Month: May 2024

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Talk and AGM: Managing the Yare Valley for People and Wildlife

All who value the green space of the Yare Valley are welcome to come along to the Yare Valley Society AGM and Talk:

The AGM will be held first, and take about 30 minutes. Papers for the AGM will be in the next YVS Newsletter, due out early June. The AGM will be followed by a talk by Matthew Davies, the Norwich Fringe Project Officer.

One recent initiative of the Fringe Project has been its introduction of mini forests into Bowthorpe Southern Park (see picture in poster). Many will have seen the fenced plantations created using the Miyawaki method. The method involves echoing naturally occurring forests by planting four layers of plants: trees, sub-trees, shrubs and ground cover. The layers are densely planted in previously enriched soil. This results in a mini forest that matures much more rapidly than normal and has all the advantages, including carbon capture, of existing forest trees.

It is just one of the many ways in which the Fringe Project has sought to improve the Valley for People and Wildlife.

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Ecology of the River Yare is “moderate”

The latest report of the Rivers Trust classifies the ecology of the Yare as “moderate”. This is on a scale of High, Good, Moderate, Poor or Bad. A map shows the Yare to share this category with most of England’s rivers. Only 15% of rivers are rated as being in “good” ecological health.

River health is moderate. How healthy are these?

Ecological health is assessed by looking at the state of what is living in the river environment. “The presence, absence and abundance of species is a good indication of the general health of a river.” 

There is no river in England rated as “good” for chemical health or for overall health.

The detailed State of Our Rivers Report for 2024 is an in-depth study of the condition of our rivers and suggestions solutions and actions for improving the health of our rivers.

YVS has already reported on the Norfolk Rivers Trust’s work at various points on the river in the valley to improve water quality by modifying river flow and to improve resilience of wetlands to drought by interconnected scrapes.

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Nature boost for Norwich: Sweet Briar Marshes Opening

In recent years, and particularly since Covid, there has been a marked increase in public use of our green spaces, as evidenced by the increase in wear on the paths of the Valley, and the increase in the number of new paths. YVS is getting reports of a decline in wildlife in the Valley (e.g. disappearance of water voles) and the suspicion is that the wildlife of Norwich is becoming degraded as a consequence of greater human intrusion.

Worn and widening path at UEA

The good news is that some relief is on its way. The green space of Norwich is being extended with the addition of marshes that will be managed for a balance between wildlife and people. After much preparation, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT), is opening its new 36 hectare (90 acre) Norwich nature reserve, Sweet Briar Marshes.

The marshes will become open free to the public, and the NWT invites you to free opening activities on Sunday 12th May. You are invited also to lunchtime and evening drop-in walks each day from Monday 13th to Friday 17th May.

An added attraction is that NWT have partnered with Norfolk and Norwich Festival, to create “On Our Doorsteps”, part of a nationwide project exploring the relationship between urban communities and the green spaces around us. You can view the newly commissioned temporary artworks from Friday 10 May-Sunday 9 June.

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Eaton Parish Eco Fair Saturday 11th May

Following the success of previous Eco Fairs, St Andrew’s Eaton hosts again an Eco Fair:

The day will begin with an early morning birdwatching walk with Phil Atkinson along the River Yare – meet in Waitrose Car Park at 7am. The fair itself will be opened at 10 am by Rachel Sowerby, the Bishop of Norwich’s Environmental Research Officer and will be open until 2.00 pm. The day will end with an evening talk hosted by the Eaton Village Residents’ Association. Helen Baczkowska, Senior Manager Nature Recovery at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, will be speaking on ‘Bringing back Norfolk’s wildlife – what is happening and how you can help?’ Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

More details are here.

Part of the Yare Valley Society display at the Fair explains why Eaton is well placed to be in the vanguard of the fightback to halt, and eventually reverse, biodiversity loss:

A panel from the YVS Eco Fair Display

Come along and support us and other environmentally friendly organisations at the Fair.

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Conservation Volunteers May Programme

Mark Webster writes:

“May the fourth be with you soon, and the 5th and 6th, but our tasks resume on Monday 7th May.  The jolly trips have been lovely but I’m sure our task days will be just as much fun, especially as the Balsam and the Bracken are growing and will need to kept under control, giving us the chance to enjoy some beautiful scenery along the River Wensum and elsewhere.  There’s also a couple of chance to get involved with the creation of new wildflower meadows, plus the making of a pond-dipping platform which will give kids the chance to discover aquatic minibeasts…although we might have go first!”

The programme for May is here.