The Suffolk Hedgerow Survey, which started in 1998, is now spreading rapidly throughout Suffolk and already 70 parishes have completed their survey. We also have another 180 currently surveying the landscape hedgerows and 20 more at the enquiry stage.

The objective is to build up a record of all the landscape hedgerows present and to log details of different species of shrubs and trees, which go to make up each hedge. The results are a benchmark document for your parish records and the details also go to the Suffolk Biological Records Centre to create a scientific baseline for the benefit of your hedgerow heritage and the inheritance for future generations. There are also practical benefits for the community, the Council and for landowners and farmers.

We are now most anxious to find some volunteers to get Wickhambrook added to the active list and this is written to invite anyone who would possibly be interested (or knows someone who might be) to get in contact with us.

We know there are parishioners who are enthusiasts in the environment and you don’t need special skills or previous experience, nor does it take up a lot of time and it does not cost you anything. Ideally we need volunteers who can get around the parish to survey the hedges and others who can do plotting work on maps, paperwork, computing and liaison work, all of which takes up little time. The survey is really good fun and teams of 2 or 3 find it very enjoyable, gentle exercise, interesting and rewarding.

We also need a survey coordinator who would bring the surveyor volunteers together to split up territories for surveyors to work on and to generally manage the teams towards completion.  For this a full service and back up support is provided by the Project.
 
We can provide all the information you need, including training and the minimum commitment we ask for is 5 half days per year, May to October from each surveyor. The survey would normally be completed within 2 years, so there is no stress or tight deadlines to be met.

For more information, please contact Parish Clerk, Roger Medley on 01440 821861 or Email - parishclerk@wickhambrook.org