Nature enhancement is a key part of our ongoing work to conserve and enhance the Dedham Vale National Landscape & Stour Valley. 

Here is a round-up from all of our nature enhancement projects and volunteer work parties for July 2024.

For more information about any of our nature enhancement work, you can email alex.mooredaluz@suffolkandessex-NL.org.uk.

1 Giant Hogweed Control

Greg and I were out controlling giant hogweed again this month in various locations in the Dedham Vale National Landscape and wider Stour Valley. Between us and the volunteers we have removed 4,793 plants this year.

The overall situation is improving year on year. Out of the 72 sites that we monitor nearly half did not have any giant hogweed to remove at all this year, 19 sites have a reducing amount and 13 sites were found to have more than last year.

2 Himalayan Balsam Control

Some pictures from our recent Himalayan Balsam pulling work party on the River Brett. The balsam appears to have thrived with all the rain this year.

3 Sighting of the month – Ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

This month, it has to be the ringed plover chicks enjoying life at Shotley in the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape. They whizz around so fast and nip back into the enclosure when they hear the alarm calls from mum or dad!

4 Wildlife-friendly gardening

We can all help wildlife in our gardens and one of the best things you can do is incorporate dead wood into it. It can be simple log piles, leaving trees stumps in place or burying the wood in the ground like we do when we make the stag beetle pyramids.

Toads, newts and solitary bees will love it along with many more species. This is one of multiple dead wood features I have in my garden

5 Upcoming tasks

16.08.24	Dairy Farm / Chelsworth	Tree aftercare
23.08.24	Bixley Heath Nature Reserve – Ipswich	Sedge Management
30.08.24	Borley Mill	Tree aftercare
06.09.24	Sizewell	Wet Grassland Management
13.09.24	Raydon	Stag Beetle Pyramid Building
20.09.24	Shotley Gate	Taking down wader fencing