In a significant move to address the global biodiversity crisis, work has commenced on the Martlesham Wilds, a new nature reserve covering 289 acres next to the Deben Estuary in Suffolk, England. This area, previously part of an organic farm, features a diverse range of habitats, including salt marshes, grazing marshes, woodlands, and reedbeds.
Acquired by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust in late 2023 following a successful fundraising campaign, the reserve is undergoing a rewilding process. Jessica Ratcliff, the reserve's warden, emphasized the importance of the site for over-wintering wildfowl and wading birds. The introduction of Herdwick sheep and Belted Galloway cattle is aimed at enhancing floristic diversity and creating habitats that support these avian species.
Ratcliff noted a positive transformation in the ground cover of the former arable land, highlighting the emergence of diverse species, including a previously unrecorded wood lark territory. The reserve's management philosophy is to intervene only when necessary, allowing nature to dictate its course.
Michael Strand from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust expressed concern over the alarming decline in wildlife populations, with insect species experiencing an average decline of 70%. He stressed the urgency of creating safe havens to prevent further extinction. Ratcliff echoed this sentiment, stating that the new reserve is essential to counteract the precipitous declines in birds, insects, and mammals.