Shortly we will witness the return of grazing livestock for the new season and thus continue the very ancient tradition of summer grazing on the riverside. The cattle are absolutely crucial to the management of the Sudbury Common Lands pastures…

The first day of March is apparently supposed to mark the first day of spring. This may be the case for those who like to neatly categorise the passing days and months into an orderly manner. Nature, however, works to…

Following on from the incredibly mild conditions that prevailed until the very last day of 2015, winter is now firmly in the driving seat. Wet and cold conditions are to be expected but those on our television screens were terrible…

Last autumn stretched well into December with many trees and hedgerows holding their coloured leaves long after they would normally have fallen. This coupled with record breaking warm days has certainly made this winter shorter even if there is severe…

The end of July proved to be disappointingly cool and very wet for those wishing to get outside but the rain was much needed and has done wonders for reviving the grass for the cattle. With the annual thistle topping…

As the mercury soars through the summer months the riverside really ‘fills up’ with people intent on enjoying the fine weather. So for a few weeks there is a considerable amount of extra activity and plenty of rubbish but come…

Over the past few weeks the riverside pastures have looked absolutely stunning by any stretch of the imagination. The Devon cattle returned from their winter quarters to graze on the lush grass among the swathes of golden buttercups all set…

The cattle returned to the pastures on 1st May following the pomp and procession of the Turning On ceremony. This celebration serves as a reminder of the inalienable links between the town and the Sudbury Common Lands where, historically, Freeman…

With spring well on the way now is the time to think about getting out and enjoying the riverside. There is so much to see in terms of wildlife and scenery from the regal swans on the river to the…

The Sudbury Common Lands Charity was set up in 1897 and for ninety years the lands were managed with profit from grazing income in mind. In 1987, however, the Trustees took the decision to move to a new policy of…