Coppicing - a 'cut' above the rest

Felixstowe based illustrator and printmaker Clare Curtis is supporting the Trust throught the donation and sales of of her lithograph named 'Coppicing'. The image, which has turned into one of the most popular Christmas card designs in the Trusts 2012 range was on sale at a recent open day at Clare's house. As well as selling her prints, Clare also displayed packs of cards for the Trust and raised a fantastic £120. Thanks Clare.

UK's No.1 utility company support Suffolk's dormice

UK Power Networks, Platinum member of the Trust's Investor in wildlife scheme was named Utility of the Year in a double win at a glittering event last week.

The company beat strong competition to win both the prestigious Utility of the Year title and Team of the Year, at the Utility Industry Achievement Awards. 

UK Power Networks was a triple finalist at the awards, having been shortlisted for the Environment category in recognition of its unique partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and other Wildlife Trusts in the South Eastern region as well.

Two weeks before the black tie function in London, UK Power networks staff were out in the Suffolk countryside in their coats and wellies supporting dormice conservation. The hedgerows planted by the team will link up ancient woodlands in the south of the county enabling dormice to radiate out from their stronghold of Bradfield Woods National Nature Reserve.

Box on a tube!

A barn owl box to be precise. Bob, as he affectionately became to be known throughout the day, was chapperoned down to London last week for the annual International Carillion S-Factor awards ceremony where the partnership between Suffolk Highways Partnership and the Trust  was being put forward in the biodiversity category.
We came runners up to a project in Dubai. I was pretty disappointed but not as much as Bob, so i promised to take a couple more photos of him by way of remembering his trip out of the county.

Who knows, he might have even been the first ever barn owl box to hit the capital's central district. We certainly had a few enquiries and thousands of quizzical looks.

NB no barn owl boxes were harmed in the making of this blog feature.

Grown by the Trust, Made by the Forge

Made by the Forge was founded in 2006 by blacksmith Richard Fishenden and his wife, Juliet.

Richard made a decision right at the start of the business to plant a tree in Suffolk for every product sold. Every year he plants native suffolk hedgerow but this year 2012 Richard contacted the Suffolk Wildlife Trust to see if they had an area he could help with. After learning that they are planning to plant 1000m of hedge to reconnect key areas of habitat for the dormouse he decided to donate all the money to help buy the hedge trees for this project.

The photograph is of Richard with Molly and Swift and some of the hedge row trees he planted Spring 2012.

 

Richard has developed a contemporary range of wrought iron kitchen wear and designed curtain poles and towel rails for the home. Recently they have added other home products handmade by local craftspeople in Suffolk to their website www.madebytheforge.co.uk.

 

Many thanks for your support.

Notcutts joins the Trust

Notcutts recently joined Suffolk Wildlife Trust as an 'Investor in Wildlife'  bronze member. The family owned group of individual garden centres have been supporting Snakes head fritillaries at Fox Fritillary Meadow nature reserve over a number of years and decided to demonstrate their commitment as a member in 2012. I look forward to developing a relationship with their staff during 2013 and onwards. Welcome Notcutts.