Enhancing the Valley for wildlife and informal recreation
A notice posted at the Bluebell Road entrance to the Strawberry Field suggests that work on improvement of paths, signposting, interpretation panels etc. would be taking place this autumn, and that the field would be shut in order to enable the work to be done.
YVS now understand that the work will not now take place until the spring because of the need to complete some formalities. In the meantime, the field will not be shut, and the public will be able to enjoy use of the Field.
The Colney/Bowthorpe bridge linking a Colney bridleway with an ancient track into Bowthorpe is now open. The dreams of half a century have been realised. There are reports of it already being used by “green” commuters between the Norwich Research Park and Bowthorpe. It will not be long before other users of the Valley green space include this tranquil crossing in their circular excursions.
The Colney/Bowthorpe bridge over the Yare is approaching completion. After final certification and transfer documentation is completed it will be handed over to Norfolk County Council. The bridge will link the bridleway at Colney to an ancient track at Bowthorpe. It re-establishes a river crossing that disappeared many years ago. In a plan for the Yare Valley published by the Norwich Society in 1968, one of the projects was for the then existing stepping stones be replaced by a bridge. It was a project long supported by the Yare Valley Society. The dream is now being realised half a century later.
UEA hope to acquire two Elisabeth Frink Sculptures, Mirage I and Mirage II to display as part of their Sculpture Park. Positioned on the north-west edge of the lake, the sculptures would be viewable from the Sainsbury Centre and the Yare Valley Walk. The unveiling of the sculptures at the Sainsbury Centre will coincide with Elisabeth Frink: Humans and other Animals, a major exhibition celebrating the work of Dame Elisabeth Frink born in East Anglia in 1930. More details are to be found in Planning Application 18/01120/F at Norwich City Planning.
South Norfolk District Council are seeking a Compulsory Purchase Order for a strip of land in Colney to enable them to complete the River Yare Pedestrian bridge linking a Colney bridleway from the Watton Road (B1108) with Bowthorpe South Park.