Nature recovery is a key part of our ongoing work to conserve and enhance the Dedham Vale National Landscape. Our Nature Network Officer, Alex Moore da Luz, provides a round-up from all of our nature recovery projects and volunteer work parties for Janaury 2024.

East Bergholt

The superhero Nature Network Volunteers were out in force again helping to clear more non-native invasive laurel and rhododendron from woodland in East Bergholt.

The hope for the long-term is to bring shade loving wildflowers back onto the woodland floor and the log piles will be left to the benefit of fungi and invertebrates such as stag beetle.

Ash Street – River Brett

In partnership with the Environment Agency and funded through the Water Environment Improvement Fund volunteers have helped to replace some dead riverside tree saplings that succumbed to very hot and dry conditions.

Volunteers have planted Field Maple, Spindle, Hawthorn and Bird Cherry which are fantastic for wildlife but very hardy species too.

Boxted – Essex – River Stour

Expert digger work in challenging conditions has helped to create some fantastic new wetland habitat for birds including snipe, lapwing and little egret. Other beneficiaries include grass snake and amphibians.

This project is in partnership with the Environment Agency and funded through the Water Environment Improvement Fund. Fingers crossed the excavations will help to create suitable habitats for breeding lapwing.

Dedham – River Stour

Credit to the digger driver once again who battled against waterlogged conditions to create a mosaic of wet features on an existing wet grassland site. This project is in partnership with the National Trust and the Environment Agency and again funded through the Water Environment Improvement Fund.

Very encouraging numbers of snipe have been spotted using the new features already (scrapes and footdrains) along with a handful of lapwing, lots of teal and black headed gulls, mute swans and very excitingly a pair of black-tailed godwit also joining the party. Eel have also been spotted in the newly
extended pond that is connected to a series of ditches.

Tiger Hill

Our amazing volunteers were also out at Tiger Hill and Long Meadow in January to help with nature habitat enhancements including tree planting and coppicing. The cut brash was put to good use for wildlife by helping to create a messy understorey of habitat which in combination with brambles is loved by hazel dormice and nesting birds.

The landowner recently reported that due to ongoing conservation efforts on the LNR they’ve had the very welcome return in 2023 of the Nightingale, Spotted Flycatcher and a new record for the Hazel Dormouse. In addition, frogs and toads have also increased greatly.

Upcoming tasks in February

• Saturday 3rd February – Hedge Planting at Stratford Hall Farm
• Friday 9th February – Coppicing at Tiger Hill, Assington
• Friday 16th February – Hedge Planting at Leiston
• Friday 23rd February – Wader Fence Erection at Shotley