Annual review 2015 2016

A celebration of the year

RICHARD BOWLER

Annual Review 2015/2016

Brown hares lope across the fields of Black Bourn Valley nature reserve, which we extended this year

Living Landscapes Living Gardens Living Seas

A message from your Chairman This has been an exciting year in which support for the Trust has reached new heights. I am delighted to share the news that we now have over 28,000 members and such magnificent commitment to local nature conservation is a cause for celebration indeed.

I would like to welcome all our new members who have recognised the value of what we do for the county and chosen to join, and wholeheartedly thank our wonderful long-time members who continue to support us year after year. Together you make Suffolk Wildlife Trust the influencial force for a sustainable environment that we believe it to be. Your support as members underpins everything we do for wildlife in Suffolk and we simply couldn’t do it without you.

Spending time in nature is a joyous thing and I am very pleased that this year we have once again been able to extend and improve the beautiful and varied reserves the Trust cares for. I believe the strength of our commitment to wildlife education, so that children in Suffolk grow up with opportunities to experience the exhilaration and adventure that nature offers, is so beneficial to our health and wellbeing and is what makes the Trust unique.

As we seize opportunities to grow our network of reserves and reach out through our education activities to more schools and families, it is the unstinting support from volunteers, members and all our wonderful staff that makes it possible for us to look to the future with confidence.

Thank you to you all.

JOHN FERGUSON

Ian Brown, Chairman

Pete Fordham MBE Woodlands Warden Bradfield Woods

Thank you

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

More wildlife There is no better mark of success for the Trust than changes in the fortunes of struggling species. All the more so, when it reflects positive change in the countryside beyond our nature reserves.

Prompted by concerns over the low numbers of wader chicks successfully raised on the Suffolk coast, we have set up the Suffolk Breeding Wader Group with RSPB. The problem is in part, an unintended consequence of the availability of good nesting habitat on nature reserves which means birds return to the same areas to breed, year after year and so makes them more vulnerable to predation. By working together we can rotate breeding areas across coastal sites like Dingle Marshes, Trimley Marshes, Hazlewood Marshes and Carlton Marshes to give the chicks a greater chance of survival. At Trimley Marshes, the fox and badger-proof fence installed at the start of the year, together with new scrapes and footdrains has already boosted lapwing and redshank chick numbers. We hope for similar success with a fence installed at Hen Reedbeds.

Following the tidal surge in December 2013, Hazlewood Marshes has evolved into a dynamic and dramatic landscape, driven by the tides. This year, in an ambitious programme of earthworks, we have created Lackford Lakes

The 17 spoonbills at Hazlewood Marshes were a highlight of the year

Lackford Lakes is one of the best places to see red kite in Suffolk

ALAMY

Hazlewood Marshes

Purple emperor butterflies were last reported in Suffolk woodlands in the 1940s. Individuals were spotted in 2013 and now purple emperor have been recorded in both Bradfield Woods and Bonny Wood, attracted by the stands of pussy willow (sallow) which is the foodplant of the caterpillar and the network of wide sunlit rides. Silver washed fritillary and white admiral are now regularly seen in our woods and after a five year silence, nightingale has been singing once again in Bradfield Woods.

There is no doubt however, that ash dieback is going to have a profound impact on our ancient woodlands. Bradfield Woods is facing possibly the greatest period of change in its 1000 years of recorded history, and the species mix in the young woodland at Arger Fen & Spouse’s Vale will undoubtedly change as ash is lost. With the British Trust for Ornithology, we are monitoring the impact on both woods, but there is certainly no shortage of tree seed to fill gaps left by ash.

Some is now banked in the underground vaults of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, for future conservation efforts to protect UK trees and woodlands, including small leaved lime seed from Groton Wood, wild service seed from Arger Fen & Spouse’s Vale and holly from Captain’s Wood.

In the 1950s, conifers were planted into the ancient woodland at Arger Fen & Spouse’s Vale, as a commercial crop and this year we removed the last big block of pines to restore the woodland to its former glory. As sunlight floods in, a shrubby layer of bramble, hazel and honeysuckle will develop under the broad leaved canopy, and the dark conifer years will be consigned to history.

