Meet Oka Last,
Wildline Adviser at
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Having been
brought up in rural South West Ireland with dramatic landscapes,
tourism, fishing and farming at the heart of the community I have been
interested in wildlife from a young age. Fond childhood memories
of exploring the countryside have led me to believe that it is
important for us to cherish the natural world that surrounds us, so that
future generations will enjoy it as much as I did.
The great
thing about being Wildline Adviser is that I get to talk to people and
share my enthusiasm for wildlife with them. Wildline gets people
thinking about what they can do for wildlife on their doorstep and
provides the information they need to take action. People taking
action for wildlife always starts with doing the little things -
leaving areas of long grass, putting up a bird nest box or using (home
made!) peat-free compost. Little things that people can do in
their garden are very important because gardens form part of a
patchwork of habitats which act as corridors for wildlife to move
through.
When habitats
are managed for wildlife; gardens, community spaces and pieces of land
link together to become vital refuges for wildlife. Wildline is
about helping people and wildlife live together and about people taking
action to protect and enhance the wildlife in their community. We
still have many areas of valuable wildlife habitat scattered across
Suffolk, but it is not just nature reserves that are important. In
every parish there are areas such as village greens, churchyards,
allotments, village ponds, green lanes and gardens that are a haven for
many species.
With
appropriate management, some areas can be made even more
valuable. Taking local action for wildlife will help broaden
enthusiasm for local wild places, bring communities together and have
fun in the process - all in the knowing that your support will protect
wildlife for the future.