West Deben Cluster
Thanks for your enquiry
We really appreciate you reaching out to us. If you're ready to tell us a little bit more about yourself, please hop straight to here: [Enquiry Form]
Else, if you'd like a little more detail about who we are and what we're setting out to achieve, before you give us more, here it is:
Who We Are:
The West Deben Cluster Group is an environmental group that spans the 5 Parishes of; Brightwell, Hemley, Martlesham, Newbourne and Waldringfield. We comprise of a mix of Parish Councillors and non-affiliated volunteers that are passionate about nature and the environment. The Group are responsible for instigating the '5 Parishes Nature Recovery Project' and the we're using the Greener Waldringfield website as a platform.
The Issue:
Since the Environment act, 2021, all councils are required to have a Biodiversity Policy. Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) implement these policies identifying ways to preserve, enhance and promote biodiversity in a given area. In Suffolk we already have both national and county BAPs in place, BUT these lack local detail as the mapping is on a large scale. The work needs to be brought down to a local practical level for action.
The reasons could not be clearer:
There's a loss of biodiversity that threatens us and our wildlife. The relentless urban expansion we are experiencing is impacting our natural landscapes, fragmenting habitats and inevitably disturbing the wildlife. Simply put we need to make more space for nature and ourselves to thrive!
We have many areas of significance:
- Rivers, streams, ponds, and estuary
- Farmland, field boundaries, footpaths
- Open grassland and grassed verges
- Woodland, coppice and mature trees
- Marsh or wet ground that floods
- Roadside corridors, hedgerows, gardens
- Areas with dark night skies
These all have significant potential as special habitats or act as corridors for threatened species
What We Plan To Do About It:
✦ Identify opportunities to improve habitats and help wildlife to recover by surveying sensitive sites and researching areas that have the most urgent need to be improved
✦ Become wildlife or environment champions in our area, making the public and authorities more aware of issues and opportunities
✦ Organise groups to make it happen. There will be sub-projects instigated throughout the 5 Parishes with work-groups improving habits and restoring natural areas to their rightful condition
✦ Extend the work to interleave with other organisations. We will network to ensure that all work is maximised by being cognisant of other initiatives that can form natural corridors and green veins.
How You Can Help:
✦ Garden for Wildlife
✦ Plants trees and native hedges
✦ Build or rejuvenate a pond
✦ Increase wildlife habitats
✦ Take part in surveys
✦ Extend existing wildlife corridors
✦ Start a neighbourhood group
✦ Learn more about local species
First and foremost we hope that you will [engage with us] so we can understand how best we can work together.
FIND OUT MORE: (links)
Local nature recovery strategy
Suffolk action plan
Suffolk wildlife trust
Coast & heaths national landscape