£300k pledged to create 'lasting legacy for nature'

Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been pledged to two community projects to help create a "lasting legacy for nature that is truly unique".

The East Suffolk Trust has awarded more than £300,000 to the River Waveney Trust and Chalkeith Conservation, which are restoring habitats and improving water quality.

The schemes will also contribute to the delivery of Suffolk's Local Nature Recovery Strategy, helping to turn its "ambitions for nature recovery into action on the ground".

Clare Matterson, chair of East Suffolk Trust, said the initial grants marked an "important step" towards supporting projects that will "make a real difference".

"We look forward to seeing these projects develop and working with communities and partners to help nature recover," she added.

The East Suffolk Trust was founded by East Suffolk Council, Suffolk County Council and Sizewell C, the nuclear power plant being built on the coast.

Over the next 70 years, it will receive at least £78m from Sizewell C, which it will use to "make East Suffolk the most ecologically diverse and resilient area in England".

Nigel Cann, CEO of Sizewell C, said the trust was a "game-changer for environmental projects" in the area, "creating a lasting legacy for nature that is truly unique".

"We're excited to see the positive impact these projects will have on biodiversity across Suffolk, not just in the years ahead, but for generations to come," he said.

The River Waveney Trust has been awarded £275,000 to expand its citizen science programme.

This will enable local people to monitor river health, support habitat restoration, improve water quality and enhance riverside habitats for wildlife.

Director Martha Meek said: "This comes at a time when we are seeing increasing pressure on the river due to a warming climate.

"So, improving the river's resilience and fully understanding pressures from pollution is all the more important."

Chalkeith Conservation, meanwhile, has secured £50,000 to protect and restore an important area of chalk grassland near Needham Market.

Over time, the project will create new wildlife corridors linking the chalk grassland with nearby areas, helping wildlife move and adapt.

William Barnes, from the scheme, said: "We are incredibly grateful to East Suffolk Trust for their generous support in enabling us to acquire this scarce and threatened landscape to create a new reserve for nature and for the people of Needham Market and surrounding area."

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