Throughout the autumn and 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 November meeting.

The Broads and its wildlife

In November, the Blyth Valley and Southwold branch of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust welcomed Tony Brown to talk about the many facets of Broadland wildlife. Tony is a naturalist and keen photographer, and we were treated to a fascinating presentation of the rich variety of Broadland flora and fauna. Some species have been brought back from dangerously low numbers to become part of our regular sightings, such as otters, bitterns, marsh harriers and avocets. We looked at rare sightings of black terns, and an American wood duck. We could see details of the unusually large feet of moorhens, the stunning display of the ‘eyes’ of the emperor moth, and the intricately detailed feathers of the barn owl, complete with its prey, a wood mouse. Tony had many wonderful anecdotes to tell, but the prize goes to the stowaway stoat, which refused to leave his dinghy until the boat was turned upside down on the shore.

We all enjoyed seeing the beauty and richness of the wetlands that are part of our local area, and which we can visit now with a clearer eye of what to look out for.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, January 11th, 7.30pm at the Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road IP18 6JP. Hannah Nutt will talk about the work of the World Land Trust. Admission is £4 to include refreshments, under 25s free. There is no need to book: just come along, all are welcome.

Penny Mansfield. Contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com.

The Reydon and Southwold Community Fridge and Pantry urgently needs drivers who can do local picks ups in Southwold in the evenings for delivery to Reydon, working with Tesco and the Co-op in Southwold to help us reduce food waste.

The task takes about half an hour (depending on where you live, but assuming you are local) and needs to be done at 8pm (when short-date food can be released).

We don’t mind if you can only commit to a few ad-hoc collections each month or a few collections a week. We collect every day. It’s all done on WhatsApp. Training (or buddying) can be provided.

If you can help, please get in touch with the Pantry team at reydonandsouthwoldpantry@gmail.com.

Following the recent, well-attended public meeting in Reydon Village Hall on 27th October concerning NGV’s “LionLink” Project proposals for the Reydon and Southwold area, an audio recording of the meeting can be accessed here. Thanks to Marcus Knight for making this available.

As noted elsewhere, Reydon Parish Council has issued a formal response to the “LionLink” Consulation following on the results of the tick-box questionnaire supplied that evening. All 100 who filled it unanimously wanted the Council to oppose NGV’s “LionLink” proposals, in particular the “northern” cable route, and for it to campaign against these in the statutory consultation in 2024.

Reydon Parish Council is very grateful for the continuing support of Southwold Town Council as the two councils grapple with the challenge of National Grid Ventures’ “LionLink” plan for this area.

Southwold Town Councillors have helped distribute posters for the public meeting
on 27th October and will be attending it.

The Council also has a useful web page with additional information about this important issue.

In spite of Storm Babet and a day of terrible weather The Reydon Community Quiz 2023/24 commenced on 20 October, and it was lovely to have all the regular quizzers back!

Amanda Humphry took the role of quiz leader for the evening and presented six rounds of varied questions, which provoked plenty of discussion and a few challenges along the way!

Winners were ‘Nirvana-Broadside‘ with 125 points, (a winning amalgamation of two regular teams whose numbers were affected by weather and other commitments!), ‘If Onlys‘ in second place with 117 points, and in third place ‘Threes Company ‘with 115 points.

Together with proceeds from the raffle, the evening raised £290. This will be donated to the group ‘New Leaf for Reydon and Southwold’. This is the volunteer group who you may have seen working so tirelessly over the last few months to repair and repaint Mights Bridge, and to weed, maintain
and plant bulbs in the verges along it. The local community are very appreciative of those who generously give their time like this. Thanks from one community group to another!

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

The next quiz will be on Friday 17th November, and the Christmas quiz will be on Friday 15th December.

Dates for the new year are to follow.

There is sometimes space for another team so do contact Amanda Humphry at  if you are interested in joining us.

Throughout the autumn and 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 October meeting.

Suffolk Shingle – Tales of Treasure and Trash

Our October meeting of the Southwold and Blyth Valley Wildlife Trust group was a little different this month. Kate Osborne gave a lively presentation, “Tales of Treasure and Trash”, about life on the shingle on our Suffolk beaches She brought a wide variety of examples of the good and the bad to be found. On the positive side, we have some of the best vegetated shingle habitat in the UK: plants such as sea kale have adapted to have roots that are two metres long, but low-growing plants are more vulnerable, and to be avoided while walking. Treasures such as sea glass and hag stones can be found, but driftwood and seaweed are home to microscopic life that feeds other creatures and are best left alone.

