All ready for the weekend!

More completed tasks by the fantastic volunteers!

Our new disabled access picnic bench in a shady spot near the car park

One of our two new barbeque pits in the main car park

Hopefully many of you will be enjoying these new facilities this long bank holiday weekend along with an ice cream and a cool off in the river! 

Don't forget to pop into our family drop-in afternoon on Sunday 3rd June 2-4pm. This is a great information point to find out more about Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Knettishall Heath, as well as getting all ages involved in the themed actvities this week; of course it's Jubilee Natural Art! 

http://www.facebook.com/events/376027632453892/

Current work on the reserve!

As has previously been mentioned the first year management plan for the Heath involves very little practical habitat work until we get to know the species that reside here in all the seasons. However if you have visited the reserve this week in the glorious weather you may have noticed a work party beavering away around the site! This is Suffolk Wildlife Trusts mid-week volunteer team carrying out a great diversity of small but important jobs for us to get the site ready for the summer hordes!

Jobs have included; tidying up the trails and car park fencing, tidying up the toilet block and car park paths, litter picking the river and rest of the site, and sorting out the picnic benches in the main car park. The sharp eyed amongst you may have noticed that we have moved a bench nearer to the river pool in a shady spot, installed a disabled bench under the trees by the main car park and are in the process of digging some barbeque pitts. It is hoped that these will be used by those having disposable barbeques instead of placing them on the grass or benches and burning them by accident!

As the work continues Knettishall Heath will be looking to start up it's own volunteer work party towards the end of this year ready for the winter. I have already had some fantastic interest from local people wanting to help out who have already lent their hand for odd jobs. Work will include tidying up the site and surveying wildlife throughout the summer months, whilst long term winter work will be more habitat focused. The work parties are great fun and a great way to get outside in the fresh air for the day and meet new people. If you are interested then please don't hesitate to contact myself by phone or email through the details below.
samantha.gay@suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Samantha Gay Mob; 07717 156601

Discoveries of a sunny weekend at the Heath

A break in the rain this weekend enticed some exciting Spring/Summer wildlife out as well as lots of visitors to come and look for them whilst simply enjoying the sun! A guided walk on Saturday with some keen eyed conservation volunteers helped us to discover an array of wild flowers and invertebrates, many of which were late to be discovered this year. Species of Speedwell (right), Vetch and Violets are starting to flourish well, and with this our first year getting to know the site, who knows what else will pop up!

Visiting conservation volunteers identifying wild flowers

The sun also enticed out my first sighting of a Small Copper Butterfly at the Heath (pictured below). other species spotted include; Brimstone, Small White, Red Admiral, Orange Tip and Speckled Wood butterflies.

Cuckoos were calling all weekend across the site and other spots include two Curlew, many Skylark, Sedge Warblers singing along the Little Ouse, Slow Worms and Common Lizard basking in the sun as well as the ever charismatic Hare. Please don't hesitate to let me know of any other sightings during your visits to Knettishall Heath!

Welcome to Knettishall Heaths blog spot!

Hi everybody and welcome to the first Rangers blog for Knettishall Heath, by me, Samantha Gay, the People and Wildlife Ranger for the Heath.

Thanks to the overwhelming support of Trust members and local people, Suffolk Wildlife Trust are now the proud custodians of our largest nature reserve, and what a reserve it is! Knettishall Heath sits at the Northern edge of the county and is one of Suffolk's largest surviving areas of Breckland Heath.Very few places are this special; its importance for wildlife is reflected in the fact that much of Knettishall Heath's 434 acres of extremely diverse habitat are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. While ancient historical features dotted around the site, along with the Little Ouse meandering across the Northern boundary help provide an interest for everybody!

Hut Hill the Bronze Age round barrow

The Little Ouse pool in the main car park

Our initial plans for the heath involve simply learning about it's treasures and the people that visit it through a number of wildlife and visitor surveys and an array of community involvement actvities.

Throughout this blog I will provide regular updates on the reserves wildlife, livestock and volunteer opportunities. As well as advertising and documenting events and activities for all ages, how to use the site to your greatest enjoyment and how else to get in touch and involved!