Living Landscapes Living Gardens Living Seas

A celebration of the year

2014/2015

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Arger Fen & Spouse’s Vale

Gordon KennettVolunteer warden at Arger Fen

We have added

acresto 5 reserves

We have added

acresto 5 reserves

Ian Brown, Chairman

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Photo:JOHN FERGUSON

A message from your ChairmanThe past year has been one of continued steady growth. Generous donations and legacy gifts have enabled us to act on land purchase opportunities, filling in missing pieces of the habitat jigsaw around our reserves. Grants and business contributions enabled conservation and restoration programmes on new reserves as well as those recently affected and altered by nature itself.

Our community advisers offer support and inspiration for local conservation projects all over the county, which together with our wildlife advice to landowners and farmers is helping to make Suffolk more wildlife rich. Bringing people closer to nature through our education activities is a great strength of the Trust, and it is particularly gratifying to see the active participation of teenagers on the coast, in Ipswich and in the Brecks.

Once again the extent of the work undertaken would not be possible without the massive contribution from members and volunteers, whose time, hard work, innovation, and ingenuity is immeasurable. Finally many thanks to our wonderful staff whose dedication, enthusiasm and extensive knowledge provide the leadership and skills to further the opportunities for wildlife in Suffolk’s Living Landscapes, Seas, and Gardens.

We often refer to the Trust as Suffolk’s local nature charity. Our localness is something we are proud of – and rightly so – because it means we get things done! Not least because of the massive local volunteer effort we harness on behalf of the county’s wildlife. It is this unstinting support from volunteers and members that makes it possible for us to keep doing more, and more.

This year is no exception – thank you. A focus on mammals The first Suffolk Mammal Conference, a joint Suffolk Mammal Group and Suffolk Wildlife Trust event brought together mammal enthusiasts and their expertise for a day dedicated to conservation efforts in Suffolk.

It is a time of mixed fortunes for our mammals. After a century’s absence, polecats are edging their way back into the county, and thanks to continued conservation efforts our water voles are thriving. Hedgehogs, however are a cause for deep concern and it is no surprise that such an endearing creature mobilised the county into action. More than 8000 hedgehog sightings were logged on our recording website, showing that our urban centres in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe hold important populations. With a second year of data collection in 2015, we can begin to look for opportunities for practical conservation measures. Adding to our nature reserves Once again this year we have seized opportunities to buy land to strengthen our reserves and have extended 5 sites, adding 119 acres in total. They are all quite different places, but each in their own way echoes the Trust’s approach of allowing nature to take the lead.

Local action for wildlifeAlthough overgrown with a forest of young willow scrub, our previous restoration of the neighbouring fen meadows has shown how resilient these habitats are. This winter we will remove the scrub and reinstate the network of species-rich boundary dykes so that cattle can return and bring the flower-rich fen back to life.

We also bought 20 acres of former arable overlooking Carlton Marshes. Whilst conservation efforts in the Broads have safeguarded the wetland habitats, the drier valley sides have all but disappeared. Our plan for this higher land is to encourage dry grassland to establish naturally, so that we gradually restore the gradient of habitats from the dry valley side down to the wet marshland. The opportunity to buy this land came at short notice and our approach of keeping legacy gifts for significant projects like this meant we had funds set aside and so could act quickly.

A heartfelt thank you We would like to thank the friends of the Trust who remembered Suffolk Wildlife Trust in their Will this year. Over the course of the year, we received legacy gifts totalling £827,000 and were also made aware of a further £263,000 which we will receive in the coming months. Their generosity will enable us to actively pursue opportunities to make our nature reserves bigger and better in the years to come.

Audrey AndrewsLilian BartrumJean CarlisleSharon CarterYvonne CatchpoleAlan ClementRoseanne FotherbyRex Glover

Christine HarrySylvia HollisSusie MellorBetty MooreDavid NashOlive ReederHazel ShoreWilliam Strong

The new meadows at Captain’s Wood are fabulous reptile habitat

Our biggest acquisition was at Arger Fen & Spouse’s Vale where, thanks to Gerald Ford’s generosity in remembering Suffolk Wildlife Trust in his Will, and a magnificent response from members and local people, we added 76 acres of rolling farmland. The reserve now stretches across 270 acres of ancient woodland, fen meadow, wet woodland and the mix of new habitats developing by natural regeneration.

