Playing field
River bank
Canal
Hedge Local Wildlife Site
School ground Green roofs
Nature reserve Wildlife-rich housing estate
Protected road verge
IPSWICH: DARIUS SULCIUS ALAMY
TOP: Ipswich is home to more species of wildlife than any other major town or city in the East of England, a new study has revealed.
It is as important as ever to show our MPs what we care about and prove that we care through our own actions
Old quarry
Wood Green development
Wildlife gardens
Town park
Nature Wild reserve industrial estate
Old railway siding Estuary
ABOVE: Connectivity throughout the landscape is integral to nature’s recovery. Ipswich, shown here, has a good network of parks and green spaces where wildlife can move through the town.
Country park
Field margin
Allotments Community garden
Nature Summit
Hedge
Pond
Local Wildlife Site Village green
Marine Protected Area
Although strong and ambitious legislation is central to the recovery of the natural world, each and every one of us has a part to play As well as communicating with Defra, the Trust has also been talking to MPs – and we know you have too. Since autumn of last year, we, alongside 35 other local Wildlife Trusts across England, have been asking our supporters to let their MPs know they value wildlife and they want strong and ambitious laws to protect and help enhance it. Suffolk has certainly stepped up, with all MPs being contacted and several supporters having face-to-face meetings to discuss their concerns.
WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY
Although strong and ambitious legislation is central to the recovery of the natural world, each and every one of us has a part to play. It’s for this reason, the Trust is hosting the county’s first ever ‘Nature Summit’ this summer. The summit, being held at Dance East in Ipswich on the evening of Friday June 7,
will bring people together for a positive discussion focused on individual and collective action. We will be thinking about what a wilder Suffolk could and should look like and how we, together, can make that happen. The summit, featuring artists, politicians and influencers, will include a series of panel discussions and talks on key topics: conservation in the farmed, urban and marine environments; the importance of engaging a wider audience in conservation; the views of young people, and critically, the role of government in forming strong legislation. At the time of writing our country is facing a huge amount of uncertainty. What we do know is that it is as important as ever to show our MPs what we care about and prove that we care through our own actions. Collectively, we can have a wilder Suffolk, and a wilder future. n
THE WILDLIFE TRUSTS
River buffer strip
FREE Join Suffolk Wildlife Trust for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the county’s wildlife and wild places FRIDAY 7 JUNE 5PM-10.30PM DANCE EAST, IPSWICH WATERFRONT If you are unable to join us, then you don’t have to miss out; we’ll be live streaming the event via Facebook!
BRIE HARRISON
Peat upland
Field margin
ALI NORTH is Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Campaigns Officer and also the Hedgehog Officer.
SUFFOLK WILDLIFE 25