Delivering Network Rail’s Biodiversity Programme in Suffolk
An invitation to find out more: 5 March, 4pm. 1 hour Zoom Webinar
Network Rail Eastern Region has asked local Wildlife Trusts and their subsidiary consultancies to help them implement an ambitious Biodiversity Action Plan for their railway estate; a project with the potential to deliver real benefits for wildlife and communities. The vital first step to delivering the plan is discovering more about the wildlife already close to the railway, and the potential for enhancing it. To do this, we need your help!
Join us for an online information session alongside other local experts, teams, and organisations, to learn more about the project, and how you can share your knowledge to help nature’s recovery. Please register using this link. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QawiHSbvQB2u-lyUiwndiQ
Background
The railway in Suffolk dates back almost 200 years and in many places supports a variety of wildlife. But it could be even better, with great potential for connecting, expanding, and enhancing fragmented habitats while also offering safety and reliability for train passengers.
Following an independent review of Britain’s lineside management, Network Rail recently produced an ambitious Biodiversity Action Plan for managing the nation’s lineside estate. While their focus remains running a safe and reliable rail network, the plan seeks to enhance biodiversity across the wider landscape by working together with lineside neighbours and a range of community partners.
In the east of England, local Wildlife Trusts and their subsidiary consultancies have been asked to help make the plan a reality. A project team has been formed to include experts from within regional Wildlife Trust Consultancies and they will be supporting Network Rail by collecting biodiversity data through engagement with local communities, advising on habitat and vegetation management, and monitoring progress as the project develops.
How you can assist
The project team is seeking to engage with a range of organisations across Suffolk. They want to hear from individuals and teams that:
- Manage land within 1km of the railway
- Deliver conservation and environmental projects
- Work with nature across the landscape
As a local expert, you no doubt have a wealth of relevant knowledge useful to helping the project team establish biodiversity priorities within your area of interest. Be it concerning local populations of key species, the existing management of nearby habitats, or the potential for collaboration with Network Rail in the future, the team want to hear and learn from you.
We would like to invite to you to an information session, delivered through Zoom, where you can find out more about the plans and how you can help, including participation in an online survey to capture knowledge about biodiversity within 1km of the railway and the opportunities for enhancing it. The information session will take place on 5 March, 4pm for approximately 1 hour and the online survey will be launched at the same time.