SUFFOLK SURVEYS UPDATE

New:
SWT Suffolk ‘Tiddlers’ Survey

Arthur Patterson writing in 1909 described the familiar sight of groups of children rambling hopefully towards the marshes armed with nets and bottles to hold their catches of small fish. ‘Tiddling’, as it is often called, continues to be a popular activity with children of all ages.

Sadly, ‘tiddlers’ such as minnow and bullhead are becoming more uncommon as they are only found in clean rivers with good habitat.

Children are invited to find out more about Suffolk’s rivers and streams and where ‘tiddlers’ can be found by taking part in a countywide survey run by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

With generous financial help from the Environment Agency the SWT has produced a very attractive, illustrated leaflet. It contains a riverbank safety code, instructions on how to make a ‘tiddler’ net and outline descriptions of stickleback, stone loach, bullhead and minnow. There are tick boxes to record the type of riverbank, the plants and the condition of the water.

Find out more from Dorothy Casey at Suffolk Wildlife Trust HQ, tel 01473 890089, or on their website www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/suffolk

(There is not an upper age limit, and Dorothy is keen for this survey to succeed, so all SNS members are encouraged to join in!).

New:
Records of Wood Ants’ nest please

David Nash (beetle recorder) and Adrian Knowles (Hymenoptera recorder) would be interested to receive any records for Wood Ant nests from members.

Ongoing surveys

There are many surveys currently taking place in Suffolk. A list of those that SNS members can take part in is given below. Please contact the relevant Organiser if you would like more information.

Mammals–for the forthcoming atlas

On-going survey, contact Simone Bullion

01473 890089 or

Plants – for the forthcoming atlas

On-going survey, contact Martin Sanford

01473 433547

Wetland birds (WeBS )
Breeding bird survey &
Breeding woodlarks, Sandlings

On-going surveys, contact Mick Wright

annual monitoring

Aquatic invertebrates

On-going survey, contact Adrian Chalkley

Stag beetles

On-going survey, contact Colin Hawes

Hedgerows (trees and shrubs)

On-going survey, contact Guy Ackers

Phenology

On-going survey, contact Woodland Trust

0800 026 9650 or phenology@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Dormice in hedgerows