Bradfield Woods

Purple emperor have been recorded in Bradfield Woods

STEVE AYLWARD

The recent confirmed breeding of red kites in west Suffolk has rekindled hopes of an eventual recolonisation of Suffolk, as the buzzard has done in the last decade. Lackford Lakes is one of the best places to see red kites in Suffolk but you do need to be lucky to catch a glimpse of these stunning raptors. Lackford Lakes is a series of former gravel pits and it is now 30 years since the first lakes were flooded. This year we have rejuvenated some of these older lakes, remodelling the edges to create more extensive areas of shallow water, mud and islands for waders.

a complex of islands and lagoons which are drawing in large numbers of birds year round and delighting visitors. The arrival of 17 spoonbills over the winter was perhaps the highlight of the year, attracted by the opportunity to feed on crustaceans and small fish that the new inter-tidal habitats offer.

DARIN SMITH

Polecats are now back in Suffolk after a 100 year absence and each new sighting helps to track their return. Wetland species such as water vole, bearded tit and water shrew now occur in much greater numbers at Redgrave & Lopham Fen, simply because there is so much more high quality fen habitat, and in 2015 marsh harrier attempted to breed.

More wildness It is not just the extent of habitat that enables wildlife to thrive but the merging of woodland, grassland and scrub. These untidy and complex edges are where insects thrive and food chains begin and this is why we encourage these intricate patchworks of habitat on our nature reserves.

Our smallest flower-rich meadows are so tiny and precious that there is little space for bramble and scrub and so year on year we strive to make our reserves larger, to create more space for nature to ramble.

reserve, with the unexpected sale of the 13 acre strip of marsh linking the reserve to Blackheath Common, which we manage in partnership with the Parish Council. Neighbours who recognised the opportunity to complete this missing piece of the jigsaw generously pledged support for the purchase together with a longstanding Trust benefactor.

The opportunity this year to buy 70 acres of land next to Grove Farm was unmissable and the spectacular response from members to our fundraising, and legacy gifts from Gerald Ford and Mary Newman made it possible. The reserve now sweeps down the valley sides from the arable fields of Grove Farm to the Black Bourn river, creating a magnificent landscape for wildlife, which we have renamed Black Bourn Valley nature reserve.

The Trust now owns a good stretch of both sides of the river through this attractive part of the Blyth valley. Here too there are opportunities to improve the river channel, to reinstate meanders and other features that will make the river much better for wildlife.

Cattle grids installed at Knettishall Heath, allow the Exmoors to roam freely

Our ambition for the river’s wildlife goes beyond the nature reserve, and happily it is a vision shared by our neighbours. The Black Bourn meanders northwards to Mickle Mere, eventually flowing into the Little Ouse, just south of Thetford. Just as we have worked with landowners along the length of the Little Ouse to restore a more natural channel that bubbles with invertebrate life, so buying and restoring this stretch of the Black Bourn has become a catalyst for conservation all along the valley.

Both Grove Farm and Church Farm were left to the Trust by owners who had dedicated their lives to caring for these precious fragments of countryside. Grove Farm was the gift of Laura Cooper (1995) and Church Farm from Philip Elsey (2004). They would be delighted to see how these special places have flourished under our custodianship.

TOM MARSHALL

Church Farm Marshes

Creating big reserves that can function more naturally is also about breaking down the barriers within the landscape and few sites demonstrate this better than Knettishall Heath. This year has seen the culmination of three years of effort, removing the fences and young secondary woodland that dissected the heath and installing four cattle grids on the roads that cross the heath – the first time grids have been installed in Suffolk to support conservation grazing. Now the swathes of heathland, grassland and woodland mingle and the Exmoor ponies wander freely between them. We are already seeing signs that ground-nesting birds are returning in greater numbers and our goal of bringing back nightjar as a breeding species is a step closer.

