feedback has been extremely positive with the majority of responding participants rating the event as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ and all requesting that a similar event be run in 2011. The presentations from the Seminar can now be downloaded from the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership's website >. Please scroll to the bottom of the page to find the presentations. To see the toolkit pilot visit: www.biodiversityplanningtoolkit.com ‘Thank you!’ to South Norfolk District Council for generously hosting the event, to the participants for making the event such a great success and to Scott Perkin who shouldered most of the seminar organisation in 2010.
Working with communities - Invertebrates in the Orwell Estuary A group of 30 adults and children came together on the exposed shores of the Orwell Estuary on 4 August to look for life in this huge muddy expanse. Ipswich Borough Council Wildlife Ranger Richard Sharp and the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB Unit (SCHU) hosted the event. Also on hand to help with invertebrate identification were Gen Broad, Suffolk Biodiversity Officer, and local angler and bait digger Mark Sessions. Mark showed the children some fascinating fossils he had found on the banks of the Stour and Orwell, including a mastodon tooth, sharks teeth, coprolite and fossils of worms and shellfish. We were able to see some of the estuary’s varied wildlife at first hand – live crabs, lugworms, periwinkles of various colours, barnacles and a chiton. These primitive molluscs are sometimes known as Coat-of-mail shells because of the 8 overlapping plates on their backs. Although common, they are often overlooked because they are so small, only growing up to 2 cm long. The family who found the chiton were very excited, making this a memorable and an educational day.
Above: Families looking for life in the Orwell Estuary. Right: Chiton in the Orwell Estuary. Photos Gen Broad
For the children, getting their wellies stuck and being covered in sticky mud was all part of the fun! Events like this are great for getting in touch with the nature living around us, thank you to Ipswich Rangers and SCHU for arranging the event.
Suffolk’s review of the Biodiversity Action Plan Following the Natural England (NE) review of 2007 and the 2008 NERC Act Section 41 list, we have established that Suffolk has more than 200 Biodiversity Action Plan species. Clearly we could not write Action Plans for all of them! So to make the task manageable and in line with NE guidance, Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership and Suffolk Biological Records Centre have identified which species can be included within Habitat Action Plans. This is an exciting step forward towards our plan to relaunch the Suffolk BAP later this year.
Gen Broad, Suffolk’s Biodiversity Officer, has collated information from various sources into a vast spreadsheet detailing the relevant information such as species habitat requirements, Suffolk locations and, fundamental to any conservation success, some ideas for actions. The actions are intended to be simple, practical and achievable at a local level. See Fig. 1 for the scope of information collated for the brown-banded carder bee. The next step is to incorporate these details into the revised Habitat Action Plans following consultation with each Species Adviser. Fig. 1 Example of information collated for the brown banded-carder bee for incorporation into Suffolk Habitat Action Plans Species Adviser Relevant HAPs Habitat requirements
Local information Actions
Conservation designations References / further info
Brown-banded carder bee Bombus humilis Adrian Knowles Arable field margins, Coastal sand dunes, Lowland hay meadows, Lowland heathland. Needs large scale flower-rich resource after May to late summer. Coastal & chalkland areas. Globally declining; decline slowed in UK over past 10 yrs., but still very vulnerable. The preferred nest site is on or just below ground. Records: Minsmere 2005 and Eye area 1999 or 2000 1. Maintain flower-rich grasslands late into the summer with key species being legumes (clovers, bird’s-foot trefoil), red bartsia, common knapweed 2. Survey & monitor. NERC S41 2008, BAP 2007. Edwards, R, ed. 1997. Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland. Recording Society. ACG Reports 1999-2004 The Bumblebee Conservation Trust http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/ JNCC spp pages: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-5169
Finances
SBP is very grateful to the Broads Authority who contributed £1,000 to the Partnership. Thank you for your continuing support!
Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership presentations
If your community, parish or organisation would like to know more about SBP and how to help further with conservation of biodiversity in Suffolk, please contact Gen Broad on 01473 264308 or email: gen.broad@suffolk.gov.uk
INFORMATION and NEWS ‘Making space for Nature report’ by Sir John Lawton Published 24 September This major new report found that England’s nature reserves, national arks and protected areas are failing in four out of five key quality benchmarks and recommended the establishment of 12 huge eco-zones to help prevent extinctions. Sir John Lawton, who led the review, said between £0.6bn and £1.1bn is needed to help rebuild nature in England. The Environment Secretary at the time the report was commissioned, Hilary Benn, said that England lacks a “coherent and resilient ecological network”. The report will strongly influence Britain’s first White Paper on the natural environment for the next 20 years. Download the report - Defra website – Making space for nature report > Read The Guardian’s article on the report – England’s wildlife areas are failing species, finds government review > There is still time to respond to Defra’s consultation and contribute to the shaping of the Natural environment White Paper (deadline: 30 October 2010). Visit the Defra website - Natural environment white paper >
‘Biodiversity conservation beyond 2010’ Fauna & Flora International has joined other Cambridge-based organizations in calling for biodiversity to be recognised as a public good. FFI’s Director of Science, Abi Entwistle, is one of the authors of a paper entitled ‘Biodiversity Conservation Beyond 2010.’ The paper asserts that effective conservation of biodiversity is essential for human survival and the maintenance of ecosystem services such as freshwater provisioning and climate regulation. Radical changes are required that recognize biodiversity as a global public good. The benefits that humans receive from nature through ecosystem services have huge economic values. Measuring those values is essential for making the connection between human well being and biodiversity conservation more explicit. See The Independent on Sunday - Michael McCarthy: It's time I embraced the word 'biodiversity' >
Natural England’s green infrastructure newsletter for the East of England The newsletter contains information on topics such as: • New design guidance for developers and planners • New accessible natural Greenspace guidance • Opportunities for SUDs and GI through recent legislation • Green infrastructure and climate change • The case for HLS If you would like to receive a copy of the report, contact Jane Thomas, Growth and Green Infrastructure, Natural England, Cambridge tel: 0300 060 1283, email: Jane.Thomas@naturalengland.org.uk For further information about green infrastructure in the East of England, visit Natural England’s website >
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Marine Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas in English, Welsh and offshore waters Following a formal consultation from November 2009 to February 2010, Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) submitted final recommendations for 10 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and 2 Special Protection Areas (SPAs), to Defra for approval in June 2010. In addition, JNCC submitted 2 further offshore SACs. All these recommendations have received cross Government clearance and where appropriate have been submitted to Europe. The final sites are listed below and shown on the location map: These sites in the East of England have been submitted to the European Commission: Candidate SACs: 1. Haisborough Hammond and Winterton Inshore and offshore waters of Outer Wash; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation 2. Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge Inshore and offshore waters of Outer Wash; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation 3. Margate and Long Sands Thames Estuary; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation 4. North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef Offshore waters off Norfolk; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation. SPAs 5. Outer Thames Estuary Inshore and offshore waters – minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation – classified by the Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs and notified to the European Commission Sites subject to additional consultation 6. Dogger Bank pSAC The Dogger Bank offshore SAC is recommended for its Annex 1 sandbank habitat. Informal discussions on this proposed site were held by JNCC in 2008, and subsequently changes have been made to JNCC’s proposal. This site has not been subject to formal consultation previously. The consultation period ends on 12 November 2010. All the relevant information and documents are available at http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/marine/sacconsultation/default.aspx for inshore sites and http://www.jncc.gov.uk/marineconsult for offshore sites.
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Pond Conservation summer 2010 newsletter The newsletter focuses on some of the most abundant, but least popular creatures in and around ponds during the summer season: worms, flies, leeches and flatworms as well as the more popular bats and water shrews. There is an especially useful table showing the habitat preferences and pond habitat requirements of each bat species in table format. If you’d like to create high quality, clean water ponds for BAP species, get in touch with Pond Conservation as they’re now starting to put together the list of sites for the third round of Biffaward grants to support pond creation in the Million Ponds Project. Email info@pondconservation.org.uk or call 01865 483249. The newsletter can be downloaded from the Pond Conservation website >
Pond creation toolkit Two new documents have been added to Pond Conservation’s pond creation toolkit: The water vole species dossier and The Eye Landfill (Peterborough): a case study to illustrate how best practice design principles can be applied to compensation schemes for protected species To view the toolkit, visit Pond Conservation Pond Creation Toolkit >
