Page 4 Surveys and Research

Drone survey

A drone survey was carried out in May 2024 taking aerial photos and various spectra to see the surface covering of the fields.

Tides and weather

The height of high tide affects the saltmarsh level.  As sea levels have risen over the centuries, so has the saltmarsh due to silt entrapment and plant growth.  Measuring the tide height is therefore important, as well as knowledge for flood risk.  A project started in October 2025 to record the tides in real time (still experimental) at Waldringfield.  Data is also recorded at Woodbridge by the EA and shown here.

Weather data for Martlesham is being recorded and published here.

Soils research and surveys

The site was bought by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust in Autumn 2023 and so a program of soils research and baseline monitoring began in 2024.  This was important so we can monitor changes in the soil and compare/explain changes in vegetation/habitats over time. As the rivers cut through various geological strata laid down over 100 million years, there are varying soils on the site, from potential acid sands supporting woodlands with an underlay of bluebells, to more clayey valleys with wildflowers such as cowslips, and grassland alongside the river where waders can rest at high tide.

Soils research

A research program has been carried out to assess soil health at five locations within Martlesham Wilds, plus a neighbouring arable field as a comparison.  A student from UEA measured the sounds generated within the soil by macrofauna.  Volunteers counted the worm populations, and measured soil temperature, texture and moisture. To assist in the interpretation of the results, the soil pH (acidity) and organic matter levels were determined.  The project is being written up (Nov 2024).

The old woodlands have a low pH (acidic).  The old farm fields are low in organic matter and 'soil life', as measured by soil respiration kits, compared with the uncultivated areas like the wildflower meadow.

Soils baseline monitoring

The research program is helping to inform what the basis of a future monitoring program should contain.  This is likely to be a combination of soil pH and plant nutrients, plus soil organic matter.  Volunteers, under expert guidance, can assess parameters such as soil texture. We will be able to use this data to compare our site with other UK monitoring programs (e.g. the Countryside Survey and work by Natural England) and other re-wilding sites such as Heartwood (a Woodland Trust site near St Albans).

Data will provide a baseline so that future changes can be monitored.  Changes in the soil will influence vegetation, and the flora and fauna on Martlesham Wilds. 

Initial data was gathered in October 2024.  This map shows data points with varying pH (red = low pH, blue = more neutral pH).  The ex-arable fields have blue markers showing the past effects of liming to counter acidity.  The woodlands and field boundaries are generally acid.  The data are mapped using QGIS.  More data will be added for other parameters, such as soil texture, as it is input into the database. 



Mammals have started to move into the ex-arable land (October 2024).  A field vole has made a burrow in the sand soil derived from the crag (hence the yellow sand colour), which must have been at least 50cm deep to reach the crag.




Vegetation

The plant species present on the site are being listed by a volunteer.  Plants can be classified using the  National Vegetation Classification (NVC) and grouped into communities.  There is a handbook that can be downloaded to aid designing and conducting a survey.

Plants grow and flourish where the conditions best suit them.  Following abandonment, a succession of plant communities will occur.  As well as soil and environmental factors, grazing will greatly affect the plants that grow.  

Ellenberg indicator values of Light, Moisture, Reaction (pH), Nutrients and Salt are provided for around 1,500 plant species by the ECOFACT research program published in 1999.  Therefore, knowing the plants growing at a particular site, soil and environmental conditions can be inferred.  Conversely, knowing these could perhaps enable us to predict the plants that may grow in the future.

A similar approach is well explained in this Forestry Research publication 'An Ecological Site Classification for Forestry in Great Britain' (2001).

In 2025, seven fields were selected and two replicate plots marked 10m by 10m square in each field.  Surveys will be carried out in June and the late summer/early autumn.  In 2025, 91 species were recorded in these 14 quadrants.  Some quadrants had a s few as 14 species, others up to 40 species.

Trees

The ancient trees on Martlesham Wilds are listed here.

Dragonflies and damselflies

Year:            2023    2024       2025

Dragonflies:    7          9            11

Damselflies:    4          3             4

Butterflies

In 2024, 23 species of butterflies were recorded, from April through to September, on a weekly basis (weather permitting).  These surveys were carried out by volunteers and showed that some species appeared early in the year, other from June/July.

Moths

Over 220 species of moths have been identifies on Martlesham Wilds in 2025.

Bats

There is a very good bat population at Martlesham Wilds.  Monitoring is being carried out by the University of Suffolk.  There have been 8 species confirmed as present in 2025, but there may be more.

Birds

Birds are surveyed in the summer and winter.

In September 2025, an Osprey was seen.  This would have been a migrant on its way to Spain or Portugal.  Photo: Eddie Smith


Barn owls can be seen at dawn and dusk from near the car park by the church.

Fish

The dykes are connected to the river Deben via the sluices and form an important place for young fish to develop safely.  




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Introduction

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Page 1 Geology and soils

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