In the east of the county, an unexpected opportunity to buy 17 acres alongside Captain’s Wood has given a new dimension to the reserve. The land had not been farmed for many years and has developed into a wonderful mosaic of rough grassland, scrub and woodland as well as wetter areas with marsh orchids and other wetland plants. Just as they do in Captain’s Wood, the local herd of fallow deer has kept the land open and this will continue to be our approach. Thank you to the generous individuals who made this purchase possible at very short notice.

With its flower-filled wet meadows, Darsham Marshes is a lovely piece of old Suffolk and thanks to a gift in memory of Peter Lawson, one of Suffolk’s foremost botanists, the reserve now takes in the intricate mix of rabbit-grazed acid grassland, heath and thorn scrub of neighbouring Darsham Common. Such a special place deserves to be enjoyed and the addition of the Common will also allow us to greatly improve the reserve entrance.

In all, over the last decade, we have added 260 acres of land at Carlton & Oulton Marshes, gradually piecing together the intricate patchwork of wetland habitats that now make this such a substantial reserve.

This year we secured another small fen meadow at Oulton Marshes.

Darsham Marshes now includes neighbouring Darsham Common

Darsham Marshes

Captain’s Wood

The new land at Carlton Marshes adds dry habitats alongside the wetland

Carlton & Oulton Marshes

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Action for wildlife in every Suffolk parish

Another big thank you Once again our reserves have benefited from grants made through the Landfill Communities Fund. Thank you to all our landfill funders.

Biffa AwardCollins SkiphireLafarge Tarmac LCFSITA TrustSuffolk Environmental TrustVeolia Environmental TrustViridor Credits WREN Waste Recycling Environmental

With 52 reserves, our commitment in some parishes goes back decades, and so does the encouragement we receive from local volunteers and members. The wildlife successes on our reserves are a testament to their support. Conservation success stories Just three years after HLF support helped to buy Knettishall Heath, a wild brown trout has been recorded in the Little Ouse. The previously lifeless river was choked with vegetation, had little open water and virtually no flow. With the restoration of the river channel, water vole are also thriving and there has been a big increase in invertebrate life, including mayfly larvae which are indicative of a healthy river. On the higher land, conifer clearance has been completed, thanks to support from WREN, to begin the restoration to heath.

Lackford Lakes is on the map as a birding destination, and the impressive new Steggall’s Hide, designed and built by the volunteer team, has added to the facilities on offer. Its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest is partly due to its dragonflies and damselflies and this year willow emerald damselfly was added to the tally.

Known for its fabulous Broadland dykes, the plan to dig shallow turf ponds at Oulton Marshes always

Thanks to Heritage Lottery Fund support for our Networking Nature community wildlife team, we are giving behind the scenes support to more local groups than ever. With the four year funding nearing the end, we have achieved our goal of working alongside people in every one of Suffolk’s 447 parishes, supporting locally led action for the wildlife in their patch.

With our community team offering tailored advice to secure the very best wildlife outcomes from these local opportunities, we have created or improved over 2000 acres of habitat and supported conservation efforts for reptiles, barn owl and hedgehog. Beyond this, the project will leave behind a legacy of committed individuals – networks of people with skills and experience to take forward their own projects, draw in the support of others in their community and able to inspire and advise others who want to do the same. Making a difference for wildlife In contrast, we also use our local knowledge to secure better outcomes for wildlife through the planning system. This year we have reviewed 760 planning applications in 286 parishes to safeguard protected species, achieve long term habitat enhancement and secure mitigation measures.

