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 May 2026

Grass Eggar Moth Caterpillar

Palmers Lane sees a lot of traffic on an almost daily basis - bikes, pedestrians, dogs and even cars so it was a great surprise one afternoon to share the tarmac with a furry and fast moving caterpillar. which I videoed with my phone.
Sometime later, and with technical support, it turned out to be the nationally scarce (Category A) Grass Eggar moth Caterpillar; once abundant - its scarcity is the result of hedgerow trimming and intensive roadside mowing. 
Host plants include blackthorn, hawthorn and birch. Their presence suggests high-quality undisturbed habitats.
The Grass Eggar moth (Lasiocampa trifolii) is reddish brown in colour with a central white spot. The wingspan is between 42-60mm. Acid heathland, coastal shingle and sand dunes are preferred habitats. 
Should be well at home round here then!
So, mind where you step and enjoy sharing favourite views with some not so easy to spot company!

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.