We were encouraged to pick up litter wherever we see it. We had a quiz, a jar of varied “treasures” to identify, which aroused much discussion, and was fun. The “trash” of plastic debris in all its forms, and the continuing problem of sewage and chemical pollution was the negative side of this subject, and one that affects us all.

It was an engaging, participatory evening, and one that gave us a practical insight to the highs and lows of beachcombing.
Our next talk is on Thursday, November 9th at 7.30pm, at the Southwold Arts Centre, IP 18 6JP. Tony Brown will be talking about the Broads and its Wildlife. Admission £4, to include refreshment. Under 25s free. All are welcome.

Penny Mansfield. Contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com

Voluntary Help Centre

Registered Charity No. 1164155

It could be you!  Whether you are joining us as a volunteer or needing help from a volunteer, the VHC welcomes you all.

The VHC has been in the community for over 30 years and needs volunteers to help with requests for transport as well as for the non-driving requests, such as the fortnightly Lunch Club.

Volunteering with the VHC does not commit anyone to a regular schedule.  All volunteers decide for themselves when and how often they wish to help out, making volunteering as flexible as they are.  Volunteer drivers also receive 45p per mile per journey undertaken.

In particular, volunteers are needed in Walberswick, Blythburgh, Wangford and Wrentham areas, to help meet journey requests from those villages.

So why not join the VHC and be a volunteer before you need a volunteer?

Come and talk to us at the Stella Peskett Millennium Hall and see how you can help, or phone us on (01502) 724549

Date for your dairy:  Saturday, 18th November, Christmas Fayre, Stella Peskett Millennium Hall, 12 noon – 4pm.  We’d love to see you!

Christmas Cards:  Our ever-popular Christmas cards will also be available to buy from November, so please call in or give us a call with your order request.

Free Talk by Ian Anderson, Author of “The History and Natural History of Spices”

Monday 16th October 11am

Ian Anderson, author of ‘The History and Natural History of Spices’ will be sure to inform and entertain.

Come along for free to delve into the botanical and historical world.

No need to book

Southwold Arts Centre & Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023) 12a (Comedy)

Wednesday 18th October 3.00pm

 Mad About The Boy: The Noel Coward Story (Documentary)

Wednesday 15th November 3.00pm

Oppenheimer (2023) 15 (Historical Drama)

Wednesday 6th December 3.00pm

Tickets – £5 including refreshment

Book a ticket at southwoldartscentre.co.uk or visit the box office Tel : 01502 722572

Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold. IP18 6JP

Friends of Southwold Library Quiz Night!

Saturday 21st October 7.00pm

Stella Peskett Millennium Hall

Teams of 4 – £3 per person.  Bring your own drinks & snacks.  Raffle

Book early to avoid disappointment, limited places.

Contact Southwold Library southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk or 01502 722519

Join us for an Indoor Beachcomb with Beach Bonkers plus Sea Themed Crafts

Tuesday 24^th October 3.00-5.00pm

Can you decipher the clues to find the treasures hidden in the mini-beach?  Have you ever held a mammoth’s tooth?! You can at the tableful of beachcombed treasures!  And there’s a giant beachcombing board game – will you look after the beach and make it to the end and become a successful beachcomber? 

This event is possible thanks to a grant from Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Sustainable Development Fund.

Terrific Train Fun! Trainmaster Suffolk

Wednesday 25^th October 12.30pm & 1.45pm

@ Reydon Village Hall

Miles of track and trains to play with plus ride on train and a train roller coaster!

£4 per child for 1 hour’s play!

Limited spaces.  Book your place today!

01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

Free Parrot Crafts for Kids

Thursday 26^th October 11am & 2pm

Make balancing parrots, pompom parrots, parrot gliders & more!

No need to book.

Southwold Literary Festival

Saturday 4^th & Sunday 5^th November @ Southwold Arts Centre

Inspired by the success of “Slaughter in Southwold” Southwold Library, Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Books have launched “Southwold Literary Festival” this November.

Tickets can be booked at Southwold Library, either in person, by phone 01502 722519 or by visiting  www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries or at Southwold Arts Centre, either in person, by phone 01502 722572 or by visiting  www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk.

Saturday 4th November
Rebecca Bishop: 10.00am
Heidi Swain: 11.30am
John Boyne: 2.00pm
Ben Aaronovitch: 4.00pm

Sunday 5th November
Geoffrey Munn: 10.00am
Kate Thompson: 11.30am
Esther Freud: 2.00pm
Louis de Bernières: 3.30pm

Friends of Southwold Library Coffee Morning

Saturday 25th November 10.00am – 12.00noon

Stella Peskett Millennium Hall

Hot drinks, mince pies or biscuits.

