Environmental Stewardship

A lot of of the Charity’s work is dedicated to the management and conservation of some 170 acres of wonderful landscape around Walberswick village. 
Much of this is focused on the Common - the large NW area shown in red on the map below - but all of the Charity's land is actively looked after.

ES Update July 2026

Crambe marítima, Sea Kale, Walberswick Dunes June 2026

June is such a vibrant month of activity across all WCLC habitats!

Suffolk Wildlife Trust have had a project for June 2026 called 30 Days Wild; its an opportunity to focus on Nature when there is so much going on!
One project they advocate is litter picking and WCLC would like to give a big shout out for all those who pick up litter on their walks - just giving Nature a better chance. Thank you.

If you want to do a wildlife themed activity with some younger people this could be the link for you…https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/actions

Meanwhile look out for birds fledging, including Lapwing and Red Shank on the wet grasslands, Swallowtail Butterflies & Dragonflies darting around reedbeds and wetlands, and Nightjars & Glow- worms - best spotted in the evening on the heath.

Vanessa Tucker

For well over 15 years we have worked in partnership with Natural England under a Countryside Stewardship Agreement, renewed from January 2024. This agreement ensures that the Charity is able to continue its environmental work until at least 2028.

The vast majority of this work is devoted to improving the diversity of habitat on the Common. Our aim here is to provide a mosaic of vegetation which allows all heathland features to flourish, including pioneer heath and bare ground which benefits rarer invertebrates, birds, reptiles and plants. In recent years, nightjars and nightingales returned to the Common and there have been at least five calling male nightjars - an unusual and distinctive churring trill.
If cattle or sheep were able to roam freely across the Common as they did many years ago, the more invasive species would be kept in check and a greater diversity of vegetation maintained. But nowadays the number of walkers with dogs would mean that any livestock would have to be fenced in. That would then destroy the free-roaming, unenclosed nature of the landscape which is the essence of a Common.