Blyth Valley and Southwold Wildlife Group: October report

Worlingham and Carlton Marshes

The Blyth Valley and Southwold SWT Wildlife group welcomed Vicky Eyles, the Suffolk Wildlife Trust Wilder Community Officer, who gave us an update on Worlingham and Carlton Marshes. Many of you may have visited Carlton Marshes, now such a successful reserve, with its varied fen, marsh, tree and wetland areas, and its good access, play and café facilities. The land was in agricultural use until the 1970s, so there was much to do to restore it to a more natural state. The Trust has continued to buy areas of land there, when possible, with the aim of creating a wildlife corridor along the River Waveney, making links with Castle and Worlingham Marshes, allowing the flora and fauna to move and flourish more easily. Peto’s Marsh was a recent major purchase, with match funding from the Heritage Fund, and it is now a magnet for overwintering wildfowl, and a spring breeding ground for diverse species. Other smaller areas continue to be added to the reserve.

Worlingham Marsh is very different. It has always been a wild area, and so the Trust has been able to enhance what is already there. There is limited public access to the Marsh while improvements to habitat are carried out, but greater access will be possible in the future. We watched and enjoyed some fascinating footage from trail cams, a taste of what we will find there.

Vicky also spoke about the wide range of Outreach work she is involved in, from visiting schools, to setting up volunteers work teams, surveys, local events, community wildlife gardens and discovery walks. Local farmers are often interested in, and support, Trust initiatives, and she offers guidance and resources, such as relevant books, and the loan of trail cams. These can give wonderful footage of fox or badger families, for example, which can encourage landowners to enjoy what their land supports.

It was fascinating to learn so much about two of our nearest reserves, and we left with the feeling that we will visit more often, and explore further.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, 13th November at 7.30 at the Southwold Arts Centre IP18 6JP. Ian Bedford will talk about ‘The Trouble Without Wasps’. The cost is £5 to include refreshments. Under 25s are free, and all are welcome.

Penny Mansfield