A River for All G

THE RIVER AND ITS SETTING YOUR RIVER Ipswich is located where it is because of its river. The River The river running through Ipswich, along with its associated Gipping becomes the River Orwell at or near the tidal limit. A RIVER cycle-ways, paths, bridges and green spaces – allows local Technically, the River Gipping enters the River Orwell at sluice people to enjoy relatively traffic-free routes to and from town, gates at Yarmouth Road and West End Road. work, school and other facilities. Ipswich, originally named Gippeswyk, was developed as a FOR ALL Along the river there are opportunities for you to walk and port and river crossing point by the Anglo Saxons. In the cycle for leisure or commuting, walk your dog, watch wildlife, eighth century Ipswich was one of the four most important go fishing, enjoy your lunch break, have a picnic, run, or towns in the country. The Gipping was used by the Vikings A three mile accessible simply enjoy the pleasant surroundings and escape from your and later, in mediaeval times, to transport Caen stone to Bury open space from busy life! The river offers a unique perspective on the town, St Edmunds to build the Abbey and Cathedral. MAINTAINING THE RIVERSIDE its buildings, artworks, history and wildlife, that you cannot Ipswich Historic Waterfront appreciate from the roads. In the 1790s, the River Greenways Project Volunteers Gipping was upgraded by to Sproughton. Although land alongside the river is in different ownerships, various engineering works Within Ipswich, the river path and green spaces along it, there is access along at least one bank all the way from Stoke including locks and cuts. are maintained by the Greenways Countryside Project and Bridge to the old sugar factory and beyond. The map in this It became known as the Ipswich Borough Council. If you would like to get involved and leaflet shows the green spaces alongside the river including Ipswich and Stowmarket help out as a volunteer, please contact the Greenways Project Alderman Canal Local Nature Reserve, the Old Cattle Yard, Navigation or Orwell and on 01473 433995 for further information. West End Road Wildflower Bank, Riverside Road Meadow Gipping Navigation. Email: [email protected]. and the Skate Park near Stoke Bridge. Barges plied their trade Website: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/greenways/ Different sections of the up and down the Gipping River Action Group and on to London and river have very different The River Action Group (RAG) was set up in 1997 to bring other ports. Walk along the characteristics – some are together local groups with an interest in the river and its river path and you will be tidal and have concrete setting. Since then, the group has produced a strategy for following in the footsteps and steel banks, others the river, raised funds for improvements and promoted the of the horses that pulled are freshwater and more river to local people. The Group continues to work to maintain many of the barges. natural looking. Different and improve the river corridor and is always happy to receive wildlife species use these From the 1860s, river trade lost out to the new railway offers of help or any comments or suggestions. The Group varied habitats and provide system, which served the same destinations more quickly and includes representatives from: the Ipswich Society; Sustrans; interest and surprises to at lower cost. Ipswich Wildlife Group; the River Gipping Trust; Greenways the passer-by. Otters and Project; Environment Agency; Ipswich Borough Council and water voles have been Suffolk County Council. You can contact the RAG via the seen at Alderman Canal, Greenways Project (contact details above). estuary birds such as oystercatcher, cormorant and little egret, are common sights on the tidal stretches. The West End Road Wildflower Bank and Riverside Road Meadow have a wide range of plants, insects, amphibians and reptiles. Although canoeing and rowing are not presently allowed along the river (the navigation rights were stopped in 1932), we hope that one day there will be facilities for launching and possibly even boat hire. G A RIVER FOR ALL G Gipping Valley Path Alderman Canal Local Skateboard Park and the sculpture continues upstream to Millennium Green To Riverside Rd To Nature Reserve and “Against the Tide” – Adjacent to Stoke Bramford, Claydon, Needham Sproughton Bus Stop Meadow Bus Stop Recreation Ground – Bridge, the Skate Park is an extremely well Market and Stowmarket (Sproughton Rd) (Bramford Rd) comprising woodland, used sports facility used by large numbers To Stowmarket Riverside Rd meadow, wetland habitats of mostly young people. Mill Rd Tower Y Boss Hall a including reed beds with r The sculpture “Against the Tide” was m Industrial o boardwalks and bridges to u installed by the River Action Group to mark Estate t h explore, as well as space for Church R the start of the river path, heading upstream o Lane Sproughton knock-about football and a from the Waterfront. Road d Sproughton other games. The sculpture is by local artist Laurence Church To Sproughton East Edwards. village, pub, Former Sugar Suffolk Line A14 mill, buses Beet Factory Railway Norwich Line Railway Retail Park CHurcHMan’s WAY – Sarsen Stones – The Ipswich “Stonehenge!” a way-marked walk from A collection of large stones, some standing and Gippeswyk Park to Sproughton some prone, forming a natural seating arena Church via Chantry Park Flood Defence overlooking the river. These stones originate from (approx 2.5 miles). This route “Drop” Barrier London Road sedimentary rock laid down about 60 million can be used as a way to complete years ago and were dug from the river in the a circular walk with the river path. 1970s when the flood defences were built. Contact the Greenways Project for To Copdock more information. Interchange To Alderman Canal Local Nature Reserve Chantry Cut – a straight section To Football Stadium W es of man-made river dug in the 1790s t En and Town Centre d Bridge St Rd to enable navigation and bypass the West End Road Council Offices – existing meandering true river course. Wildflower Bank – (part of headquarters buildings for KEY: the Ipswich flood defences), Suffolk County Council and with quiet riverside path. Ipswich Borough Council. Pedestrians only North Princes St Pedestrians/Cyclists Ranelagh Rd National Cycle Route 51 Sir Bobby Robson Bridge – The Old Cattle Yard – a quiet spot for wildlife, Burrell Rd The river path under the old railway bridge (single pier suspension footbridge) people, history and modern art including “The at this point floods at the highest high tides opened in 2010 allowing people easier Navigator” sculpture (by John Atkin) and spray-can becoming impassable for a short while. access to and from the river path and street art on the river walls. Cattle were offloaded Historic Waterfront and Marina other local facilities. The riverbed at low from trains and corralled here prior to being herded – cafés, pubs, restaurants, boats - a Map not to scale. tide is a major feeding site for gulls and up Prince’s Street to the New Cattle Market on great place to wander or just watch the Distance from Ipswich Waterfront to Sproughton approx. 3 miles. Railway other estuary birds. what is now the Portman Road Car Park. world go by. Princes Street to Riverside Road (for example) is approx 1 mile Station.

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