Enhancing the Valley for wildlife and informal recreation
The City Council improvements to Cringleford Meadow are now complete except for an Interpretation Panel that is yet to be added. The new car park has a much improved water permeable surface.
The improved path can be expected to link with other path improvements that are due to come into being as a result of a condition on the McCarthy Stone Phase 2 development on Bluebell Road, Eaton.
A display panel has now been installed next to the Kett’s Trail Sculpture in Eaton giving more details about the historical background of the trail. It also shows the circular walks that are linked with the trail.
A sculpture marks the end point of the recently opened Kett’s Country Long Distance Trail and where it joins the Yare Valley Walk as it crosses Eaton Street. The 18 mile (29 km) trail begins at Wymondham where Kett’s Rebellion began in 1549. It does not follow the route of Kett’s original march on Norwich but does cross the Yare at Cringleford Bridge (built 1520), which was Kett’s initial approach to Norwich on his way to Mousehold Heath.
The sculpture also marks the start point for the “Cringleford’s River Crossings Trail” (3.6 mile, 5.8 km), an attractive circular trail that explores the country on the south side of the river, and crosses back into Norwich just after passing Keswick Mill. Circular trails in the Valley help to take the pressure of the heavily worn paths on the Yare Valley Walk.
A suggested improvement to the circular walk (going counterclockwise) is:
On crossing Cringleford Bridge, turn left into Intwood Road and then turn immediately left into The Loke. On reaching the stables continue directly ahead on to an unsurfaced footpath (right of way) until reaching the entrance to the Cringleford Recreational Ground car park. Cross the car park to the corner diagonally opposite, then skirt the tennis courts and children’s play area on their southwest side to reach a path into Mark Lemmon Close. Turn left and then right to reach Keswick Road and rejoin the route on the map.
Information on the trails, and other circular trails from Kett’s Trail are here.
A project page has been added to the website. It is a page for anyone interested in publishing modest sized projects on aspects of the Valley e.g. the wildflowers to be found on Eaton Common. The first project to appear is a School Community Project by Jamie Kidd. It features the display boards to be found in the Valley on the UEA campus and on Marston Marsh.
Anyone who values the green space of the Yare Valley has free entry to the YVS AGM and talk. The business of the AGM is followed by a talk by Matt Tomlinson from the John Innes Centre:
We normally manage to complete the business of the AGM in the first half hour. We will then be able to enjoy, “Strawberry field: from Ragwort to Riches”, a talk by Dr Matt Tomlinson from the John Innes Centre. Matt works on the anticancer benefits of natural plant compounds. The talk will be of interest to all who wish to see the biodiversity of the Valley improved, and also to those seeking to rewild their gardens. Matt started his interest in the Strawberry Field as a lockdown 2020 project. Over the last two years the Friends of Strawberry field has formed, and is working with the landowner to make changes to the management the field. The field is now rapidly heading towards being a rich community wildflower meadow. Spurred on by these successes the Friends are now also assisting with adjacent hay meadows. More on the work of the Friends and some of the wildflowers that can be seen on the Strawberry field are on their Facebook page
The path in Cringleford Meadow has long been muddy and difficult in times of bad weather. Both the path and the carpark are having their surfaces improved by laying compacted hardcore. The new all-weather path surface should make it easier to stay on the path and avoid trampling the vegetation in attempts to bypass the mud.
The Meadow will be closed from Monday 16th May for 8 weeks. On site notices give the diversion details. YVS understands the contractor will enable evening and weekend pedestrian access to the riverside path when and where safe to do so.
The full works comprise improvements to the path surface of the existing Yare Valley Walk alongside the river between Cringleford Meadow Car Park and the footbridge just north of the A11 flyover. The car park will also receive improvements with a gravel filled plastic grid system, similar to that at Danby Wood carpark, to regularise the surface and make the car park easier to use.
One of the alternative routes uses the not so widely known path alongside the flyover that was brought into being as part of the McCarthy and Stone development.
Our three representatives on the Yare Valley Society Eco Fair display were kept very busy throughout by interested and enquiring viewers. The display highlighted the important roles the Yare Valley green corridor has in promoting biodiversity and combatting the effects of climate change:
It referred also to the factors that continue to threaten the Yare Valley in performing its roles effectively.
The photo was taken prior to opening – after that it was largely hidden by people!
Detail of Panels:
The Yare Valley Society will be at the
THE EATON SPRING ECO FAIR
at St Andrew’s Church and Church Hall in Church Lane, on Saturday 7 May 2022, 10 am to 12 noon.
The Society’s display will highlight the important roles played by the Yare Valley green corridor in combatting and mitigating the effects of climate change. The Society will by joined by organisations such as Norfolk County Council Waste Management, the local Allotment Association, Conservation Volunteers, and more. There will also be stalls run by local companies, shops and business outlets selling environmentally-friendly goods and supplies.
ECO TRAIL
An ECO TRAIL for children and families will be in the Church grounds.
DAWN CHORUS WALK
EVRA (Eaton Village Residents’ Association) are inviting you to start the day with a dawn chorus walk – meet Phil Atkinson at the gate to the Eaton marshes near the golf course at 6.30 am on 7 May.
SWAP EVENT
There’s also a “Swap” event at 5.30 pm in the Hall when you can update your wardrobe, library and toys.
The EVRA website has more details, and the event Flyer is here.
The river valley has woken to Spring. A soft green haze over the trees has begun to appear.
Yellow gorse, dandelions, celandine and Marsh marigolds shine golden in the sun. Swans are nesting and the birds are singing. Butterflies are emerging now, and the marsh walks are being enjoyed by all.
Lovely to see on the river, but perhaps a bit too close for comfort when it is immediately behind you, and you are in a coracle. This was the experience of Mike Gorski. Mike regularly takes photos from his coracle on the River Yare upstream of Cringleford Bridge.