East of England Biodiversity Forum ‘Securing habitat for our future’ The Forum is now committed to pursuing a new set of East of England (EoE) targets for activity through to 2015. As a result of this decision, information on how well the region is meeting restoration and creation targets for habitats has been collated. A report is available on the EoE website which it is hoped will be used by: County-level decision-makers Local authorities Environmental organisations Land owners/managers Community groups The report uses a ‘traffic light’ system to show whether the region is meeting habitat targets. To review the report and to find out what’s happening at a regional level, visit the new EoE Biodiversity Forum website >
Global Business of Biodiversity event This event took place in June, as a result of which an interactive on-line magazine, together with Outcomes material from the conference is available. Click on the link below to see the feedback from delegates. This information is now being provided to the Convention on Biological Diversity for presentation at Nagoya in October at COP10 in Japan. You can also view Video's within the document showing the official International Year of Biodiversity film, together with the opening video address to delegates by HRH Prince of Wales at the event... And more. http://www.globalbusinessofbiodiversity.com/GBOB_ebook_2802.html
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Big Lottery Fund's Community Wildlife Programme Don’t forget The Big Lottery Fund 24 November deadline for receipt of applications! The programme will fund communities working together to improve or protect the natural environment by raising awareness of threatened wildlife or places. Not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises, local councils and schools or health bodies may apply for support. Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are being provided for oneyear projects that: • Improve rural or urban environments for people to enjoy, e.g. by: o protecting wildlife habitats o creating a nature trail, woodland walk or wildlife garden o improving community spaces such as rivers, ponds, woodlands o •
Projects that get people more active and healthier, e.g. by: o exploring parks, rivers and the countryside to look for rare or endangered species o encouraging people to take up gardening or to go on nature walks o providing opportunities for children to learn about nature through play Big Lottery Fund’s Community Wildlife Programme website >
Sea level rise Postnote Number 363 September 2010 From the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
This Postnote provides information on global trends, local variations in sea level, the components of sea level rise, modelling, uncertainty in projections, adaptation, shoreline management plans and current UK policy.
Overview • • • • •
Sea level rise is controlled by a range of physical processes, related to climate change. There are still significant uncertainties in sea level rise projections. Global mean sea levels are currently increasing by approximately 3mm per year. There are local variations in sea level rise which have important effects on the UK. Estimated global mean sea level rise in the next 100 years is around half a metre, although higher values cannot be excluded.
To read the Postnote visit Publications on the government’s website >
41% of visits to natural environment are to parks From The Bench (GreensSpace e-newsletter): Issue 58
A survey by Natural England, Defra and the Forestry Commission has found that 41% of total visits to the natural environment in England are to green spaces such as parks within town or city locations.
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The research, 'Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment', was commissioned to address the lack of information about how and why people currently engage with the natural environment. The data also highlighted the importance of accessible local green space, with journeys of less than two miles accounting for two-thirds of all visits. More To receive The Bench, email Bob Ivison at GreenSpace East: bob@ivisonconsulting.co.uk
Killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus This highly invasive non-native species has spread from Eastern Europe. As a voracious predator it kills a range of native species, including young fish, and significantly alters ecosystems. The first known outbreak of this species was found in Grafham Water on 3 September 2010. This is the first known outbreak in Great Britain. It is spread inadvertently by people, so to help stop the spread of this species please: ➤ Inspect and clean boats and kit before and after use. ➤ Inspect and clean launching trailers. ➤ Drain all bilge water from boats before leaving the site. ➤ Disinfect angling kit before use. ➤ Make sure no lake water is taken away with your kit. ➤ Do not transfer bait between water bodies. To find out more, visit GB non-native species secretariat >
News from ‘Biodiversity is Life’, the website for the International Year of Biodiversity www.biodiversityislife.net > The report on the Census of Marine Life which has been mapping the biodiversity of the world’s oceans, and come up with estimates that they hold over 230,000 species, received good coverage including in the Guardian and the Daily Mirror. The Natural History Museum, working with several IYB-UK partners launched the Big Nature Debate, a primarily Social Media campaign to help draw attention to the importance of the outcomes of the CBD COP10. The Guardian: Biodiversity loss needs an internationally agreed rescue plan governments have to stop thinking about biodiversity protection as loss but as an investment to ensure long-term stability. Biodiversity International Rescue Plan. The publication of Plants at Risk, with really tremendous effort from the Kew communications team, ensured that this highly important research survey caught the attention and imagination of media editors. In another business and biodiversity focused development CEMEX UK and the RSPB have launched their collaborative biodiversity strategy for CEMEX’s operational sites, following CEMEX signing a MOU with Birdlife International in 2007.