At Bramford Meadow, community efforts have been rewarded with the return of water vole

Swift boxes and cameras in Worlington church are inspiring conservation efforts elsewhere

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promised exciting results – but the varied range of aquatic invertebrate fauna, including 5 new species for Suffolk, has proved to be exceptional. On the Carlton Marshes side of the reserve, grant support from Viridor has enabled us to dig a new scrape to provide more of the shallow muddy feeding habitat needed by wildfowl and waders.

Introducing cattle grazing at Lound Lakes is already starting to improve the grassland structure, which will benefit grass snake and slow worm populations for which the site is proving to be so important.

The Orwell estuary is of international importance for wildfowl and waders and work at Levington, supported by Veolia Environmental Trust, is pumping dredgings from Suffolk Yacht Harbour onto the mudflats, so that saltmarsh vegetation can gradually re-establish. Further down the estuary at Trimley Marshes, fencing around the main lagoon will reduce lapwing chick losses to predation, whilst the new scrape has created more of the muddy feeding grounds needed by the adults. Our thanks to Veolia and Suffolk Coast & Heaths Sustainable Development Fund for supporting this.

Visitors to Lackford Lakes can enjoy panoramic views from the new hide

Mud is pumped back onto the saltmarsh at Levington

Wildflowers are now flourishing in churchyards at Bradfield St Clare, Herringswell, and Hundon

447Samantha Gay People & Wildlife Ranger Knettishall Heath

The ancient willows at Framlingham Mere have been repollarded, thanks to Collins Skiphire

Fen raft spider numbers have continued to grow at Castle Marshes

Barbastelle were recorded for the first time in Reydon Wood

Deer management has increased oxlip numbers at Bradfield Woods

A polecat was spotted this year at Redgrave & Lopham Fen

We have supported wildlife activities inWe have supported wildlife activities in

447 parishesparishes

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Our education centre at Carlton Marshes is the focus for wildlife education in the Suffolk Broads

On the coast Young people from coastal communities, from Kessingland to Felixstowe, have learnt about the wildlife on their local beach, thanks to funding from Heritage Lottery Fund through Touching the Tide and for work on Sizewell beach from the AONB Access and Amenity Fund.

In the Brecks We are working with schools in the Brecks to introduce them to Breckland habitat on their doorstep, with funding from Heritage Lottery Fund through Breaking New Ground. At Knettishall Heath, teenage young wardens are helping to restore open Breck heath.

We have long recognised the importance of nurturing Suffolk’s next generation of naturalists through our education programmes and this year we have looked back with affection on the achievements of Derek Moore, Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Director from 1985 to 1999, who died in late October. Derek promoted the cause of environmental education in its very early days and would have been thrilled that 30% of Suffolk’s primary school children now learn about the natural world every year with the Trust.

Each of our six education reserves has a unique character, reflecting the diverse landscapes and habitats of Suffolk. Derek was proud to be a Beccles boy so we have dedicated the education room at Carlton Marshes to him.

Learning close to home Whilst Suffolk’s great landscapes are feted for their wildlife and scenic beauty, for many of our children and teenagers they are, of course the place they live and go to school. Through themed projects in The Brecks, down the coast, in The Broads, and on our heaths we have been encouraging local youngsters to explore their home patch with fresh eyes and to consider the role they can play in caring for it. Elsewhere young people can get involved through our centres.

Learning about Suffolk’s wildlife

Derek Moore, Director of Suffolk Wildlife Trust from 1985-1999

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care about

We inspire young people to

wildlife where they live

Thank you to all our business supporters

PlatinumEDF Energy UK Power Networks

Gold Anglian Water Aspall British Telecom Plc Cemex UK Climax Molybdenum Muntons plcRealise Futures

SilverAbellio Greater Anglia GroupArncliffe Leisure Ltd Barnes ConstructionBinder LimitedBirketts ForFarmersCenter Parcs Ltd Culford SchoolDalehead FoodsEssex & Suffolk Water Harwich Haven Authority Magnox Limited Notcutts Ltd

