Thomas Marks

Several car boot sales near Ipswich and across Suffolk are scheduled for the August bank holiday weekend. Options include Trinity Park in Ipswich on Sunday, August 30; Stonham Barns near Stowmarket on Sunday and Monday; Needham Market on Saturday, August 29; and Friday Street near Saxmundham on Sunday and Monday. The article provides locations, opening times, seller arrangements, pitch prices and information about covered or outdoor spaces.

A caravan became detached from the vehicle towing it while travelling southbound toward Ipswich on the A12 near the Copdock Interchange, veering into a ditch. Suffolk Police were called shortly after 9:14 a.m. on Sunday, August 16, and delays were reported near the scene. Recovery was completed by 12:50 p.m.

Five Ipswich buildings and waterfront spaces are highlighted for their transformation from former post offices, churches, industrial premises and warehouse areas into restaurants, music and arts venues, a dance centre, an archives facility, homes, studios, galleries and cafés. The changes are presented as examples of historic preservation, cultural investment and urban regeneration.

A photo gallery showcases images of a solar eclipse taken across Suffolk, including views over the Port of Felixstowe, crowds at Felixstowe, and photographs from Stowmarket, Woodbridge and Ipswich. Contributors used cameras, drones and an iPhone, while one 12-year-old photographer captured a close-up of the moon covering the sun.

Suffolk is expected to experience another week of hot, dry and mostly sunny weather, with temperatures reaching about 31°C and little prospect of rain. The conditions follow England’s driest July on record, with East Anglia receiving just 2mm of rainfall. Hot, dry weather has also made firefighting more difficult at the Dunwich Heath major incident, prompting warnings to avoid barbecues, campfires and discarded cigarettes in the countryside. Drought conditions are affecting around half of England.

Residents and beekeepers in Suffolk are being urged to report suspected Asian hornet sightings after one was confirmed in nearby Norfolk. The invasive yellow-legged hornet threatens UK biodiversity and has increased from one nest in 2016 to 72 nests in 2023. Monitoring stations and traps are recommended, particularly near ports, ferry terminals and areas with previous nests, with different bait types advised for spring and summer. Traps should be emptied regularly to reduce harm to native invertebrates.

New images show the destruction caused by the Dunwich Heath wildfire, which has burned an area equivalent to about 140 football pitches. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service expects the response to continue for up to another 48 hours and is urging people to stay away. Hundreds of residents, caravan users and businesses have been evacuated, while RSPB Minsmere and the Ship at Dunwich pub remain closed.

A wildfire began at RSPB Minsmere near Dunwich Heath at 5:30 p.m. on July 29, prompting the reserve’s closure until further notice. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service warned that hot, windy conditions were worsening the situation, with crews potentially remaining on site for up to 48 hours. Residents were advised to leave nearby homes where instructed, keep windows and doors closed, and avoid the area. Some habitats could take up to 20 years to recover, although the full damage was not yet known.

Ipswich-born actor and comedian Richard Ayoade will perform an evening based on his book Afterthoughts, or Some Pistachios Won't Open: Wisdom for the Unreflective, at Ipswich Regent Theatre on October 23 at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature humorous reflections and insights, with ticket priority sales beginning July 30 and general sales opening July 31.