Black Bourn Valley

STEVE AYLWARD

Another not to be missed opportunity to create a bigger, better space for wildlife came at Church Farm Marshes nature

Improving the river channel at Church Farm Marshes will benefit species like water vole

STEVE AYLWARD

Knettishall Heath

The farm, with its thick hedges and wide field margins already supports valuable populations of farmland birds that are struggling elsewhere. With our ownership we can bring this approach to the whole river valley, letting ancient hedges spill out into thickets of blackthorn and hawthorn and encouraging a heathy grassland sward. It will reflect the furzy countryside of Norton Heath that now remains only in local road names.

Making an impact countywide

A gift to us all Buying land to extend our nature reserves is one of the most powerful ways we can secure a better future for wildlife – but it is a huge financial undertaking, only made possible by legacy gifts.

We would like to thank everyone who remembered Suffolk Wildlife Trust in their Will this year. Over the course of the year, we received legacy gifts totalling £627,000 and were also made aware of a further £237,000 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 – for wildlife and for us all.

Frank Bacon Betty Crook Alan Cumming Arthur De’Ath Jean Hannaford

Rose Holt Mary Howard Roger Perry Faith Widdicombe Judith Mahala Wood

Over the last year we have been consulted on 744 planning applications. To maximise the impact of our efforts for the county’s wildlife, we focus on large development schemes to highlight where the proposals are likely to be ecologically damaging and to seek opportunities to secure significant gains for wildlife.

Number of houses in planning proposals commented on this year:

2500 1650 1250 300 250 175 Haverhill

Brandon

Bury St Edmunds

Kesgrave

Eye

Stowupland

In addition, our ecological consultancy SWT Trading has completed a survey of 200 potential development sites in Forest Heath district, so our expertise and local knowledge have an influence early in the planning process. We work with other councils in a similar way.

Every child wild In an era when it seems children are at risk of becoming increasingly remote from the natural world, our commitment to nature education has never been more vital. We are in no doubt, children need nature and nature needs children.

Our family days and children’s activities are one way we do this and last year we organised over 300 different events for families, children and teenagers at our centres and in green spaces at the heart of our towns and villages.

This year, thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund we have developed exciting new opportunities for children and young people to get closer to nature in Ipswich, using the fabulous wildlife habitats in the town’s historic parks and green spaces, led by a new Education Ranger.

MATTHEW ROBERTS

There is wide ranging evidence that children who grow up with nature are happier, healthier and more creative – and are more likely to take a protective attitude into adulthood.

With so much at stake, for both children and our countryside, we aim to make nature an everyday part of growing up in Suffolk.

Dyke dipping at Carlton Marshes

JOHN FERGUSON

Our focus on Ipswich reflects the gap in opportunities for young people and families to learn about wildlife, compared to elsewhere in Suffolk, where our network of centres lead the way. One of the most exciting developments is the introduction of wildlife courses and practical young wardens sessions for teenagers as well as nature roadshows for families. Lots of schools are within walking distance of a park enabling us to help put nature back into L3 the school day.

Lound Lakes

Lowestoft

Carlton Marshes

Thetford Diss A11

A young wardens’ session at Lackford Lakes

Knettishall Heath A134

Lackford Lakes

A140

L ANCHESTER

Aldeburgh

Foxburrow Farm A143

Close-up to wildlife

Saxmundham

A1120

Stowmarket

Newmarket

Haverhill

A12

A143

Bury St Edmunds A14

Our countywide commitment to education makes nature learning accessible to everyone

Southwold

Redgrave & Lopham Fen

Bradfield Woods

Sudbury

On the coast

Woodbridge

A134

Ipswich

A14

Rendlesham Forest

Ipswich wild spaces A12

Felixstowe

Arger Fen & Spouses’ Vale

Across all our reserves, we have been looking at the quality of the experience we offer, from the clarity of our website maps to the state of the paths. Our aim is for our reserves to feel as natural as possible, so we strive to balance the need for good paths, signs, hides and paths with the need to preserve the very sense of wildness we all head to the countryside for.

We also want to remove any unnecessary barriers to people’s enjoyment, so this year we have

removed stiles, enlarged kissing gates, widened paths and added places to pause and savour the view.

