Council commits £1.8m to protect wildlife

Mid Suffolk District Council, located in Ipswich, has allocated nearly 2 million to protect and enhance local biodiversity and natural habitats. The council has earmarked 1.8 million to counteract habitat decline and provide support for wildlife throughout the district. A dedicated budget for biodiversity and nature restoration has been introduced to drive this initiative.

The council emphasized that the funding aims to "preserve Mid Suffolk's natural environment for generations to come." In addition, a revised five-year biodiversity action plan has been approved to guide the efforts.

Half of the funding will establish a community nature recovery grant scheme. This grant will be divided evenly between projects led by local communities and initiatives focused on restoring rivers and their surrounding areas, enabling landowners and groups to actively participate in nature recovery.

Planned projects include planting wildflowers, creating new pond habitats, implementing measures to support swift bird populations, and tree planting. The council intends to maintain collaboration with regional partners, including the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

Tim Weller, a Green Party councillor and cabinet member for environment, culture, and wellbeing, stated: "This is an ambitious and significant investment, providing the resources to achieve tangible improvements and deliver meaningful benefits for residents and communities."

"Our goal is to protect and sustain Mid Suffolk's environment for future generations," he added.

Author: Sophia Brooks