News

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A Flood Resilient Path in Bowthorpe Southern Park

Some of you have already noticed the felling of Crack Willows in Bowthorpe Southern Park. This is to provide materials to make the path from the Bridge of Dreams to Bowthorpe residences more resilient to the flooding that occurs regularly in the Park. At present the path is being seriously eroded. The willow will be used as edging on both sides of the path to slow the water down and prevent it from washing away the path. The willow logs will be fixed and laid in shallow trenches on both sides of the path.

The flood water is causing the most damage around the culvert pipes. This will be reduced by installing stone gabion baskets filled with reject flints, again to slow the water down, and reduce erosion of the path. The path will then be resurfaced with type one aggregate. This might look a bit harsh at first, but weather and nature will result in it softening into the landscape.

The work is being carried out by the Norwich Fringe Project and will start on Monday 28th April 2025.

Bowthorpe path shortly after initial construction
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Conservation Volunteers Programme April 2025

This month is unusual for having no work for the volunteers scheduled in the Valley. What is on offer is free bus travel to other places on the programme. Next month there will be some “jolly trips” for volunteers. Ideas so far include a boat trip, Blickling/Felbrigg, and Sheringham / the North Norfolk Railway, but more ideas are welcome for the usual 5 days of fun. Keith’s monthly letter and programme are here.

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McCarthy Stone green space link to Strawberry field opens

The last obstruction to accessing the McCarthy Stone green space has now been removed, opening up more possibilities for circular walks in the Valley. In the original plans a stile was proposed for this access point, but YVS argued that a stile was inappropriate for a green space adjacent to a development for the over 55s.

New Strawberry Field/McCarthy Stone green space link. No stile!

The green space has been extensively planted, and so hopefully in a few years’ time the rather stark view from the Strawberry Field into the green space will be softened.

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Conservation Volunteers March Programme

The conservation volunteers will be again in the Valley on the Marsh at UEA this month, on Friday 21st. Other work near to the Valley will be at Bunkers Hill on Friday 7th. Bunkers Hill forms part of a green finger that reaches out from the Bowthorpe Marsh in the Valley and in to the developing Bowthorpe residential area, and so has a contribution to make to the ecological network.

Mark usual pun full newsletter and programme is here. Free bus travel to the conservation sites is on offer for Mondays of this month.

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Public access to McCarthy Stone Green landscaped area

Two of the barriers to the McCarthy Stone green space have now been removed creating two public access points, one of which, with care, is practical for wheelchairs. The planned access point to the Strawberry field still remains blocked by a fence – although able bodied people have found a way round this. On the original plan a stile was envisaged for this point, but YVS has argued that this is not appropriate, particularly for a green space adjacent to an over 55s development, and it has asked for the access to be on the flat.

Wheelchair access from Leander Court/Daisy Hill Court path. Photo: Hilary Hann

One of the two new access points is from the path between Leander Court and Daisy Hill Court apartment blocks, and the other is from the footpath alongside the Cringleford Flyover linking the Yare Valley Walk (riverside walk) with Bluebell Road. The proper opening of the access point from the Strawberry Field will create new opportunities for short circular walks in the Valley.

There has been extensive planting of trees, shrubs and seeding of meadows. YVS asks users of the green space to take care to give the vegetation the best chance to establish itself, ideally by keeping to the surfaced paths.

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Temporary Closure of Marston Marsh Footpath

Matthew Davies, the Norwich Fringe Project Officer, is warning of a temporary closure of one of the paths on Marston Marsh. It is close to the point known locally as “the golf crossing” Matt writes:

“We will be pollarding some willow trees on Marston Marshes:

 The trees are located at the kissing gate which leads onto the hoggin path at the Eaton end of Marston Marshes. what3words /// The simplest way to talk about location”

Signs have been put up locally:

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Landscaping in the Yare Valley

After much delay planting is now underway on the green space adjacent to the McCarthy Stone development on the Bluebell Road.  The landscaped area will have links to the Strawberry Field and to the Yare Valley Walk and will open up opportunities for new green circular walks.

The planting of trees and other environmental mitigations for achieving biodiversity net gain for the development were a condition of the planning approval. From the start of the development the Yare Valley Society has pressed for the completion of the landscaping of the green space and the other required ecological improvements. It has monitored its progress, and provided reports to the Norwich City Council Planning Department. A recent survey by YVS found that most of the environmental mitigations are now in place. Some, such as hedgehog gaps in the boundary fence, and boundary hedgerow infill planting, are still outstanding, and are being followed up.

At most points of entry to the green space there is fencing, and it is probably as well that general public access is restricted until the planted meadow areas have been given time to become established. People have been seen inside the area already. There are surfaced paths, and it is to be hoped they remain on the paths and treat the newly planted areas with respect. Moles already have access:

A mole explores its new environment

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The Fringe Project at Eaton Common

Much of what we enjoy in the Yare Valley is overseen by the Norwich Fringe Project ; supported in many of its projects by a band of volunteers. The volunteers get valuable experience in aspects of conservation work. In January they were at work on Eaton Common:

Here they are pollarding a Crack Willow Tree. An explanation of why this has become necessary, and for more pictures of their activities go to the YVS Facebook Page.

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Conservation Volunteers Programme February

The Conservation Volunteers reach out to some new sites this month, together with no less than three SSSI sites. In the Yare Valley they will be cutting and raking in the UEA reedbeds on Monday the 24th February. A letter from the team Leader, Mark Webster, and the full programme of activities is here.

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Conservation Volunteers January Programme

The conservation volunteers spread their wings still further with half a dozen new sites added to their programme this month. No work planned for the Yare Valley, but plenty of opportunities to become involved elsewhere. The organiser Mark Webster writes: “While the birds are having a rest from breeding, for us it’s full tilt on habitat improvement works over the winter, with a focus on ponds, woodlands and heaths, including three designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) at East Ruston, Swannington Upgate, and Flordon.” His full letter to Volunteers together with the this month’s Programme is here.

All are welcome to come along and get active!