I’ve had a walk on the wild side recently, spending time with various wildlife groups.

It was wonderful to see the giant stag beetle habitat at Kiln Meadow.  This is a ten-acre piece of land that the previous Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration of Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) wanted to sell for housing.  However, the incoming Labour administration retained it for its wildlife value, which has allowed the site to become a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

Kiln Meadow is managed by the Greenways Countryside Project which exists to protect and enhance the countryside, landscape and open space in and around Ipswich.

Stag beetles (Britain’s largest beetle) are found in significant numbers locally but are very rare globally. I have seen them in my garden. They are an impressive sight.

Greenways and partners created a giant stag beetle habitat pile in the shape of a stag beetle! The natural sculpture will provide an invaluable and long-lasting habitat for hundreds of species in addition to stag beetles. Measuring more than 15 metres long and made from around 15 tonnes of logs, the new feature also incorporates seating at the front of the ‘antlers’.

As well as regular volunteers from the Greenways Project, many other local people have also been involved, including the Friends of Belstead Brook Park, Ipswich Wildlife Group, a staff volunteer group from the Environment Agency, and groups of young people from Suffolk Wildlife Trust – around 75 people in total.

Boris Johnson – remember him?  The one who lied to parliament and had the oven ready deals. One thing he also did as prime minister was to join a global pledge from world leaders at a United Nations event to commit that 30% of UK land would be managed for nature by 2030.  National parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and other protected areas make up 26% of land in England. Protecting 4% sounds like a small number, but if I said it was a million acres of land would that sound more difficult?  Another part of the pledge was that 1 in 4 people would be involved with nature & wildlife activities.

One of those who is already involved is Rupert Masefield from Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT), who showed me round Martlesham Wilds. This is an exciting new 300 acre nature reserve on the banks of the river Deben.

What interested me most was that I met a bloke from Ipswich who was walking round the site.  He had come by bus.  Great news for all Ipswich residents as this means Martlesham Wilds should be accessible to all, even without using the car.

Over the years, SWT has delivered many projects in Ipswich.  One that has had most publicity was the Ipswich Hedgehog project, aimed at making Ipswich the most hedgehog friendly town in the UK.

I was most interested to find out about their Nextdoor Nature programme, recently started in Ipswich. Thanks to Lottery funding, Nextdoor Nature will help communities to take action for nature on their doorstep, and leave a lasting natural legacy in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The scheme is being led by communities. Unsurprisingly, people living in the concrete jungle want colour in their lives. I saw a scheme on Norwich Road where the back garden of a shop has been transformed into a relaxing green space, with colourful flowers and a pizza oven. It has a stag beetle habitat too!

I am pleased to support the work of both Greenways and SWT, they fit well with IBC’s priority of Promoting Community Wellbeing and Fairness in Ipswich. We will continue to work together to improve the quality of community wellbeing for all residents.