Risby may have a few ponds and a mere, but it lacks its own river or stream; fortunately, the River Lark and the Culford Stream are only a few miles away for us to visit and see watery wildlife. The River Lark rises as a spring at Bradfield Combust, south of Bury St Edmunds, and flows northwards for 31 miles (50 km) to enter the Great Ouse at Branch Bridge, a few miles north of Prickwillow in Cambridgeshire. The Culford Stream is a tributary of the River Lark. It rises in the village of Culford and flows westwards through the village before joining the River Lark at Clough Staunch on the edge of Lackford Lakes.
The River Lark and Culford Stream are both important for wildlife, with a variety of fish, birds, and other animals living in and around the rivers. The River Lark is also a popular destination for anglers and boaters. There are several places to see both or either of these waterways near us including, Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Lackford Lakes, and Larkwood Lakes Eco Centre. Both these sites have hundreds of mature trees that are the bastions of the whole eco-system and provide a wide range of habitats for all kinds of organisms.
Here are some interesting facts about the River Lark and Culford Stream:
The River Lark is thought to have been used for navigation since the Roman times.
In the 19th century, the River Lark was used to transport coal, timber, grain, and other goods to and from Bury St Edmunds.
Both waterways are 2 of just 250 chalk streams in the world.
The River & Stream are home to a variety of fish, including trout, grayling, chub and perch.
Both are popular destinations for birdwatchers, with a variety of species, including kingfishers, herons, and reed warblers, living along the riverbanks.
References: https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/lackfordlakes https://larkwoodlakes.co.uk/
Wildlife Group News Wildlife Group Outing – Saturday 9th December, 10am to 12pm, £10 per person
This December we would like to invite people to join us for a ‘walk and talk’ visit to Larkwood Lakes, which lies in the parish of West Stow and sits between the River Lark and Culford Stream. The lakes were created in the 1980s by extracting aggregate for use in road construction and have since become a popular destination for nature lovers. Larkwood Lakes is home to a variety of fish, birds, insects, amphibians, mammals and reptiles and on this walk and talk we will be shown the amazing different wildlife habitats there and hopefully see some of the animals that enjoy this space. Larkwood Lakes will charge only £10 per person for the visit, please note you will need to arrange your own transport there, but there is an opportunity to car share so please mention this when you email us to book on. To book your place please email us: wildlifefriendlyvillage@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you.
