Throughout the winter, the Blyth Valley and Southwold wildlife group, organise monthly meetings where they invite guest speakers to present on various topics of interest. Here, Penny Mansfield reports on their latest meeting.

Farming and Wildlife.

The Wilder Landscape Manager of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Sam Hanks, gave a talk to our local group about the wider aspects of land management and biodiversity in our county, with a particular reference to farming. The Trust is part of a wider network of organisations encouraging farmers to participate in regenerative agriculture. The aims are to combat climate change by focusing on nourishing the soil, increasing crop diversity, improving water quality, capturing carbon, and regenerating lost woodlands and hedgerows. There is no single organised approach yet, and pesticides and herbicides are still in use, but there is enthusiasm across the region , with organisations such as the Nature Friendly Farming Network taking part.

The Trust sees its role as enabling people to bring about change, and thus it gives free advice to farmers, community projects and individuals. There are farm clusters – locally the Blyth Valley, where farmers can meet together, share ideas, and receive support. There are Stewardship projects, one of which is to alleviate flooding with attenuation ponds, which flood in the winter, reducing the run off downstream. Encouragement to add diversity to the land is exemplified at Nonsuch organic farm, where Sam is the manager. Here, the fertilised hayfield will return to its old meadow status. Hedgerows are being replanted: one stretch is to be four metres wide, and has been hand-strewn with local hedgerow seeds in an experiment to see how well this method will work. Elsewhere on the farm, ponds have been excavated to add to biodiversity, and to supply drinking water for stock animals. A range of fruit and nut trees are being planted. It’s very much a work in progress.

There were some inspirational ideas, and we were heartened to remember that we can all help in the process , both in our own plots and gardens, and  by supporting local producers.

 Our next meeting is at the Arts Centre, Southwold, IP18 6JP, on Thursday, 13^th April at 7:30pm. There will be a brief AGM, followed by a film, “Secret Rivers – the Waveney”, featuring Paul Heiney. No admission fee but a small charge for drinks.

Reydon Community Quiz took place on 17th March, with 9 teams taking part and quizmaster Jim Archer leading the evening. A light-hearted evening ensued with six entertaining rounds which featured, among other things, tests of musical knowledge and our recall of ‘Thunderbirds’ !

Winners were ‘Three’s Company ‘with 126 points, ‘What! No Broadside?’ in second place with 123 points, followed by ‘What the Ecc?’ in third place with 120 points.

With proceeds from the quiz and the raffle, the total raised was £335. A good cause was chosen at random from suggestions made by the quizzers, and this months recipient is the Rural Coffee Caravan. This provides ‘coffee and kindness’ together with all sorts of advice and assistance to communities in the more isolated parts of the area (They will be in Sotterly on 6 April)

A huge thanks as always to our loyal quizzers, hosts Sole Bay Bowls Club and raffle helpers. Thanks also to Southwold Press for providing paper for the quizzes.

The next quiz will be held on Friday 21^st April, and this one will be raising money for Friends of Southwold Library ( FOSL). 

The final quiz for this season will be 9th May (All fall on the third Friday of the month).

There is sometimes space for another team so do contact me if you are interested in joining us, on ahumphry@talktalk.net.