November proved to be a month of two halves with lovely warm days for the first two weeks. Sunny days highlighted the turning foliage of the trees in all their glorious autumn yellows and russets. On the Valley Trail this…

It seems incredible that only a few weeks of the current grazing season remain before all the cattle are removed from the riverside, their conservation grazing work done for another year. This year the grass continued to grow and provide…

This month sees the start of the cutting and clearance of various flower-rich grasslands where timing has to take account of seed ripening. The cool and wet conditions through the second half of August did nothing to help ripen seeds…

Although we are continuing to make the most of summer, the wheeling screaming swifts are already departing having completed their breeding programme. They are heading south, leaving something of a gap in our summer skies. Martins and swallows, however, will…

The Sudbury Common Lands Charity is now into its third year of management of the Valley Trail as far as the lane to Borley Hall and Mill. The management provides an opportunity to improve access for walkers, cyclists (preferably with…

What a very fine time of year it is to be out in the English countryside and particularly on Sudbury’s beautiful riverside. All growth is young, lush and fresh; the pastures spangled with buttercups and on the river, here and…

March saw a sudden and dramatic improvement in weather conditions as the jet stream moved away north to its more usual position. Some very unseasonal and pleasant sunny spells helped to start drying out the riverside pastures which enabled access…

In spite of weather events over the past few months Sudbury can consider itself extremely fortunate. Suffolk as a whole escaped the very worst of the deluges that conspired to bring misery to so many people in southern England although…

The Mute Swan is the most spectacular example of bird life on the Sudbury riverside and, in particular, on the Sudbury Common Lands. Whether flying overhead with ponderous wing-beats or ‘gliding’ serenely on the river, they are a wonderful asset…

Another year and yet another packed programme of management to ensure that all is ready for the forthcoming grazing season. This month sees the usual annual trim to the Melford Road hedge, the replacement of fencing where posts are old…