Biodiversity in Babergh has been boosted by the creation of a new wildlife habitat – and now everyone in the district has the chance to ensure its continued success.
Spouse’s Vale, at Assington, near Sudbury, is a 74-acre stretch of land - bought and nurtured by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, with help from Babergh District Council.
Babergh’s support helped secure an area of the Vale called Hulback’s Grove in 2004 – and since then the Trust has worked to encourage its wildlife.
On Sunday, February 25, people from across the district will plant a range of trees to further enhance the landscape, and promote nature and conservation.
The event will mean the Grove, 42 acres of land which had previously been used for arable farming, is another step closer to its original state. Babergh’s contribution has enabled the Trust to install fencing to help wildlife thrive. It will keep deer and rabbits away from the young seedlings - and allow the trees to grow.
Peter Berry, Babergh’s Countryside Officer, said: “We were delighted to help Suffolk Wildlife Trust with this project. Reclaiming areas of land from agriculture and using them for biodiversity purposes is becoming more common now.
“Spouse’s Vale is going to be very important for wildlife. We are creating woodland – in the way that it was many years ago. We have lost a lot of habitats across the spectrum – woodland, meadows, and heathland - over the last 50 years, and this is a chance to put a little of that back.
“The trees to be planted on Sunday are native indigenous species such as oak, ash and wild cherry. We think this will be a fun – and informative – day out for the whole family.”
Spouse’s Vale is named after Misses Edith and Frances Vale, two sisters from Whatfield who generously bought the area, originally 32 acres, for the Trust in 1991 and 1997. It is now home to many species, including various butterflies, the common lizard and the grass snake.
But its most treasured resident is the dormouse. Its prevalence in Babergh, as across the UK as a whole, has declined over the last century – mainly due to the loss of its hedgerow habitat, which is gradually being re-planted.
Dormice are protected by law - and Babergh residents can do their bit to help by sponsoring an area of the new woodland. From February onwards is a great time to visit the site. Spring sees the blossoming of hundreds of bluebells - providing a stunning backdrop to the sound of the nightingale and other birds.
Sunday’s tree-planting event will also include ‘tree dressing’. Appropriately for the month of Valentine’s Day, the subject will be ‘hearts’ and will involve local children decorating an oak tree with hearts and fir-cones.
Kerry Stranix, Wildlife Project Co-ordinator at Suffolk Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s important that we make reserves like this open to the public and we hope this event will encourage more people to take an interest in their surroundings, supporting their natural regeneration. We are grateful to Babergh for its support with the project.”
The tree planting takes place from 11am to 1pm on Sunday, February 25. Entry is free and everyone is welcome. For more details on the day, or how to sponsor an area of the new woodland, call the Suffolk Wildlife Trust on 01473 890089 or visit www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk ends
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