We still have more improvements to make, and will always strive to be better. Enabling people to cherish the natural world is fundamental to the way the Trust is – which is why all our reserves are free for everyone to enjoy.

Of course, good habitat underpins everything, to attract more of the wildlife we all hope to get close to.

Thank you to our business supporters

Platinum EDF Energy UK Power Networks

Gold Abellio Greater Anglia Group Anglian Water Aspall Cyder Ltd BT plc Cemex UK Climax Molybdenum Muntons plc Realise Futures Made by the Forge Waveney River Centre

Silver Barnes Construction Birketts LLP ForFarmers CenterParcs Dalehead Foods Essex & Suffolk Water Harwich Haven Authority Ipswich Building Society Notcutts Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd Sam Kimpton

Bronze

inspiring the next 15,000 generation children learnt about wildlife with us last year

JOHN FERGUSON

Children & young people in Ipswich have been enjoying new opportunities to get closer to nature

Alan Boswell Insurance Ltd Aldeburgh Golf Club Binder Birds Eye Ltd Brooks & Wood BTS Group Ltd Collier & Catchpole Ltd Culford School Flempton Golf Club Ipswich Golf Club J Breheny Contractors Ltd Lafarge Tarmac Landscape Partnership Larking Gowen Nicholas Jacob Architects Ransomes Dock Ltd SW Cross & Sons Seckford Wines Ltd Strutt & Parker Suffolk Life Ufford Park Ltd White Stuff Ipswich

LCF grants

Our reserves have benefitted from grants made through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF). Thank you to all our landfill funders.

Biffa Award Collins Skiphire Lafarge Tarmac LCF SITA Trust Veolia Environmental Trust Viridor Credits WREN Waste Recycling Environmental

Trustee’s statement

Financial summary

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.

SWT year ended 31 March 2016 Incoming resources £000’s Members’ subscriptions & donations 1134 Legacies 864 Fundraising & grants 1046 SWT Trading company income 391 Other 368 Investment income 94 Total incoming resources 3897 Resources expended Nature reserves & conservation 1468 Fundraising & grants 104 Education 403 Membership 268 SWT Trading company costs 280 92 Support, management & admin Investment re-evaluation 91 2706 Total resources expended Net incoming resources Fund balances brought forward Fund balances carried forward

1191 12976 14167

Analysis of group net assets between funds Fixed assets Nature reserves 7491 Nature reserves purchased this year 752 Other tangible assets 1098 Net current assets* 4826

14167 * Including designated, unrestricted & restricted

Income £000’s 1134

The annual accounts have been audited by Larking Gowen Ipswich Ltd and received an unqualified opinion. They were approved by Trustees on 21st July 2016 and will be submitted to the Charity Commission and Registrar of Companies.

1046 864

391

368

The Trustee’s target level of free reserves, equating to 4-6 months establishment and core staff costs, currently equates to £726k. Funds above this level are designated to specific projects particularly the acquisition of land as nature reserves.

94 Members’ subscriptions & donations

Legacies

Fundraising SWT Trading & grants

Other

Investments

Robin Drayton, Hon Treasurer

Expenditure £000’s

Auditor’s statement

1468

In our opinion these summarised accounts are consistent with the full statutory accounts on which we have reported with an unqualified opinion.

Approved 21st July 2016.

752 403 268 104 Nature reserves purchase

Nature Fundraising reserves & conservation

280 92

Education Membership SWT Trading Management & admin

Thank you to all our volunteers Volunteers, young and old, are the backbone of Suffolk Wildlife Trust. They give their time, hard work, innovation and ingenuity to ensure year on year, we keep doing more.

funds and legacy gifts set aside for significant projects

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.

JOHN FERGUSON

It is this unstinting support from volunteers and members that makes Suffolk Wildlife Trust such a force for nature.

1300 volunteers give their time

Sam Gay, Knettishall Heath Ranger & volunteer Keshia Glover

Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Brooke House Ashbocking, Ipswich IP6 9JY 01473 890089 info@suffolkwildlifetrust.org suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Thank you

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