Cake Stall, Craft stall, Game stalls, & Raffle

All funds towards supporting Southwold Library

Erica James: Join Erica for afternoon tea at Reydon Village Hall

Sunday 26th November3.00pm

Erica James is the author of 24 bestselling novels, including “Gardens of Delight” which won the 2006 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and Sunday Times top ten bestsellers “Swallowtail Summer”, “Coming Home to Island House”, “Letters from the Past”, and “Mothers and Daughters”.

Erica will be talking about her writing including her latest title “A Secret Garden Affair”. Erica will be signing copies of her books.

Tickets are £6 including refreshments available from Southwold Library 01502 722519 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

Author Janet Gershlick talks about how and why she wrote her book “Southwold: A Place to Love” and an online book called ‘When The Sky Falls In’ (Janettalks.com)

Monday 27^th November 11.00am @ Southwold Library

Janet has lived in Southwold, Suffolk for over twenty years. She arrived at a time of her life when she was looking for both a change and new beginnings. When working as a radio presenter on Talk Radio UK she opened a map of the country looking for a place to live and with ‘help’ decided on Southwold. She visited for the weekend and twenty five years later…!!  Janet says: “When I first arrived in Southwold many years ago I knew I had found my place. I have loved it ever since and it has seen me through many life changes and events. I looked around and saw that many others had an immense love of Southwold.  The names of the beach huts and the inscriptions of loved ones on the benches and those tiny brass plaques on the pier. 

People wanting to share history, stories and memories. To leave behind a footprint. I knew then that I had to write to record and acknowledge the people and their stories”.

She will also talk about the rather strange incident that led her to Southwold, her need to write – her next project and her experiences when she wrote a performance piece that she took to Edinburgh Fringe.

Janet will be reading from both books and explaining the backstory of both books.  Signed copies of ‘Southwold: A Place To Love’ will be available to buy.

Free event, no booking required.

Realise Futures Walk-In Advice & Guidance

Every Thursday @ Southwold Library, 10-12noon

Do you have a Learning Disability/Autism?

Do you need some support, advice, or information?

Come along to one of our Walk-in Advice and Guidance sessions. There is no need to book an appointment. Our Advisors will talk to you about the support you need.

We can provide advice, guidance, and information on Housing, Employment, Benefits, Training, Money, Travel, Safety, Health, Bills/Letters & Social

Please contact: Anita Fiddy Service Locality Coordinator (East) Phone: 07598 582955  Email: anita.fiddy@realisefutures.org

Chess Club

Every Friday from 4.30pm @Southwold Library

Free play every week for kids 7+ & adults

Beginners’ teaching & assistance from Phil weeks 2 & 4

Free event, no booking required.

Mah-jong Group

Friday 10^th & 24^th November 2.15-4.15pm

2^nd & 4^th Friday of the month

Can you play mah-jong?

Do you want to learn?

Come along and join the group at Southwold Library. £1 per person

Crochet Club

Every Wednesday 2.15-4pm

£2 each.

A friendly group for all abilities of crocheter.  Barbara will be on hand to teach beginners, add to your crochet skills or troubleshoot problems.  Or just bring along your latest project and crochet together.

Bring your own equipment  or Barbara can supply at a price.

Refreshment break in The Canteen 

Blyth Poets “The isle is full of voices”

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library

Friday 3^rd November 2.15-3.30pm

First Friday of every month

All welcome to read or just listen.

We invite contributions of original work or well-loved poems.

Refreshment break in The Canteen

Free event, no booking required.

Scrabble Club

Thursday 16^th November:  Third Thursday of Every Month 2.15pm

All Equipment Supplied

Refreshment break in The Canteen

Free event, no booking required.

Lego Club!

Sundays 12.15-1.00pm

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages

This Autumn we’re building: Vast Vehicles

All donations of Lego welcome

Free event, no booking required.

Adults: Would you like to help with Lego Club?  Just ask staff

Southwold Library Reading Group

This month we are reading:

“A Secret Garden Affair” by Erica James

Thursday 30^th November 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

Pick up a book at Southwold Library

Free event, no booking required. 

01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Baby Bounce & Tot Rock Southwold Library

Every Sunday & Tuesday 10.30-11.00am. 

Instruments, clapping, jogging & action rhymes.

For babies & toddlers of all ages.

Free event, no booking required.