The Suffolk Coast and Heaths
Lifescapes Project

The Lifescapes initiative seeks to bring about the changes that will increase the variety and abundance of wildlife (biodiversity) throughout the countryside of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Natural Area* in a truly sustainable way.

All of our lives are intrinsically linked to the natural world - the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. We also depend on its life-enhancing qualities. Our lives would be less enjoyable and less healthy without the open spaces that we use for our recreation. Our economy would not be able to function without the great wealth of natural resources and the services that natural systems provide, such as water purification, flood defence and moderation of the climate. Used wisely, our natural resources could support many future generations of people and wildlife.

By considering all the elements that contribute towards the landscape, (i.e. the area's economy, social structure, geography, culture, history, climate and ecology) Lifescapes aims to direct the long-term use of the area so that its biodiversity is enhanced in a sustainable way for future generations

The Suffolk Coast and Heaths Natural Area is characterised by the light, sandy soils that are used for arable farmland, forestry or have remnants of the formerly extensive heathland; the estuaries and the unspoilt, dynamic coastline. It includes the coast from the Stour estuary at its southernmost point and stretches almost as far as Great Yarmouth in the north. The inland boundary roughly follows the line of the A12 trunk road and includes the eastern half of Ipswich.

We are fortunate that the Suffolk Coast and Heaths still has a considerable wealth of important wildlife habitats. Nonetheless, there are often large distances between the most valuable sites. Some species, such as the silver-studded blue butterfly and the natterjack toad are doubly vulnerable, as not only do they have very particular habitat requirements but they are also unable to move large distances between suitable sites. They currently exist as fragmented and vulnerable populations on isolated nature reserves. Sea level rise and coastal erosion are exacerbating the situation further, with changes due to increasing salinity of freshwater habitats and losses of important coastal habitats to the sea. Additionally, there are many formerly common and widespread species that have declined dramatically in the countryside outside of nature reserves.

The best wildlife habitats have taken many decades to develop and cannot be quickly or easily replicated. Whilst nature reserves and other special sites are immensely valuable, the wider countryside is equally important and has the potential to be the home to a much richer diversity of plants and animals. This could be achieved by encouraging wildlife friendly areas that will provide buffers and corridors between the special places and re-create habitats where more robust and common species can live and thrive.

The Project will consider the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Natural Area as a whole. A series of maps will be produced that identify the most appropriate locations within the Natural Area to link, expand or buffer the most important wildlife sites or enhance the farmed environment.

There is a long history of countryside bodies working well together here, and Lifescapes will build on this. We will work with local people and interest groups to identify where biodiversity choices can fit alongside other socio-economic priorities to bring about changes to the countryside that benefit both wildlife and people. We recognise that we cannot build countryside rich in wildlife without the involvement and support of the people who live and work there.

We need to plan and act now to find ways of helping wildlife that has become confined to isolated pockets of suitable countryside to expand in range and increase in numbers so that wildlife becomes an integral part of a thriving, prosperous countryside. In summary, Lifescapes will:
    Encourage wildlife friendly land-use throughout the Suffolk Coast and Heaths area and identify areas that could provide the best opportunities to link, expand or buffer existing nature reserves and other special sites.
    Examine the key socio-economic factors such as tourism, agriculture and forestry, which shape the countryside and impact on biodiversity; and equally look at how the wildlife rich countryside of the Suffolk Coast brings benefits to the local quality of life and economy.
    Identify where local people's interests - social and economic - provide opportunities or constraints to delivering a wildlife friendly countryside; building on the mutual benefits, and trying to find ways of reducing the conflicts. This will include holding workshops and seminars to improve dialogue between local interest groups, disseminate information and help arrive at solutions to sometimes difficult problems.
    Improve access to environmental and heritage data by supporting the Suffolk Biological Records Centre.

The website can be found at
            www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org

For more information visit the website or contact:

            Brenda Williamson (Suffolk Coast and Heaths)
            01502 676178
            e-mail brenda.williamson@english-nature.org.uk

            Stephen Preston (National co-ordinator)
            01733 455418
            stephen.preston@english-nature.org.uk

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