News
Are you interested in taking part in a Suffolk bat survey?The surveys involve installing static/remote detectors at a fixed location in your garden or local space for up to a week. Bats passing in the vicinity of the microphone will be recorded from sunset to sunrise for the duration of the survey. Recorded bat calls are analysed using the BTO acoustic pipeline, followed by manual verification of the species. Vocalisations of any other small mammal species detected (shrews, mice, voles) will also be identified. The results will be sent to you and SBIS. The surveys aim to gather bat data from locations that might otherwise be under-recorded to increase the distribution data for bats in the county. For more information, contact Huma Pearce, [email protected] |
Spot a hog!Spot a Hog is a citizen science study that aims to test the potential of using data obtained from privately owned camera traps for monitoring hedgehogs and estimating their density. It will be using a novel method that requires a calibration step, for the study team to be able to extract the metrics necessary for the population size modeling. The West European Hedgehog is a species of conservation concern in the UK, as its population has been undergoing a historic decline. To identify the reasons for, and the extent of, this decline data from across the country is needed. Camera traps, or trail cameras, are widely applied in wildlife monitoring. Some amazing initiatives, such as the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, uses camera traps to estimate the density of various species. However, camera traps are also increasingly used by private users to observe wildlife in their gardens. This data holds great potential for monitoring urban species, as it can provide information on multiple species in a habitat often not represented in scientific studies. This is also an especially important habitat for hedgehogs, as currently they are more frequently observed in urban than in rural areas. The novel method used in this study requires some additional steps to work out how animals move in front of the camera, and that’s where you come in! The study welcomes anyone who already has a camera trap (or will get one before the start of the survey) in May 2025. You will need to set up your camera according to a protocol available on the website, calibrate the camera following the instructions, and leave it on for a maximum of 1 month. After this, you will need to upload the images to a designated project on MammalWeb. The images will then be available to the public for spotting (i.e. classifying images by species) and the results will be analysed by the project team. Further information can be found on the Spot a Hog website as well as how to sign up. You can also download an information sheet. |
£30,000 Synthesis Grants open nowThe British Ecological Society (BES) has announced its Synthesis Grants programme, offering up to £30,000 over two years for groups of 8-15 participants. This grant aims to support interdisciplinary teams in analysing existing data and generating new insights into ecological research. The programme encourages collaboration across universities, research institutes, NGOs, industry, and government departments, with a focus on fostering diverse groups that include international participation and at least 30% of members from the Global South. The grants are designed to support travel, subsistence, facility hire, and computing costs associated with synthesis group activities. Applicants can apply for the Synthesis Grants through the BES online grants system. The grant is open to BES members as the main applicant, although not all group members need to be BES members. The purpose of the grant is to promote synthesis as a growing scientific research method, where scientists generate new knowledge from existing data using a hypothesis and question-led approach. The grant operates on a biannual cycle, with two funding rounds each year. For 2025, the first-round closes on the 10th March 2025, while the second round opens on the 12th June and closes on the 8th September 2025. https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/synthesis-grants/ |
Time to Celebrate!This week we are celebrating the work of our fantastic search team, who have already delivered over half a million records to ecological consultants this financial year 🎉 |
Call for articles*************************** Newsletter time is coming around again! We welcome articles that showcase local biodiversity projects, or share environment, ecology and wildlife news, training and funding opportunities (with photos where possible). Previous articles have included the work of community groups, charities, statutory bodies, AONB partnerships, businesses, local authorities, and more. To see previous issues, please click here. The newsletter is seen by over 450 people from the private, corporate, statutory, and charitable sectors, as well as individual subscribers, and is widely shared online. *************************** To send us your story use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page, the deadline for the next issue is 25 October *************************** Emma Aldous, Communications Officer, |
