Biodiversity Project

HUNSTON ENVIRONMENT PROJECT

AIMS

  • To assess, conserve and consider whether and how to enhance for wildlife areas of land ‘belonging’ to the village
  • To encourage other/more native flora into these spaces with a view to increasing the number of pollinators and other insects
  • To encourage the village community to contribute to and participate in the project

OBJECTIVES

2025 - 2026
  • To undertake four surveys of the village sites; one in each season to record and identify existing wildlife (plants, insects, mammals and birds).
  • To undertake an evaluation of the survey results
  • To develop a plan in conjunction with and with the approval of the Parish Meeting for the future management of these sites.
2026 – 2027
  • To implement any agreed management plan with support from relevant organisations such as Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
  • To continue seasonal surveys and evaluations.
2027 – 2028
  • To review and consider the results of any management undertaken on the sites and on the visual impact on the village

LAND WHICH WILL BE COVERED BY THE PROJECT

  • Land in front of the Parish Cottage and Hartwell House
  • Land in front of Bradgate House
  • Area around the village sign
  • Rectangle of land between Rose Cottage and Applecross
  • Hedgerows and grass verges which are not in front of people’s houses. (If you would like to include the land in front of your properties you are welcome to add them to the survey sites)

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO

  • We will use the information provided by Suffolk Wildlife Trust on the Field Day in May to support our approach but we plan to start as simply as possible by photographing and identifying what we find.
  • The results of each survey, particularly the photographs will be uploaded to the website and, where appropriate (rare or unusual species) shared with relevant conservation organisation including the Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

  • We hope this will be a community project that everyone can be involved in whether outdoors on survey days or indoors with a cup of tea, photographs from the survey and identification books to hand.  No knowledge or experience is needed – we are learning together. You can get involved by:
    • Joining the environment team – contact chair@hunstonpm.org
    • Attending survey days
    • Helping with identification
    • Contributing your ideas for the future direction of the project and suggesting improvements.
    • Encouraging insects and pollinators into your garden (see below for helpful links)

 

USEFUL LINKS