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06/10/2011 11:51: Funding boost for rare habitat

Covering approximately 33 hectares (81 acres) - Landguard Reserve in Felixstowe is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)due to the rarity of vegetated shingle habitat, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument because of the historic military significance of the sites fortifications spanning over the past 400 years.

Botanically the most notable feature of the reserve is the vegetation that has evolved to grow on shingle beaches where the soil is virtually non existent and few nutrients are available for the plants to feed on. Landguard Peninsula ranks amongst the driest places in the UK with an average rainfall of only 537mm. This, combined with the salty sea winds and thin, free draining soils makes for harsh conditions for plantlife. The rarity of many of the plants that grow at Landguard makes this place very important... and visitors walking on  parts of the site have, unintentionally been eroding them.

Funding has allowed the Landguard Partnership to extend the Landguard Nature Reserve boundaries to match SSSI boundaries to increase protection of the site and make management simpler and more effective. They have been able to protect UK BAP Priority habitat, coastal vegetated shingle from visitor damage and improve signage and also to enhance wetland habitat for Divided sedge.

You'll notice new nautically themed fencing ( post and rope!) to show where you can and can't walk and a new boardwalk that is proving both popular and effective...the  once well trodden vegetation has spread significantly since its installation!

We'd highly recommend a visit to the reserve! here's a taster of what you may see...

Around the nature reserve, you will see colourful Yellow horned poppy, Viper's bugloss and the purple flowers of the Sea Pea. Whilst the leaves of the rare Stinking goosefoot smell of dead fish to attract pollinating flies. Rabbits keep the grassland closely cropped, allowing a wide variety of grasses, low flowering plants and lichens to thrive. There's a rich abundance of miniature wildflowers - from Early forget-me-knot to Common storksbill.  There's plenty of wildlife to see too - from weasels to common lizards and a plethora of bugs!

....and for those who are further afield you can follow the rangers progress at :

http://www.landguardpartnership.org.uk/nature_reserve/rangers_blog