The Suffolk’s
Mid
Flyer
Tree for Life
Mid Suffolk’s Tree for Life Waiting in the wings
Following the huge
popularity of Mid
Suffolk’s Tree for Life
pilot, the scheme will
be continuing into
2019.
The Tree for Life
scheme, fi rst launched
in 2018, offers every
family in Mid Suffolk
celebrating a new
child, both by birth and
adoption, a free tree
to plant to mark the
occasion. The scheme
is open to any family with a new arrival
in Mid Suffolk, with trees due to be
planted in family gardens anywhere in
the district.
Applications may be made both for
new arrivals in 2019 and by any
families who missed the opportunity
to apply in 2018. Applications must be
made by 10 January 2020 and can be
submitted on the council’s website at:
www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/environment/
tree-for-life
A selection of trees are available,
including fi g trees small enough to
be pot grown for those who may not
have access to a garden. Applicants
can also ask Mid Suffolk offi cers about
alternative locations to plant their tree
if needed.
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The scheme was originally proposed by
the Green Party group on Mid Suffolk
District Council and supported by the
administration.
Successful applicants during the
2018 pilot scheme collected their
trees from Sandy Lane Nursery across
two Saturdays in January, 19 and 26
January 2019. Each family was given
the option of a pear, apple, plum or fi g
tree, or a fl owering cherry tree.
In total 179 families successfully
applied for a tree to celebrate their
new arrival: this is approximately
21% of the estimated births in Mid
Suffolk in 2018, and is far ahead of the
uptake seen in the fi rst year of similar
schemes run across the country.
TH E FLYER | A PR IL 2019
The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s owls,
falcons, eagles, vultures and other
birds of prey are all currently busy
preparing for the forthcoming fl ying
season.
After spending the miserable winter
months in their cosy aviaries, resting
and moulting, the fl ying team are once
again enjoying daily exercise sessions
to regain the skills and confi dence
needed to carry them through the
daily fl ying displays which start at
Easter and continue until the end of
September.
Visitors to the centre can be thrilled by
the close proximity of the birds fl ying
freely at 11.30a.m., 1.30p.m. and
3.30p.m. from Saturday 6th April
Native birds, such as Cobweb the
Barn Owl and Rascal the Tawny Owl
will be joined in the demonstrations
by more exotic birds such as Pungu
the Bateleur Eagle, Jack the Hooded
Vulture and Zena the Cara Cara.
The Woodland Walk will be looking
its best with blossoming fruit trees
and abundant spring fl owers, which
also provide essential cover around
the bug hotel, ladybird houses and
hedgehog teepee. Plant life will also
be thickening up and spreading shoots
around the wildlife pond, providing
rich habitat for toads, newts and frogs.
The shy red squirrel colony can also
be found in the Woodland Walk - after
successful breeding last year, it is
hoped that more babies will appear
this spring.
The success rate for red squirrel
breeding in the wild can be as poor
as 30%, so with last year’s progeny
having now moved on to successful
national breeding programmes, it is
hoped that a few more strong, healthy
young may appear again in 2019.
The pretty Woodland Walk also houses
the ever popular meerkat family who
never fail to captivate visitors young
and old - informative talks and feeding
sessions take place twice daily at
11.00a.m. and 3.00p.m.
In addition to the amazing owls and
other birds of prey, visitors can also
relish the S.O.S. annual Easter Egg
Hunt which will be taking place from
Monday 15th to Monday 22nd April
inclusive - children managing to fi nd
an imitation egg in the sanctuary
Continued on Page 17.
Pl ease menti on ‘The Fl yer’ when respondi ng to adv e rti s e me nts