Category: Publications

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Sculpture marks end of Kett’s Country Long Distance 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.

Sculpture featuring Cringleford Bridge, and Map display Board

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.

Posted on

Project Page Added

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.

Busy Bee on a project
Posted on

Industry in the Yare Valley

A new Danby Wood display board casts light on the woods industrial past.

Danby Wood Display Board

From the late eighteenth century to the early part of the twentieth century Danby Wood was an industrial site for chalk and flint extraction and had limekilns burning chalk to form quicklime. The chalk and flint was extracted via an extensive network of tunnels that still exists. The tunnels are not open to the public, but some accounts of past explorations of the network are available on the web e.g. EDP article.

Danby Wood is one of five Norwich Local Nature Reserves in the Yare Valley. Details of the other nature reserves are on our Yare Valley Walk page.

Posted on

Is the Bridge of Dreams the haunt of witches?

Jim Moore has been dreaming. He has published the first two books in his projected trilogy of children’s adventure fantasies of Princes and Witches in the Valley: “Radulf the Aetherling” and “The Valley Witches”.

Princes and Witches                                                                                                                      Jim Moore

Characters from the Valley wildlife feature in the books, and the action is set in  locations along the Valley: Earlham Park, University Broad, through Cringleford to Keswick Mill and finally Venta Icenorum where the spirit of Queen Boudicca puts in an appearance. Many of the locations can be walked by the reader.

Jim lives with his wife Sheila and four children in Bowthorpe. He campaigned over many years for the recognition and restoration of the ancient trackway from Bowthorpe to Colney to which the Bridge of Dreams restores a crossing of the river that was lost over 50 years ago.

Haunt of witches?                                                                                                                            Jim Moore

The books can be purchased via Facebook from Jim Moore at £10 plus p+p   or directly from his home address 49 Notykin Street Cloverhill l Bowthorpe Norwich NR5 9DN.  £1 from each book sold will be donated to Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity (SANDS).

A reader’s review of either of the books can be sent to yarevalleysociety@gmail.com for inclusion on our website.