Please help record important sightings of protected species, especially on the "Red House" North Fringe site, on what remains of the former great Red House Park site.

SOCS AGM and ordinary meeting December 2015

SOCS discussed feedback from local residents of the wealth of recent local sightings, especially of owls, bats and other important species which the Suffolk Biological Monitoring Office in High Street need to be made aware of.

http://www.suffolkbrc.org.uk/

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It is vital that local heritage and local biodiversity is formally recorded and made known during all Local Plan and Planning Application processes.

There seems to be a lot of hedgehogs active too, most likely due to the unaccustomed warm weather. They may be at risk if we have a sudden weather cold downturn. ( you could alert us by using the comment box on the blog).

So, SOCS are appealing for the public to do their bit, look, record and let us know of any sightings!

Several years ago we ran an initiative to do some formal recording after photographing Great Crested Newts and common newts in an area near the Millennium Cemetery.
The Cemetery is well know to have them on site.

The North Fringe has for too long been a bit of a "black hole" in this respect with little formal work and support being given to this important issue.

It has fallen to the public locally to make up this shortfall.

An excellent survey of hedgerows and trees has been undertaken in recent years according to Suffolk Hedgerow Survey methodology, by a retired local doctor, with guidance and help from Guy Akers, who did the rural Hedgerow Survey for Suffolk which was so well received.

 http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/greenissues/greenprint/hedgerows/

"The project originated in response to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit whereby those 170 + countries attending agreed to set up benchmarks for their identified priority issues in the areas of flora, fauna, landscape and habitat as part of their Local Agenda 21. In England and Wales this became the responsibility of local authorities."

Unfortunately, this did not embrace the urban landscape. Suffolk Wildlife Trust were commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council to do a "Desk Top" survey arond 2012, but that only really identifies that which is already known and formally recorded. If it's never been properly surveyed or recorded, the heritage and biodiversity will be at risk.