An AI Data Centre is being proposed on the large triangle of land opposite Tesco near Harford Bridge. Data centres are already causing concern in other parts of the country because of their size, energy and water requirements, heat output, etc., etc, …..
The environmental impact of the Centre on the Yare Valley Green infrastructure Corridor could be huge!
Respond now to the pre-planning application consultation which ends on July 12. You can find out more by attending an event at the Keswick Reading Rooms between 3pm and 7pm on July 7 when the plans can be discussed.
Here is a link to what is being proposed: apex Norwich Data Centre . If the link does not work, try using another browser!
The clarity of the Apex site is less than adequate, and so do get along to the event on July 7 if you possibly can.
There are many questions to be asked, and some of the questions the YVS committee will be asking are in the latest Newsletter N128 July 2026.
Many other opportunities to give nature a helping hand in the Valley, but more often further afield, are available through the Conservation Volunteers organised by Mark Webster. The July programme, and Mark’s letter of the month are here.
All are welcome to join a Yare Valley Meadow Makers (YVMM) work party to collect ox-eye daisy seeds from Strawberry Field on Sunday 5th July from 2 to 3 pm. Meet at 2 pm at the main Strawberry Field gate ( on Bluebell Road) near to the McCarthy Stone Sheltered Housing development. YVMM will use the seeds in the autumn to boost its other meadow sites. Please let Matt Tomlinson of the YVMM know if you hope to come along (yarevalleymeadowmakers@gmail.com).
Firstly though, a big thank you for the generosity of all who have contributed to the fund to replace the University of East Anglia (UEA) Boardwalk, exceeding the target of £5,000. The UEA/YVS bids for additional funding would not have been viable without your clear signal of strong community support.
Added to this is now £260,899 of funding from the Greater Norwich Growth Board. Taken together with funds from other sources, the total now covers the estimated cost of replacement of £439,708. Work on the new boardwalk will begin in Autumn 2026 to a timetable that will minimise the disturbance to wildlife. Completion is due in Spring 2027. See the UEA press release for more detail.
The UEA and Yare Valley Society (YVS) are also seeking funding from the National Lottery Community Fund for a “UEA Boardwalk Community Engagement Project”. The Project is a partnership between the YVS and UEA. It will give opportunities for people to say what they expect for the boardwalk, and their views and ideas for a launch event, for creating signage and interpretation panels, and for guiding promotional and educational materials.
The old boardwalkThe UEA team: Justine and Orla
The YVS committee was thrilled to work with a great UEA team. YVS and UEA worked in close cooperation to seek funds from the Greater Norwich Growth Board and the National Lottery Fund. Regular meetings and correspondence took place, and the YVS committee expresses its gratitude to the UEA team, Justine Mann and Orla Condra for their exceptional effort in preparing and assembling the extensive documentation.
Members of the YVS team, the UEA team, UEA Estate team, the Fringe Project, and Eaton Residents Association on site. Photo courtesy of UEA
Volunteers from the Yare Valley Meadow Makers (YVMM) have in recent years put a lot of effort in improving the meadowland at UEA. With trees from the Woodland Trust, they and the UEA Biodiversity Heroes are taking another step to improve the ecology of the meadows. The trees will add to those already planted in February this year.
Matt Tomlinson of the YVMM writes:
“We have 105 wildlife focused native trees coming from the Woodland Trust and need your help to plant them on the UEA Meadows. The trees will give more shade (better able to cope with droughts), increased habitat diversity and link together the wooded habitats on campus and lake sides. As well as providing an excellent habitat in their own right. In the future they will be coppiced to create valuable scrub habitat.
Species include 15 x silver birch, 15 x hazel, 15 x hawthorn, 15 x rowan, 15 x English oak, 30 x blackthorn”
Join the work party at UEA Meadows on Saturday March 7th 10-12 am
Meet at the same place as in February, at the new sign on the UEA meadows (Bluebell Road entrance near North Park Avenue) What3words ///free.doctor.blocks
“I am particularly excited to announce the long-awaited start of the Leaky Dams project in the Tas Valley, where we will be making and installing natural flood defences, using trees sourced from the immediate area to create barriers to slow down floodwaters in a measured way. There’s also more chances to learn the ancient craft of hedge laying at Easton College, restoring a historic pond to how it was in the 1930s (we have the photographic proof of that!) and plenty of hedge and fruit tree planting – including a new community orchard in Cringleford, and new and old sites to see across Broadland. Plus there’s another chance to see the epic Blickling Hall estate.”
The Yare Valley Meadow Makers (YVMM) invite you to join with them and the UEA Biodiversity Heroes in planting trees in the university meadow.
Matt Tomlinson (centre of photo) of the YVMM writes:
“To beat the winter blues we have a winter work party planned, joining with UEA biodiversity heroes.
We are planting trees on the UEA meadows. For more shade (better able to cope with droughts), increased habitat diversity and linking together the wooded habitats on campus and lake sides. As well as providing an excellent habitat in their own right. Species are wild pear, spindle, hazel, blackthorn, rowan and wych elm. All excellent for wildlife, kindly supplied by the council and UEA.
[Come along at] 9-12am on Wednesday 11th February, meet at the new sign [in the photo] on the UEA meadow, if you are a little late please walk down the meadows to find us.”
YVMM hope to have another work party in late February, this time planting trees supplied by the Woodland Trust.
At a meeting on Thursday, 11 December the Greater Norwich Growth Board (GNGB) agreed to recommend to Broadland District, South Norfolk and Norwich City Councils funding of £260,899 for a new UEA Boardwalk. A final decision on the funding should be made by the councils by March 2026.
The funds are from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which is a charge made on developers to finance improvements in local infrastructure and community facilities.
December Dip near old Boardwalk. Alternative route? Photo: Hilary Hann
The new boardwalk beside the River Yare will restore a key link to the popular Yare Valley Walk, and greatly increase opportunities to enjoy, appreciate, and understand the green space of the river valley and its wildlife.
Please write now to your MP to give your strong support to the Lord’s amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 94 and 130 due for imminent consideration.
The Green Infrastructure Corridor provided by the Yare Valley on the edge of South Norwich has important roles in promoting wildlife, limiting and combatting climate change, and as being a place for informal recreation for Norwich residents and beyond. Both of these amendments are importance to safeguard the well-being and continued existence of the Corridor.
The river Yare is one of the globally rare chalk streams capable of sustaining a rich and varied wildlife. Amendment 94 should help to safeguard these precious chalk streams, a responsibility we as individuals, but also as a nation, have towards the retaining this character of wildlife habitat in the world.
Amendment 130 should help to safeguard the Valley’s wildflower meadows and woodlands. Much work has been done in the Valley to improve both in recent years, thanks to the efforts of many volunteers including those with Yare Valley Meadow Makers, the Norwich Fringe Project, the Conservation Volunteers, and, joined most recently, by the UEA Biodiversity Heroes. This effort and goodwill in enhancing the Valley must not be threatened by development that does not properly recognise the value of green space for maintaining human and wildlife well-being.
Either email your MP directly of make use of the Wildlife Trusts website to forward your email.
The award winning Yare Valley Meadow Makers plan two work parties to continue to improve the UEA meadows. Volunteers will use mattocks to create patches of bare earth for sowing wildflower seed. All are welcome to come along and give their support. The work parties will take place on
Sat, Oct 25 at 2-4 PM and Sun, Nov 2 at 10-12 AM
Meet on the UEA meadows by the ziggurat sculpture, WWW///erase.slice.fingernails.
