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Have your say on our green and blue space

A consultation is now open on Norwich’s first parks and open spaces strategy. It is at Get Talking Norwich where you can read the draft strategy and respond to questions and say what you think about it. You have the opportunity to use an interactive map to comment on areas of particular interest to you. You will see from the map there are a lot of green spaces in the Yare Valley that you can comment on. The river marks the Norwich boundary. Remember that these green spaces tell only part of the story, because much of the green space of the Valley Corridor lies on the other side of the river, outside of Norwich. What may seem like small insignificant disconnected green spaces on the Norwich side of the river, become linked up once the bigger picture is viewed.

The Yare Valley Society has already taken part in workshops on formulating this new Greater Norwich Green Infrastructure Strategy, and will make further comment on the resulting draft. Please support us by responding to ensure the Yare Valley receives the attention a major Green Infrastructure Corridor deserves.

The consultation is open until Thursday 2 January 2024.

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Sowers and the Reapers

The Yare Valley Meadow Makers has recently been busy preparing the ground for next year’s crop of wildflowers. A lot has been done, and a large area of UEA meadows is now ready for seeding.

Preparing the ground
Taking a break

In the upper picture, look beyond the workers and to the right and you will see lurking in the background “The Reapers” Three in all, they are an addition to the Sainsbury Centre Sculpture Park.

A Reaper up close

The Artist Ivan Morison says “In gaming circles Reapers are a synthetic-organic alien race, connecting us to the fear we share of the mutant monsters sure to come from human techno meddling in plant biology. …” The works are an outcome of the artist’s research residency Towards the Weird Heart of Things at The Sainsbury Centre.

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Work continues on McCarthy Stone Green Space

The development of the McCarthy Stone site saw a significant bite taken out of the green space of the Yare Valley corridor. To compensate, environmental conditions were placed on the planning application approval. In early 2024 the Yare Valley Society became concerned about the slow progress being made towards fulfilling the conditions. It sent a report to the Norwich City council detailing deficiencies. The council acted swiftly, and progress has been made. In October YVS submitted a second report drawing attention to what remained to be done. YVS is pleased to note that most of the promised on-site habitats such as bird boxes, bee bricks and bat boxes had been installed. So far so good, but much remains to be done including planting the green open space to the southwest of the site, the hedging on Bluebell Rd, and the openings for hedgehogs in the boundary fence. While work proceeds there is no public access to the green space.

On the positive side the green open space has been part seeded, paths laid out and seats installed. The chance must not be missed in the present season to plant the promised trees in the green open space.

McCarthy Stone green Space looking south
McCarthy Stone green space looking north
Seats overlooking wildlife basin

When work is completed, the increase in habitats and the landscaped green space will make a valuable contribution to local biodiversity and to accessible public green space.  The green space will link with the Strawberry Field meadow, and its north and south ends will have links to the Yare Valley Walk and so increase the options for short circular walks.

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Conservation Volunteers November Programme

All are welcome to give the support they can. There are big opportunities this month to get your hands dirty and join the volunteers to contribute directly to the wellbeing of Yare Valley wildlife:

Cringleford Bridge Meadow on Monday 4th and Friday 15th

Eaton Burial Ground on Church Lane on the Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th, and Tuesday 12th

Bluebell Woods at Eaton Park on Friday 22nd.

The programme is here. It gives full details including the occasions when lunch will be available.

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Help the Meadow Makers boost our meadows

The Yare Valley Meadow Makers invite you to join them in improving the Yare Valley wildflower meadows. In November (weather permitting) there will be work parties on Saturday the 9th 10 – 12 am and Sunday the 17th 2– 4 pm. Join them on the UEA broad hay meadow at the picnic area by the lake W3W ///ripe.keys.vocab.

They will be doing some raking and creating bare earth patches with mattocks to prepare the meadow for the sowing of more wildflower seed shortly after.

Profusion of ox-eyed daisies in the Strawberry Field Meadow

All help will be much appreciated.  They will have plenty of seed thanks to their own collections and some kind donations from High Ash farm and Norwich City Council earlier this year.

The Yare Valley Meadow Makers direct most of their efforts at improving the Strawberry Field meadow and the UEA hay meadow and the hedgerows that link them.

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Anyone for Cricket?

The view in the direction of Keswick Mill from Eaton Common and the nearby bridleway has changed dramatically in the last day or so as a result of tree felling of Cricket Bat Willow (Salix alba caerulea). After 15 years of growth the time has come to crop the trees and turn them into cricket bats.

The willows mature relatively quickly in the marshy land and there has been a commercially viable market for the wood. It is expected the plantation, which is on private land, will be quickly replanted to produce another crop in 15 or 16 years. The trees must be checked twice a year, and any side shoots removed. This keeps the main stem of the tree free from knots, and so suitable for making cricket bats.

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The Big Autumn Leaf Sweep

Good work has been done at St Andrews Church in Eaton, beside the River Yare, in promoting biodiversity in its churchyard and in hosting Eco-Fairs.

John Thurman (a past chair of YVS) writes:

The churchyard makes a beautiful setting for St Andrew’s Church in Eaton. It’s a place of tranquillity, rich in history and a haven for wildlife. The entrance, through the lychgate and avenue of lime trees, which has welcomed many a wedding party, is open 24 hours every day to all members of the community. Keeping the churchyard in good condition is a year round but very rewarding task – undertaken mainly by volunteers. In autumn, the lime trees shed mountains of leaves which makes it a very busy time for our team of gardeners.



This year we want to invite anybody with an hour or so to spare to join us in the BIG AUTUMN LEAF SWEEP on Saturday November 2nd from 10AM. All are welcome, families with children included. We will provide wheelbarrows and some tools – but if you own a favourite rake, please bring that too! Teas and coffees will be available in the Church Hall, where an Autumn Fair will be taking place that morning.

So please come to help out, to have fun and meet new friends! You don’t have to be a church member – it’s sufficient just to appreciate the surroundings of St Andrew’s as the community asset it has been for many centuries.

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Conservation Volunteers October Programme

Mark Webster writes:

We are looking to thank volunteers old and new by providing lunch for all attendees wherever convenient outlets exist near to where we are working this month, as indicated by L [in the programme] … Could be sandwiches, could be chips, but we will see that people get a decent feed to help keep out the autumn chill. …

Full details of the programme are here.

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Volunteers wanted for Marston Lane Hedge Project

Eaton Village Residents Association (EVRA) are hoping to launch a new project to manage a section of the hedgerows along Marston Lane on the Yare Valley Walk, from its junction with Lindford Drive to the Golf Course crossing. The Project would manage the excess growth of some species, including ivy, and plant suitable species to fill gaps. The project was suggested by Keri Williams.

EVRA have agreement in principle from Norfolk Highways and hope to have support of Eaton Golf Club for any work on their side of the lane. EVRA are planning to start work in the autumn. Keri will lead the project, but will need some volunteers to do the work. If you would like to help with the project, please email evra.vc@live.co.uk

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Conservation Volunteers September Programme

Mark Webster of Conservation Volunteers has, as usual. a varied plan for conservation volunteering opportunities across the County. None is specific to the Yare Valley this month, but all contribute to improving our green environment. New volunteers are always welcome. Full details are available here.