The East Suffolk Catchment Partnership (ESCP), hosted by the Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust, recently visited Martlesham Wilds, a newly created nature reserve managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
The purpose of the site visit was for the partnership to learn more about the ongoing restoration efforts at the reserve, which will play a crucial role in improving and preserving the biodiversity and natural landscapes of East Suffolk.
Martlesham Wilds, formerly an organic arable farm, was purchased in September 2023 thanks to a successful fundraising campaign to create the new nature reserve in Suffolk. The 117-hectare (290 acre) site situated between Martlesham Heath, Woodbridge and Waldringfield, borders Martlesham Creek and the River Deben which is a designated Special Protection Area for wild birds, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Ramsar internationally important wetland site.
As ESCP members were guided through the stunning landscapes and variety of habitats that Martlesham Wilds has to offer, the site Warden was able to provide insight into the future plans for the reserve. The site is at the very beginning of its transformation from an organic farm to a nature reserve and Suffolk Wildlife Trust aim to let nature take the lead when it comes to restoring Martlesham Wilds.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust's vision for this new nature reserve is to create a space in which nature can recover, to allow wilder habitats to return and become homes to species such as curlew, avocet and redshank, as well as reptiles, mammals and invertebrates. The Trust hope that the rewilded land will become a green corridor connecting ancient woodland, scrub, grassland and salt marsh, linked by the River Deben.
The visit also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure the preservation of East Suffolk’s natural landscapes. Earlier this year the ESCP launched the Recovering the Deben from Source to Sea project. This ambitious project aims to restore the land, water, and nature throughout the River Deben catchment and estuary, and is a collaborative effort between numerous organisations including representation from farming communities, NGOs, a water company, statutory bodies and local people.
It will be interesting to watch both the landscapes of Martlesham Wilds and the River Deben change side by side over time. The ESCP hope to see improved habitats, increased biodiversity and a haven for wildlife that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
A big thanks to staff and volunteers from Suffolk Wildlife Trust for arranging such a fantastic site visit.
Find out more about Martlesham Wilds
Check out the River Deben Action Plan
Комментарии