International Press Centre for Biodiversity Research The website is an initiative of ALTER-Net and provides a biodiversity news service. http://www.biodiversityresearch.net/
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OPAL biodiversity survey begins! The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network is a partnership initiative celebrating biodiversity, environmental quality and people’s engagement with nature. The aim is to create and inspire a new generation of nature-lovers by getting people to explore, study, enjoy and protect their local environment. In 2007 OPAL received a grant of £11.75million from the Big Lottery Fund. OPAL There are a wide number of partners including the Field Studies Council, Imperial College London, the Met Office, Natural History Museum, National Biodiversity Network, Open and other universities and Royal Parks. Defra and the Environment Agency are associate partners. Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership aims to work with OPAL on community projects whenever possible.
Biodiversity
is the latest survey to be launched. This focuses on life in hedgerows. Previously launched, and on-going, surveys include water, air, soil & earthworm and the next will be climate, to be launched in March 2011.
Visit: http://www.opalexplorenature.org/
Biodiversity for Low and Zero Carbon Buildings: A Technical Guide for New Build Williams. C. 2010. Biodiversity for Low and Zero Carbon Buildings: A Technical Guide for New Build. RiBA publishing.
Up until the publication of this book, there was no one place where architects, developers, consultant ecologists, and all those involved in low and zero carbon buildings could find out about how to incorporate provision for biodiversity within their developments. Author Dr Carol Williams has specially commissioned architects to produce some much needed model designs and practical guidance for the industry. The book also provides a useful summary of all the legislation and regulations relating to biodiversity and sustainable construction in the UK. Visit RIBA Bookshop >
Biodiversity in the East of England To find out what’s going on in our region, check the websites for the county Biodiversity Partnerships forum: Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Luton, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. And the revised East of England Biodiversity Forum website >
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WHAT’S ON 21 October Plantlife’s Juniper conference Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire 10.00 am to 4.30 pm A free conference addressing the conservation of BAP Priority species Juniperus communis in lowland England. The conference aims to bring together practitioners from all fields of juniper conservation to: · Spotlight the common causes of decline in lowland England · Demonstrate a range of conservation techniques using case studies · Discuss and propose practical conservation solutions · Establish a lowland Juniper network to share information Applications should have been made by 27 September, but if you wish to enquire about space please email Juniper@plantlife.org.uk Cresswell Associates accredited CPD courses: 27 October Introduction to Ecological Impact 28 October Habitat Regulations Assessment/Appropriate Assessment Both courses run at Cresswell Associates offices in Stroud and cost £170 each. Run in association with the Royal Agricultural College, the programme will provide: • a series of stand-alone courses that can help address the skills gap across the ecological and environmental management sector; • accredited courses that can be taken in combination to lead towards a Postgraduate qualification in “Applied Ecology for Professionals” (subject to validation); • courses that may count towards the annual CPD requirements of IEEM members. The accreditation aspect of these courses makes them unique compared to those offered by IEEM or other consultancies. Further details available on the Cresswell Associates website > 3 and 4 November Communicate 2010 conference “Connecting with nature” Bristol
The annual conference for environmental communicators. Keynote speakers include: • David Attenborough • Richard Benyon, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries • Fiona Reynolds, Director General, National Trust • Martin Spray, Chief Executive, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust • Dan Epstein, Head of Sustainability, London 2012 Olympic Authority • Ed Gillespie, Director, Futerra • Simon Stuart, Head of IUCN Biodiversity Assessment Unit • Lee Durrell, Honorary Director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Themes include: Biodiversity and Cities, Aspiration, Language, Beyond Words Biodiversity and Social Health Visit Bristol Natural History Consortium www.communicatenow.org
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7 and 18 November Stalkers Evenings a) The Oasis Centre, Wisbeach, Cambs PE13 3NR (7 Nov) b) The Warren, Loughton, Essex IG10 4RW (18 Nov) 7.00 pm start, free entry These are open evenings, giving everyone the opportunity to discuss current research, deer health and grant support for deer management. Topics include deer health (Peter Green), Landscape deer management research (Paul Dolman & Kirsten Weaber), Grant aid for wild venison production (Graham Riminton). Further information: David Hooton (Deer Initiative) 01842 890798, Nick Rout (British Deer Society) 07771 633140 or Simon Reinhold (British Association for Shooting and Conservation) 07500 609163 8-10 November UK Landscape Conference 2010 Liverpool This 3--day conference, the first ever on the European Landscape Convention to be held in the UK, will showcase and celebrate recent landscape thinking. For further information, visit: www.uklandscapeconference.org 10 November The economic challenge: Delivering your priorities through green spaces Devonshire Place, Leicester 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. This free 1-day learning seminar will explore the critical role of green space, and its contribution to economic wellbeing. Further information: Ruth Rolls, GreenSpace East Midlands, e: rrolls@green-space.org.uk T: 01604 807 771 / 07553 406 884. Visit River Nene Regional Park > 11 November Quality, Efficiency and Communities Preston (tbc) A free 1-day open meeting examining the roles of communities in supporting efficiencies and quality, including the Green Flag Award. Further information: visit GreenSpace North West > 11 November Reedbed design, creation and management workshop – a Nature after Minerals event (Nature after Minerals is a partnership between the RSPB and Natural England, with support from the Mineral Products Association)
Over Conference & Community Centre, Over, Cambridgeshire and RSPB Ouse Fen/Hansons’s Needingworth Quarry 10.00 am to 3.30 pm.
