Normally, there is not much to see at 4pm on a South Suffolk Sunday in early January but last weekend was an exception. In the dusk sky over the road running past Melford Hall in Long Melford a wonderful wildlife…

Last month’s news referred to the fact that the ‘retired’ Ranger was still undertaking some work out on the riverside. The interesting point is that it puts ‘him’ right back in touch with the wildlife out there instead of just…

“All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey, I’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day.” As the cold weather closes in, you might be excused for dreamin’ about California or other warm climes. But, for me,…

Nowadays most of us live our lives very much divorced from nature. We work in offices, schools, hospitals, factories and shops and we drive to and from work so there is no connection with the environment that surrounds us. I…

Wherever you look, wildlife is under threat from human activity and many animal species are experiencing deeply concerning declines in numbers. There are, however, a few exceptions. One such outlier is the cormorant, a bird at home on the water;…

Now that the cattle are leaving the summer pastures for their winter quarters, management thoughts turn to other matters. However, it is worth taking a look at the minute book to see what was happening in terms of grazing one…

Much maligned, ivy is, in fact, a wonderful source of food and shelter for many species, including the stunning ivy bee – a relative newcomer to these shores. We sing about ivy at Christmas (The holly the ivy/When they are…

At this time of year trees and shrubs can provide spectacular displays of autumn colour. This occurs as deciduous trees shut down their systems ahead of the dormant period through the cold and wet of winter. Conifers, however, have adapted…

Why use the term flock when there are so many wonderful historic terms to describe gatherings of bird species? During these quiet, sultry days of late summer there tends to be a lull in bird activity. The song and matchmaking…

Whilst the days may still be sunny and warm, the evenings are shortening noticeably, and fleeting summer is already drawing to a close, and along with it another grazing season, will be coming to an end next month. Grazing holds…