Wilder Wenhaston

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Wilder Wenhaston is a network of village residents and organisations who have joined forces to help local nature recovery and improve our neighbourhood’s natural environment.

During the Covid pandemic several villagers carried out surveys of the local flora and fauna. As well as recording over 100 bird species they recorded a wide range of other wildlife seen within the parish boundary. It highlighted how many species were missing: no records of frog or toad spawn and hedgehogs were confined to just a few locations. Climate change, urbanisation, pollution and intensive agriculture has caused a 41% decline in all UK species since the 1970s with a real risk of some species becoming extinct in the very near future. Restoring nature in the near future is challenging and conservation charities cannot make change on their own; it is down to every one of us to play our part.

Wilder Wenhaston wants to help everyone do their bit for local nature. It’s proven that a healthy countryside creates a healthy population, reducing stress and mental illness, so it’s in everyone’s interest to take part.

Since it was started, Wilder Wenhaston has completed a heritage tree survey that has recorded all significant trees in the parish whether by age, species, or their place in the local landscape. All the records are held in the Suffolk Biological Information Service (SBIS) which means they should be flagged up if they are threatened by development. The survey was carried out by villagers following a one‑day training session.

Wilder Wenhaston has also been involved in the planting of over 20,000 trees over an area of 10 hectares to greatly increase the local hedgerows and woodland coverage.

A current major project is an assessment of the two rivers in the Parish – the River Blyth and the Thorington Beck. This includes long‑term sampling of the water quality and has already resulted in pushing Anglia Water to activate their phosphate scrubber at Halesworth Sewage Works.

Following a fantastic Open Garden event, we continue to encourage gardening for wildlife. We have also planted over 500 bulbs and other wildflowers around the village.

We are also working with the Parish Council to reduce light pollution and the impact of street lighting on wildlife.

In the future we will be surveying, mapping and restoring ponds and hedgerows.

Click on the links below to find out more about each project

The more of us taking part the more successful we can be. If you would like to be part of any of the projects, or have ideas to share, please contact us at wilderwenhaston@gmail.com.