Welcome to our final edition of 2020. If you find yourself thinking, “It doesn’t feel that long since I received the last edition of the Foxearth Meadows News & Prayer Letter”, I’m not at all surprised. It’s a shorter gap than usual as the last two editions were a bit on the late side. Both times we were waiting so we could share news when situations clarified as we emerged from lockdowns.
This edition comes with a huge thank you to all the volunteers who have stayed with us in the ups and downs of this year, been patient through the lockdown, been careful when we’ve been on site, rallied to when there have been jobs to do and permission to do them, and all in all made such an important contribution to the reserve. Later on you'll read news of how Foxearth Meadows' Reserve Manager, Mark has enabled volunteering to re-start.
We also want to let you know about some beautiful cards that we’ve just produced. We hope that people will enjoy using them and giving them as presents, maybe. All the photos were taken by Albert Butcher, who has generously given us permission to use some of the many beautiful photos he has taken on the reserve. (Many thanks to Albert too for images included in this newsletter). The purpose of the card project is both to raise funds for A Rocha UK, and to raise awareness of the nature reserve. The cost of printing has been covered by kind donations from individuals on the Steering Group, so all the money received from sales can go directly to the charity. You’ll find out more about the cards below.
We are thrilled that Foxearth Meadows now has its own Facebookand Instagram account (again, see below). This is managed by Sam Sieber, who featured in the newsletter's last edition. Sam is studying and training for ordained ministry in Cambridge, but spent a week with us on placement in September. She loved the reserve and volunteered to run these social media accounts, working together with Jen Plummer (Communications Officer at A Rocha UK). Thank you so much to both Sam and Jen.
Finally, we want to wish you a very happy Christmas. It’s going to be a different one. Many of us are probably in the same boat, puzzling (and maybe praying) over the dilemmas of how to tally the longing to get family together and see loved ones, with the latest government rules and the need to be wise and careful. It’s all a bit complicated. Nonetheless, we hope that you are able to spend it well and peacefully.
I reflect how Christmas celebrates the gift of a child. There’s something beautifully simple about that. But that child was born into a complicated world, and the birth was surrounded by misunderstandings, difficulties, hazards and dangers. That didn’t stop God giving the gift. His love was big enough and strong enough.
One of the best known verses in the Bible, from John’s gospel (chapter 3, verse 16) reads: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. That’s how my English Bible puts it, but what John wrote (in Greek) actually says, “God so loved the cosmos that he gave ...” That’s love on a big scale (from the smallest detail to the vast scale of space). We at Foxearth Meadows are thrilled when we see people loving nature and the natural world. Protecting nature and caring for our world throws up complicated issues but love is a good driver.
We pray that you’ll know joy in nature and the warmth of love this Christmas.
Andy Jowitt
Volunteer Community Engagement Officer for Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve
Snow scene ~ Friday, 4th December 2020
WINTER VISITORS
Rod Bleach gives an update on birdlife on the reserve at this time of year
Now that it’s officially winter, lingering summer visitors have generally left for warmer climes to be replaced by winter visitors such as Redwing and Siskins from the north. Redwing flocks have been passing through recently and Siskins, an attractive green/yellow/black finch, may be seen regularly in the trees along the river, especially the Alders.
Many of our common birds are in fact migrants. Whilst some of our Blackbirds move away to south-west England in winter, many more arrive from the continent. The Song Thrushes, Great Tits and Blue Tits we encounter at this time of year may also have made the arduous trip across the North Sea to increase their overall survival probability in the relatively warmer UK.
During a trip to the Meadows you will almost certainly encounter mixed flocks of tits moving through hedgerows and bushes. You will no doubt hear them before you see them as they continually make contact calls as they move through the branches. It’s always worth checking out these flocks as they may include Goldcrest, Treecreeper or even a Chiffchaff that is taking its chance in spending the winter here. All migratory birds, whether consciously or innately (who knows?), weigh up the significant risks of migrating against the risks of staying put. So when you see a Blue Tit in the bushes it may have travelled hundreds of miles to get here rather than a few hundred yards from one of the site’s nesting boxes.
Rod records for Essex Wildlife Trust and does regular ‘bird transects’ for Foxearth Meadows.
From dry summer to watery winter at Foxearth Meadows
Mark Prina ruminates on the water meadows:
Whilst the meadows are nominally a wetland, in the dry heat of spring and summer the surface becomes very much dry land. This has meant that the many small ponds on site have tended to dry out annually – a concern for a site managed for breeding dragonflies and damselflies.
Thankfully this year the rains returned in late summer so that water levels started to recover earlier than in recent years. Whatever the weather though I am used to the steady rise in the water table in November and that is what we see as I write. The winter experience at the meadows has its own seasonal charm... continue to read here.
NOW AVAILABLE: TWO BEAUTIFUL SETS OF CARDS
(Photos all taken on the reserve by Albert Butcher)
BIRDS (4 designs, 2 of each) and DRAGONFLIES (4 designs, 2 of each)
£4.00 per pack of 8 (envelopes included).
All funds will go to support A Rocha UK. Cheques payable to 'A Rocha UK'. Please add postage and packing if necessary as follows:
1-2 packs £2.00; 3-4 packs £2.50; 5-20 packs: £4.50; 21-40 packs: £10.00 *
Orders to: Andy & Jane Jowitt, 12 Fields Views, SUDBURY, Suffolk CO10 1BJ
(Tel. 01787 464010 / 07584 751093 or e-mail jowitts@btinternet.com) * We will endeavour to deliver for free to those within walking distance in the Sudbury area *
FOXEARTH MEADOWS ~ PLANNED EVENTS FOR 2021
Mark writes: After the disruption and cancellation of most of our events calendar for 2020 we tentatively turn our eyes in hope to 2021. One way or another we hope to entertain visitors to Foxearth Meadows with a full programme of events to showcase the wildlife and connect people ever more deeply with nature.
