In 2014, we created a Wildlife Network Map of the town, which highlights the important wildlife sites and the areas for improvement across the town. You can help contribute to the ecological network by improving your garden for wildlife, by adding a few of the below to your garden:

• Native trees, shrubs and species rich hedgerows,
• Deadwood habitat – log piles, stag beetle pyramids, stumperies and leaving stumps to rot down
• Creating hedgehog holes (13cm x 13cm) in each of your fences to allow them to move between gardens
• Adding wildflower areas, flowering lawns, and native plants into your flowerbeds
• Provide bird feeders and bird boxes

The best thing you can do for wildlife is work with your neighbours to create corridors for nature to move between gardens, together we can make Ipswich a wildlife haven.

Throughout the year, Ipswich Borough Council, together with Ipswich Wildlife Group and the Greenways Countryside Project, run many wildlife events across the town, including bird box events where you can build your own wildlife homes to take home and install in your own garden. Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for more details.

For any questions about the ecological network please contact the wildlife team on: wildlife.team@ipswich.gov.uk