Blyth Valley and Southwold Wildlife Group: February report

A Life Working in Landscape

The February meeting of the local Blyth Valley and Southwold group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust welcomed Anne Westover to talk about her lifelong love of working in the countryside. Trained as a landscape architect, Anne has worked in many areas, from the leafy sections of Welwyn Garden City, to Leeds, to Norwich County Council, and now to smaller, local projects. She was involved in the preservation of old and significant trees, and in the overall maintenance of green areas. The beautiful Kett’s Heights above Norwich was restored recently by the council together with volunteers, and Anne designed the new metal gates there. It is well worth the climb. Keeping and planting screening trees was part of Anne’s brief, and many of the pine trees at Sutton Hoo remain as a result and are now very much part of that landscape.

There is much work being carried out at local level. Hedgerows that are over 30 years old now need permission to be grubbed out, and Suffolk hedges have been surveyed at a parish level to help provide this information. Local volunteer Tree Wardens help to propagate young trees, and involve the community in learning about and managing trees and hedgerows. Cemeteries can be havens for growing local species, and Wickham Market and Woodbridge were mentioned. Our native black poplar is in decline, and there are efforts to increase their numbers locally, for example in Wenhaston.

Anne’s job gave her a very wide brief, and her work with different councils gave us an idea of how decisions are made, and how tree and hedge management is carried out. It was an interesting and informative evening.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, 13th March at 7.30pm. Simon Dudhill from the Hawk and Owl Trust will tell us about his work with barn owls and red kites. This is our annual visit to Wenhaston Village Hall, Hall Road, Wenhaston IP19 9EP. Entrance is £4, to include refreshments. All are welcome. Under 25s free.

Penny Mansfield