August Improvements:
Thanks for everyone’s patience whilst work was completed on the Southwold Road car park and the installation of new platforms on the lake. We are very pleased to say that all work is now complete. Local firm Collyers have done a great job levelling and making the car park very nice and smart. A lovely father and son team (Sweepwise Ltd) have been working hard over the last few days installing new platforms around the lake. There are 8x 1.2m platforms and 2x 3.6m platforms.All platforms have been handmade by the company in wood effect recycled plastic (composite). They have great anti-slip properties and don’t require maintenance. They also have good longevity.We do have some bank levelling work to complete in some parts where the platforms join the bank.The larger platforms will be multipurpose and as well as disabled access will be used for pond dipping etc.
Hymenoptera Survey of the Pits
Our Community Ownership Funding included a baseline ecological study of the Pits, something various experts recommended to us. For
example the Millennium Green did a survey 20 years ago, and are
currently redoing this survey now, to observe the changes over 20 years.
A survey is also useful as evidence for funding applications.
Because
we already had a rich history of surveys of flora and birds, we have
opted for a much more specific survey of Hymenoptera (a large order of
insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants) because the
sandy cliff and open sandy areas are the perfect habitats for many
species of wasps and bees, including some rare ones already identified
by Hawk Honey.
Adrian Knowles, the Suffolk recorder for
Hymenoptera works independently for Wildlife trusts and businesses
undertaking surveys, went around with Marion.
We have agreed for him to do 3 full days of surveying, and we will of course be sharing these findings.
Adrian's report findings can be found by clicking here: click to read
The story of Adrian's initial walk around the pits in May can be found here.
Information Boards
The new noticeboard in the Pits was generously paid for by a generous local resident. It was made by local Holton
joinery manufacturers, C.W. Ellis, treated with a natural wood
preservative and installed near the lake. It's purpose is
for notices and news for people to see as they walk around.
We
are currently working on two 'Interpretation Boards' one for the
Southwold Road entrance, and one for near the north cliff, the SSSI
area. Thanks to a number of local people for their help with the writing
and information. We are currently looking for illustrators and images
to go with the text on the boards. These interpretation boards have been
budgeted for in our COF (Community Ownership Fund) Revenue Funding. We
hope to have them complete by September this year.
Our thanks to talented local film-maker, Johnny Thompson for making this video and sharing IT with us...
Ownership & credit for this video belongs to Johnny Thompson