Norfolk & Suffolk Community Online WebinarMon 14 Oct, 19:00 – 20:00 • Wed 16 Oct, 14:00 – 15:00 As we create the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, we aim to enhance the positive effects of nature on community wellbeing, contributing to improved mental and physical health through direct and indirect benefits. Our spatial strategy has the potential to unlock opportunities for communities to deliver key measures and embed nature recovery locally. Therefore, the Norfolk and Suffolk Nature Recovery Partnership invite you to attend an online webinar, where we aim to update you on the current progress of the strategy, share our shortlisted priorities and demonstrate the mapping tools developed to identify where action for nature will have the most impact. This will enable you to signpost and highlight potential for your local area to deliver key measures and embed nature recovery in your community. Please follow this link to register your interest. |
Suffolk Naturalists' autumn meeting21 September 2024 Programme – timings are approximate! Directions: What Three Words ///snips.hatter.airbrush. |
Events
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Biological Recording Company: Surveying For Dragonflies |
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Brecks events: Public Rights of Way in Suffolk – Responsibilities Webinar
Understanding the rights and responsibilities for public access, the complexities of legislation, and opportunities for promotion of access. Online |
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Biological Recording Company: Seagrass Conservation: Growing #GenerationRestoration in Europe |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Rivers in Suffolk
Wednesday 24 September 2025 |
Suffolk Bird Group: Two short talks: ‘Birding South Africa’ and ‘Barn Owl Support Suffolk’ Katya Bathgate and Sally Nelson & Sarah Glyde Hintlesham Community Centre, Timperleys, Hintlesham IP8 3PS |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Tree Aftercare
Polstead |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Live Webinar - Historical Ecology
Wednesday 1 October 2025 |
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Biological Recording Company: Surveying For Pollinators |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Wader Fencing Removal
Shotley Gate |
Suffolk Bird Group: Autumn open morning at Landguard Bird Observatory Meet at main car park, View Point Road, Felixstowe at 8.00 am. Leader: Nigel Odin. For details contact Gi Grieco. Tel. 07951 482547. |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Adult course: Willow weaving projects for kids
Online webinar |
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Mammal Society: National Harvest Mouse Survey Refresher Training |
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Biological Recording Company: From Strandline to Science: The Journey of a Shark Eggcase |
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Mammal Society: Hidden Depths of the Harvest Mouse |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Walk
Wednesday 8 October 2025 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Insects as Food and Feed (SIG) 2025
Insects as Food and Feed: delivering sustainable protein to the food system Date: Thursday 9th October 2025 (09:15 - 16:30) Venue: Elm Grove Conference Centre, The University of Roehampton: Home - Roehampton Venues Listen to… |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wilder Communities Day
Saturday 11 October 2025 |
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Biological Recording Company: Getting to Know Weevils |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Live Webinar - On the Verge
Tuesday 14 October 2025 |
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Mammal Society: Getting Involved with the National Harvest Mouse Survey |
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Mammal Society: Using camera traps to monitor pine martens, polecats, stoat and weasels. |
Suffolk Bird Group: ‘Ospreys in Suffolk’ Tim Mackrill, Roy Dennis Foundation Please note venue: Woodbridge Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4AU |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Ospreys in Suffolk
Thursday 16 October 2025 |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Wader Fencing Removal
Shotley Gate |
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Royal Entomological Society: External – XII International Symposium on Aphids
XII International Symposium on Aphids 13-17 October 2025, Yongpyong, Korea Organized by Prof. Seunghwan LEE, Laboratory of Insect Biosystematics, Division of Entomology, Seoul National University (SNU), Korea. For more information and details of how to… |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Youth Action for Nature
Saturday 18 October 2025 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Bowl carving
Online webinar |
Suffolk Bird Group: Titchwell Meet at the reserve car park at 9.00 am. Leaders: Adam Faiers Tel. 07708 521852 and Anne Wright. Tel. 07767 755965. |
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Brecks events: Sapiston 5K Trail Run
Join Run Breckland for a family-friendly 5K trail run following footpaths and byways in a loop around the picturesque Black Bourn Valley. Honington & Sapiston Village Hall, Suffolk, IP31 1RU |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Suffolk Owl Sanctuary
Wednesday 22 October 2025 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Introduction to fungi ID
Thursday 23 October 2025 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Weaving in the Landscape
Online webinar |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Hay Raking
Assington Mill |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Grassland/hedge Management