Bronze ABP IpswichAlan Boswell Insurance Management LtdBirds Eye LimitedBTS Group Ltd Cassiopae Limited Flempton Golf Club Limited Ipswich Building SocietyIpswich Golf Club J Breheny Contractors LtdLafarge TarmacLandscape Partnership Larking Gowen Nicholas Jacob Architects Ransomes Dock Limited Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd S W Cross & Sons Seckford Wines Ltd Strutt & Parker Suffolk Life Ufford Park Limited White Stuff, Ipswich

Project sponsorsEast of England Co-opMade by the ForgeWaveney River Centre

We are grateful to all the individuals, Charitable Trusts, grant-making bodies and statutory organisations that fund our work. Without their support we could not maintain our existing activity or develop new projects

In Ipswich With the aim of actively involving 10-16 year olds in the historic parks and wildlife spaces around Ipswich, Heritage Lottery Fund and local benefactors are supporting new opportunities for teenagers, including wildlife courses and practical volunteering.

Not just children! And it’s not just children getting hands on with nature. Every year, teams from local businesses volunteer their time to practical projects on our reserves, and at the same time gain fresh insight into the county they live and work in.In a spectacular effort, 60 volunteers from BT helped to plant 6000 saplings in a single day, to develop a hedgerow corridor for dormice. The discovery of a dormouse nest at Bull’s Wood was a cause for celebration, but also concern that it is too small to sustain a viable dormice population. Our answer was to link Bull’s Wood to nearby Bradfield Woods. Thanks to funding from SITA Trust to plant new hedges and gap up existing ones, the mile long hedgerow corridor is now complete.

We inspire young people to

care about wildlife where they live

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1300volunteers give their time

Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Brooke HouseAshbocking, Ipswich IP6 9JY01473 890089 info@suffolkwildlifetrust.orgsuffolkwildlifetrust.org

Registered charity no 262777

suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Financial summary Trustee’s statement These are the summarised accounts. To allow a full understanding of the financial affairs of Suffolk Wildlife Trust you can view the full audited annual accounts on our website or request a copy from Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Brooke House, Ashbocking, Ipswich IP6 9JY.

The annual accounts have been audited by Larking Gowen Ipswich Ltd and received an unqualified opinion. They were approved by Trustees on 23rd July 2015 and will be submitted to the Charity Commission and Registrar of Companies.

The Trustee’s target level of free reserves, equating to six months establishment and core staff costs, currently equates to £725,000. Funds above this level are designated to specific projects particularly the acquisition of land as nature reserves.

Robin Drayton, Hon Treasurer

Auditor’s statement In our opinion these summarised accounts are consistent with the full statutory accounts on which we have reported with an unqualified opinion. Approved 23rd July 2015.

Members’ subscriptions & donations

Legacies Fundraising & grants

SWT Trading Other Investments

Nature reserves &

conservation

Education MembershipFundraising Management & admin

Nature reserves purchase

SWT year ended 31 March 2015

Incoming resources £000’s Members’ subscriptions & donations 1071Legacies 1090Fundraising & grants 989SWT Trading company income 301Other 170Investment income 91Unrealised gain on investments 156Total incoming resources 3868

Resources expended Nature reserves & conservation 1453Education 413Membership 232Fundraising & grants 102Support, management & admin 101SWT Trading company costs 226Total resources expended 2527

Net incoming resources 1341Fund balances brought forward 11635Fund balances carried forward 12976

Analysis of group net assets between funds Fixed assets Nature reserves 6768 Nature reserves purchased this year 1247 Other tangible assets 313Net current assets* 4648 12976 * Including designated, unrestricted & restricted funds and legacy gifts set aside for significant projects

1071

1453

413

232102 101

SWT Trading

226

1247

1090989

301170

91

Across the Trust, more than 1300 volunteers dedicate their free time to the wildlife in their patch. Collectively we estimate they give 20,000 days to support our reserves, education activities, species conservation and community-based activities.

It is this unstinting support from volunteers and members that makes it possible for us to keep doing more for Suffolk’s wildlife.

Thank you

Paul ChapmanVolunteer warden Martins’ Meadows

Income £000’s

Expenditure £000’s

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Photo:JOHN FERGUSON