Of course, the Meadows remain open daily to visitors and you are warmly invited, as always, to walk the public rights of way and the maintained paths. Even during the height of pandemic this has been possible in 2020 and will be so in 2021.
As we plan a calendar of events, we recognise we may have to implement these somewhat differently due to the pandemic. Here is an outline of current prospective dates to watch out for over the coming months:
8 May - A Rocha UK Supporter Day - An opportunity to meet with A Rocha UK staff and other A Rocha UK and Foxearth Meadows supporters. 15 May– Dawn Chorus Walk. Pre-book and meet at 4am for this special experience. 16 May– Outdoor Worship Service. The first of our two regular annual acts of worship.
1 – 5 June – ‘Wild in the Stour Valley’. This popular event, organised by Dedham Vale AONB, held annually at Mill Acre in Sudbury will probably hit the road as a series of smaller events hosted by various organisations at their own venues. Details of the plan will emerge, but I envisage small groups being able to book in to visit Foxearth Meadows during the half-term week where they will find a programme of activities for all ages. 25– 26 June– Bioblitz. Last held in 2019 we will have a team of experts in various species groups to inform and involve small groups and individuals, whether novices or experienced, in species identification. We are hoping to add many more species to the 500+ already recorded and you can play your part.
Speckled Wood butterfly
3 July– National Meadows Day and evening bat-walk. Two separate events on one day. Again, organised for pre-booked small groups, we encourage you to come and enjoy the magic of these ‘marvellous meadows’ in their summer glory and stay on or return for a walk at dusk using detectors to locate bats over the meadows. 10 July – A Rocha UK Churches Demonstration Day. This may also be spread over several dates with individual groups accommodated on a pre-booked basis. We aim to show various conservation techniques that can be used by churches to encourage wildlife in their grounds. 17 – 25 July – National Dragonfly Week. In the past we have had the pleasure of author and dragonfly expert David Chandler giving visitors a closer look into the lives of these spectacular insects. 27 – 29 August – National Moth Nights. A series of small pre-booked group sessions with walks using high powered torches and nets then an examination of moth-trap catches the same evening or return to see the overnight results the next morning; 12 September - Outdoor Worship Service. The second of our acts of worship at the Meadows.
The above list is not exhaustive but gives a flavour of the experiences we are planning in order to engage people with nature and each other (but with regard to safety at all times and on the understanding that these plans may be subject to change).
We also plan to include a series of our popular FoxeARTh Days where you are invited to come and be inspired to draw, paint or use any form of creative expression. In 2021 I am hoping to add al fresco instrumental music and singing to that expression.
Small boardwalk (Stella Davis)
MEET THE VOLUNTEERS: Alan & RosemaryNottage
Alan & RosemaryNottage joined the team just over a year ago. "Winter 2019, just in time to dig out some sludge from the pond".
More times than not they come by bike, but still have bags of energy to put into the work task.
We couldn't do without our volunteers! To find out how Mark has updated our volunteer policy to ensure safety and enable work parties to continue, please see HERE.
PRAYER POINTERS
If you pray, here are some suggestions for your prayers:
We give thanks for the wonderful team of volunteers and pray for their safety and wellbeing and for fun and fellowship despite the awkwardness of social distancing.
We also give thanks for the Steering Group, which has been meeting over Zoom for most of this year, and pray for wisdom and vision for the future.
We pray for:
Health and strength for Mark in his work, and especially for his back which he is having to nurse after a difficult period of back pain.
Peter & Lynda Sebbage, who have moved from Sudbury to Barrow where Lynda is a self-supporting minister. Peter was a regular member of our volunteer team and also served on the Steering Group. We miss his stalwart contribution and infectious enthusiasm for the work.
Those with mental health and anxiety issues, and that the reserve will be a place of healing and refreshment as people spend time close to nature.
We pray too for:
The ongoing work to monitor changes and developments on the reserve; for good data and wise decisions.
2021, that we can plan some great events and that community groups, churches and schools will be able to enjoy the reserve again next year.
Our notelet/card project, that the cards will be popular and the project successful.
Our government and world leaders in the run-up to COP26, that they will work together to find solutions and take serious actions to back up their fine words.
SEASON OF MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS
Some of the recent autumn fruitfulness at Foxearth Meadows
Teasels ~ Ivy
Bryony ~ Dog Rose (rosehips)
Hawthorn ~ Sloes (Blackthorn)
Oak ~ Guelder Rose
Foxearth Meadows is part of the work of A Rocha UK
We encourage you to find out more about A Rocha UK, the charity managing Foxearth Meadows Nature Reserve. Sign up to receive A Rocha UK's monthly eNews, get practical tips to help you and your family to enjoy, nurture and defend nature in the monthly Wild Christianemail or journey with your church to care for God's creation via A Rocha UK's Eco Church community and scheme.
“Root and Branch” is the twice-annual magazine of A Rocha UK. It’s full of thought-provoking articles and interesting news and comment. It is free to regular donors supporting A Rocha UK with a monthly gift of £3 or more. A sample edition can be requested for £3 plus £1.50 P & P. Please e-mail uk@arocha.org or call 020 8574 5935 to receive a sample or regular copy.
A Rocha UK is one of the organisations behind the ‘Climate Sunday’ initiative taking place over the coming year. Read more about the Climate Sunday initiative here.
We end this edition with a treat, a video featuring 8-year-old Limmy. Limmy is the daughter of Kailean & Kim Khongsai who manage A Rocha UK’s urban conservation projects in multi-cultural Southall in west London. Watch Limmy in action as a conservation campaigner and be inspired!
