Project summary:
The aims of this partnership project are to increase biodiversity and extend access and information opportunities on the Local Nature Reserves within Ipswich and the Gipping Valley.

The main objectives are:

1. To ensure all LNRs in Ipswich and the Gipping Valley are managed in a co-ordinated and environmentally sustainable manner.
2. To improve and extend opportunities for local communities to access their LNR.
3. To increase the level and quality of interpretation on the LNRs and promote them through the development and distribution of interpretive media.
4. To involve local communities in practical activities aimed at improving the biodiversity of the LNRs.
5. To develop links with schools and other educational establishments and where appropriate develop site-specific educational material.

The Community Liaison Officer will further these objectives by undertaking the following initiatives:

• Producing colourful new site leaflets, project newsletters and information boards
• improving habitats for key species including otters
• providing facilities for disabled access
• undertaking physical improvements to paths and trails
• setting up local management fora for full involvement of the local community in the management of their Local Nature Reserves.

Fen Alder Carr - Fen Alder Carr is predominately Alder Carr woodland covering 1.79 ha. Most of the woodland is, or has been under a system of coppice management. The prominent features on site include a rough grass meadow (relatively rich in flora); an area of fen wetland, a pond and a network of defunct ditches crossing the reserve. A boardwalk runs throughout the site. Fen Alder Carr offers a range of habitats for wildlife including bats and rooks. Otter signs have been noted and Water Voles and Yellow-necked Mice have been recorded using the site. The pond and the associated wetland areas offers good habitat for species including Soldier Fly, Snails, Smooth Newt, Slow Worm and Common Frog.

Needham Lake - Needham Lake LNR covers 6.19 ha in the floodplain of the River Gipping, on the southern edge of Needham Market. Three distinct areas make up this Local Nature Reserve, which forms part of a large complex of recreation land owned and managed by the Mid Suffolk District Council.

The first is the northern end of an artificial lake, an established example of landscaped restoration from former sand and gravel extraction pits. Eight ‘wildlife’ islands in this area have developed into a low-maintenance haven for aquatic, marsh and scrub-dwelling organisms.

The second area is a large tall-herb grassland that is being restored by traditional grazing and mowing techniques to its former herb-rich condition.

King’s Meadow, the third area, has been developed as a ‘microcosm’ of floodplain habitats, offering a stand of willows, small ponds and floodplain vegetation.

The proximity to the town, extensive car-parking, toilet facilities and wardening, make the LNR and important educational and recreation resource for a wide catchment.

Rede Wood - Rede Wood is a fairly typical small semi-natural boulder clay woodland consisting of pendunculate oak, ash, some field maple, with a hazel dominated coppiced under-wood. It lies in the south-east corner of the parish of Barham, on a gently undulating and dissected landscape. It is a County Wildlife Site, but has not been afforded statutory protection. The wood is owned by the Suffolk County Council. It is an integral component of the Claydon Estate.

The site possesses an interesting and important flora, largely connected with the coppice-with-standards system. This includes 38 species that are believed indicative of ancient woodland. 30 species listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan utilise the site: mainly species of bird and mammals.

The Gipping Valley Countryside Project manages conservation and public access for the site.

Bramford Meadows - Bramford Meadows is predominantly comprised of low-lying river valley grassland and scrub divided into two meadows. In total the meadows cover an area of 15.29 ha with the northern meadows (8.23 ha) being designated as Local Nature Reserve. The meadows form a linear strip along the eastern bank of the River Gipping, forming a ‘green wedge’ between Ipswich and Bramford. The Gipping Valley River Path, one of the most popular longer distance paths in Suffolk runs adjacent to the river throughout the site. The meadows are crossed with wet ditches including the original course of the river. Bramford Meadows are well used for dog walking and fishing. The grasslands and adjacent ditches provide habitats for various invertebrates including Slender Ground Hopper, Great Green Bush Cricket and Brown Argus. Riverbank and ditch vegetation is of local interest and includes Flowering Rush, which is a county rarity. Various bird species have been noted on site including Sedge and Reed Warblers.

Alderman Canal - Originally part of the River Gipping, it was canalised in the 19th century and is now isolated from the main flow, forming a linear wetland within Alderman Park. The site contains two water bodies, the main canal and a return ditch at a lower level, which opens into reed bed. Included within the LNR is a tall herb grassland south of the canal and adjoining the amenity grass. The site is close to the town centre and is a fishing area with disabled access as well as a well-used pedestrian through-route. With the development of the river corridor the LNR site will have an increase in visitor numbers. Stretches of the canal are shaded by trees, whilst others remain open with marginal and swamp vegetation. A number of locally rare wetland species occur, and the site is excellent for birds including the spotted flycatcher, kingfishers and reed bunting.

Stoke Park Wood - Also known as Fishpond Covert, the site was once part of the Stoke Park estate, and the remnants of the Victorian drainage and specimen tree planting remain.

It is a mixed woodland with mature oak, ash and sycamore with an under-storey of hazel coppice, bramble and elder. It is dense in parts with a number of glades including one dominated with bracken, whilst the wetter areas have less ground cover. Recent management work has reduced the dominance of laurel (originally planted for game cover). The presence of a number of scarce ancient woodland indicator plants suggests that parts of the wood are of considerable antiquity and may date back to medieval times.

Ashground Plantation - Ashground Plantation is an area of predominantly wet woodland following the floodplain of the brook, upstream from the Bourne Reed Bed LNR. There is a gradual transition from the reed bed through willow scrub to woodland, with the wet meadows furthest upstream. To the north of the woodland at its eastern end by Stoke Park Drive and Whitland Close there is an area of regularly mown amenity grassland with a rough grass and scrub strip adjacent to the wood. The wet meadows known as Bobbits Lane marsh are flood meadows, which have been relatively unmanaged in recent years. Annual mowing and removal of cuttings has taken place in the last two years on the drier areas. New paths have been established to link areas of population to the Belstead Brook Park and the other neighbouring LNRs.

Bourne Park Reed Beds - Bourne Reed bed is 7.5 hectares of reed bed and tall herb fen with patches of scrub woodland running alongside the northern bank of Belstead Brook. Reeds are divided into three main sections with rudimentary angled pipe/bund water control installed 10 years ago. it is part of a larger flood plain habitat, which includes the Alder Carr and wet meadows upstream. One of the largest remaining reed beds in Southern Suffolk, and part of The Belstead Brook Park. The site has been used for many years as a station for bird ringing by Suffolk Ornithology Group. In recent years water levels along the whole lower Belstead Brook valley have risen.

Spring Wood - An ancient woodland dominated by oak with hazel under-storey. Some sections are coppiced although there are few large stools. The wood contains a number of overstood lime and hornbeam with a good field/shrub/canopy structure (except in hornbeam areas) with a few open glades as a result of coppicing. The most active coppice management is carried out under overhead pylons. The Spring Wood Volunteers have regular monthly work parties in the wood involving more and more local residents.

A drainage ditch/stream runs north through the centre of the site, with a perimeter path and smaller interconnecting pathways giving access to most of the site.

Recent developments have been the planting of new areas on the edges of the wood, and also areas fenced for natural regeneration.

The adjacent Thorington Hall development will inevitably lead to a considerable increase in visitor numbers with the associated problems of dog fouling, litter and path erosion problems.