Contact: Debra Royal, RSPB by 2 November email: debra.royal@rspb.org.uk The workshop aims to provide practical advice and training for key stakeholders in and around the minerals industry. Visit Nature after Minerals Progamme > 13 November Creating an Orchard SWT Foxburrow Farm, Woodbridge 10.00 am – 4.00 pm. £30 Do you want to create a productive orchard that also provides a rich habitat for wildlife? Or could your community benefit from creating a local orchard? To find out how, come along for a day with expert Bob Lever SWT WildLearning Course. Booking essential. Call: 01473 890089, email: wildlearning@suffolkwildlifetrust.org or book online at www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
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17 November Wet grassland & waders workshop – a Nature after Minerals event West Tanfield, North Yorkshire (Nature after Minerals is a partnership between the RSPB and Natural England, with support from the Mineral Products Association)
10.0 am to 3.30 pm with an afternoon site visit to Nosterfield Local Nature Reserve http://www.luct.org.uk Contact: Debra Royal, RSPB by 9 November email: debra.royal@rspb.org.uk The event is aimed at stakeholders in and around the minerals industry and offers advice and discussion on Wet Grassland habitat as an appropriate and high-quality form of restoration on aggregate sites. Visit Nature after Minerals Progamme > 24 November Power to the Parks: Delivering without compromise Manchester A 1-day conference exploring the options available to tackle the challenges ahead, bringing together influential sector experts to share examples of best practice and reaction to new legislation.
Further information, visit GreenSpace > 24 November Environment Agency annual conference Central Hall, Westminster 9.00 am - 5.30 pm Delegates should attend this event to: • Hear how the Environment Agency and the new government plan to meet carbon reduction commitments and protect our environment. • Hear about major proposals to tackle pollution in our rivers, lakes and bathing waters and ensure they meet European standards. • Learn from leading business organisations that are driving sustainability through supply chains, sourcing and consumer behaviour. • Discuss the financial incentives and penalties that drive behaviour change. • Look at the challenge of local and regional planning. • Examine the important role of the farming industry and rural agriculture in maintaining biodiversity in our countryside. • Review the lessons from the recent floods. • Look at initiatives to reduce waste, increase recycling and deal with the growing issue of electrical waste.
For details, visit: www.environment10.com
Various wildlife events - Suffolk Wildlife Trust , National Trust , RSPB, Butterfly Conservation Suffolk Branch, Suffolk Moth Group, Suffolk Fungus Group, Suffolk Ornithologists Group, Suffolk Naturalists Society
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SBP INFORMATION If you would like to share information on how your organisation is benefiting biodiversity in Suffolk, please send your article to Gen Broad, Suffolk Biodiversity Officer (tel: 01473 264308, Mobile: 0789 4885337, email:gen.broad@suffolk.gov.uk) Deadline for November 2010 newsletter: Friday December 3. “I found the newsletter really informative, quick to scan and read and very useful thanks”. Thank you to the reader who sent this useful feedback. SBP is a partnership comprised of conservation organisations, statutory bodies, local authorities, businesses and not-for-profit organisations working together throughout the county of Suffolk to protect biodiversity. The UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan is delivered at a local level by members of the Partnership – for further information visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/Environment/Biodiversity/SuffolkBiodiversityPartnership.htm . Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership comprises: Babergh District Council, Center Parcs–Elveden, Environment Agency, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Essex & Suffolk Water, Forestry Commission, Forest Heath District Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, National Trust, Natural England, RSPB, St. Edmundsbury Borough Council, Suffolk Biological Records Centre, Suffolk Naturalist’s Society, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Naturalists Society, Waveney District Council.
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