Sturmer |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Rewilding Project
Old Waldringfield Golf Course |
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Mammal Society: Nature Writing Workshop |
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London Natural History Society: Ecology and Entomology AGM and Natural History Talk TBC |
Suffolk Bird Group: Orfordness (National Trust) Reserve 8 & 9 November. Some places available to stay overnight on Saturday in self-catering dormitories. Current entrance fees will apply. Limited to 12 spaces in total. For further details and to reserve your place, contact Gi Grieco. Tel. 07951 482547. Leaders: Gi Grieco and Eddie Bathgate. |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Weave a giant willow star
Online webinar |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Brocks and Foulmarts - the weasel family
Tuesday 11 November 2025 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Walk
Wednesday 12 November 2025 |
Suffolk Bird Group: River Ore Boat Trip For further details and to reserve your place, contact Gi Grieco. Tel. 07951 482547. Leader: Gi Grieco. |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Winter Guided Walk at Carlton Marshes
Monday 17 November 2025 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Dead Hedging
Kedington |
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London Natural History Society: Birds and Other Animals of Egypt by Richard Hoath + London Bird Club AGM |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Exploring Tree Dyes and Tannins
Online webinar |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Live Webinar - Small mammal ID
Tuesday 25 November 2025 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: The Rural Crime team
Wednesday 26 November 2025 |
Suffolk Bird Group: ‘Birding Colombia – The World’s Most Diverse Bird Country’ Andrew Raine Hintlesham Community Centre,Timperleys, Hintlesham IP8 3PS |
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London Natural History Society: Planning a User-Friendly Wild Flower Guide by Simon Harrap + Botany AGM |
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Royal Entomological Society: Outreach, Culture & Education Special Interest Group (SIG)
Outreach, Culture & Education Special Interest Group (SIG) Save the date! Join us at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh for our Outreach, Culture & Education Special Interest Group meeting. The event will also be… |
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London Natural History Society: Hampstead Heath Survey AGM and Natural History Talk TBC |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Live Webinar - Webcam wonders
Monday 8 December 2025 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Woodland Planting
Stratford St Mary |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: By the fireside: Natural decorations
Online webinar |
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London Natural History Society: Society AGM and Natural History Talk TBC |
Suffolk Bird Group: Felixstowe Ferry Meet in the public parking area in front of the church at 9.00 am. A short riverside walk, then a festive lunchtime snack if desired! Leader: Anne Wright. Tel. 07767 755965. |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Coppicing/ Dead Hedging
Assington Mill |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Insects of Suffolk– by Dr Ross Piper
Thursday 18 December 2025 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: New Years Day Guided Walk
Thursday 1 January 2026 |
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London Natural History Society: Diet and Behaviour of White Storks at Knepp by Şeniz Mustafa |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary
Tuesday 13 January 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: A Local Regenerative Farm, by Humphrey Mills.
Wednesday 14 January 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Live Webinar - Bugs on the move
Thursday 15 January 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Workshop: Winter bird photography
Online webinar |
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Royal Entomological Society: Behaviour Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026
Behaviour Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026 Emerging themes: Novel techniques in insect behaviour studies Date: Tuesday 10 February 2026 (9.30am – 5pm) Venue: The Studio, Birmingham and online Join the RES Behaviour SIG on Tuesday… |
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London Natural History Society: Awakening to Birds at 'The Wakes': Gilbert White by John Rumm |
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Royal Entomological Society: Aquatic Insects SIG 2026
Aquatic Insects SIG 2026 Date: Thursday 26th February 2026 (9.30am - 3.30pm) AND Friday 27th February 2026 (9.30am - 12.30pm) Venue: Online Join us for our Aquatics SIG meeting, which will be held online this year. The… |
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Royal Entomological Society: Verrall Lecture 2026
The Verrall Lecture is an annual public event organised by the Royal Entomological Society. It is open to all, free to attend and hosted in central London. |
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Royal Entomological Society: Insect Week 2026
Get involved Find an event Visit the Insect Week Events page to find an event near you during Insect Week. We will be listing some of these nearer the time. Planning an event during Insect… |
