Number 6 July 2012 Broads Explorer Welcome to the sixth electronic version of the Broads Explorer with news from the Broads Authority and details of events and exciting things to do around this magical waterland. Update on Duck Broad island - 3 Outdoors Festival a success - 4 Bunting competition - 2 New home for Ra - 3 Champions scheme - 2 Fun in the Broads - 7 Bunting competition is a winner Champions scheme a success The success of a project which has introduced Dragonflies, kingfishers and swallowtail butterflies dozens of people from ethnic minority backgrounds filled the offices of the Broads Authority as more to the Broads has been marked by a celebration in than 350 pennants designed by local primary school the Houses of Parliament. children for the Broads Bunting Competition fluttered around the building. Mosaic, a partnership between the Campaign for National Parks, the Youth Hostel Association and the The youngsters had been asked to design a pennant on members of the English National Parks family, trained 220 the theme of ‘Britain’s Magical Waterland’ after receiving a people from ethnic minority backgrounds to become talk on the Broads by the Authority’s education officer “community champions” and inspire people from similar Nick Sanderson. backgrounds to visit the countryside. Wherries and windmills were also popular choices for Gita Prasad, trained to be a community champion for the decorating the flags and judges Barbara Greasley, chair of Broads Authority’s Mosaic Project three years ago and Broads Tourism, and Authority chair Stephen Johnson had began taking her two young sons on trips to learn about a tough job choosing just twelve prize-winners. being outdoors. The competition was organized as part of the Enjoy the She said: “My parents wouldn’t think of going out for a Broads campaign 2012 which aims to encourage people leisure activity. That generation prioritised education to come and discover all the area has to offer. The winning over everything else and there was little time for going designs were made into strings of bunting to decorate the for walks. We have tried sailing, canoeing, bird-watching, launch of the Broads Outdoors Festival and will next be pond dipping, archery and mountain biking which I seen at the Picnic in the Park at How Hill on Sunday 29th never thought I could do.” July which celebrates National Parks Week. Gita aims to run two trips a year on the Broads - one The winning pupil, nine-year-old Pierre Loiez (pictured left) for young, vulnerable refugees and the other for ethnic from Coltishall Primary School, won an evening on Broads minority elders over 65. Tours’ trip boat, Vintage Broadsman, for his school. He and the runners-up were also presented with Broads Mother and daughter community champions Ela and goody bags. Martyna Gontarczyk, who moved from Poland to Norwich six years ago, hadn’t visited the Broads until Stephen Johnson said: “We were overwhelmed by the they were introduced to the area by the Mosaic project variety of designs and the imagination that had gone into last year. Ela has since organised half a dozen trips for them. They were all so different. It’s clear the children feel ethnic minorities last summer including guided walks, inspired by their surroundings and have learnt a lot about boat trips and bike rides. Broads history and wildlife, which is wonderful.” Photo: Victor de Jesus Victor Photo: 2 New ‘island’ gets MONOCHROOM KLEUR special visit “Investing in your future” Crossborder cooperation programme 2007-2013 Part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) New home forKLEURCODES trip boat RICHTLIJNEN SPATIERING The Broads Authority’s solar powered passenger boat Ra may be named after an EgyptianC:42 M:14 Y:100 sunK:0 #A2B73Cgod 1 but that didn’t help with the weatherC:76 whenM:48 Y:25 K:0 she#4C7699 3 1 moved to her new home at WhitlinghamC:40 M:40 Y:70 K:10 #998B5E Country Park. 10 The 12-seater boat was lifted by crane above the trees and into the waters of the Great Broad amid hailstones and torrential rain. Expert guides are now running five trips a day until the end of September and four trips a day during October. The Authority’s visitor services supervisor Sam Bates A project to rebuild an eroded spit of land in the The centre void will be filled in with dredged sediment said: “Moving Ra from Barton Broad to Whitlingham Broads has had the seal of approval from the from Heigham Sound next winter, enabling the enables us to reach a much wider audience. Hopefully Authority’s partners in a scheme to find innovative Authority to deepen the navigation channel in the process. this will inspire people’s enthusiasm for the area and ways to reuse sediment dredged from our waterways. The restored reed bed will provide shelter to encourage them to explore the wider Broads network. over-wintering birds. The Prisma project involves sharing expertise on sediment “Additionally, Whitlingham attracts a large number management with organisations in the Netherlands, PRISMA Project Manager for the Broads Authority, William of wheelchair using visitors and Ra’s easy access will Belgium and France. Their representatives came to the Coulet, said: “The four partners have all embarked on provide an excellent opportunity for them to experience Broads in May to see the work that has been undertaken to dredging projects but in different environments, using the pleasures of the waterways.” recreate a lost reed bed at Duck Broad. The cruisers used for different equipment and skills. We have a lot to learn and the site visit were kindly supplied by Herbert Woods. share with each other.” Martin Shaw, chair of Whitlingham Charitable Trust which owns the country park, said: “Ra will be a huge A pilot scheme last year created a 20m x 20m ‘island’ using The Prisma project is funded by the European Regional asset to the country park. She will enable the residents steel baskets filled with sediment as a frame. It proved so Development Fund through the Interreg 2 Seas of Norwich to have a high tech experience on the water successful that another 250 baskets have been installed programme. and get close to the abundant wildlife within a stone’s creating a perimeter of 300m by 40m across the western throw of the city centre.” entrance of the broad. 3 MP helps Broads Volunteers BROADS mark special week OUTDOORS FESTIVAL 5-20 May 2012 Outdoors Festival a Success The MP for Norwich South, Simon Wright (pictured The latest addition to the Wherry Yacht Charter left), found out how hard Broads Authority volunteers Charitable Trust’s fleet the White Moth made an work when he helped them with some conservation impressive appearance at the launch of the Broads tasks to mark National Volunteers Week. Outdoors Festival. He was joined by the Authority’s chairman Dr Stephen She raced a group of local runners from the Tri-Anglia Johnson clearing felled branches in woodland at Triathlon Club between Bramerton and Whitlingham Hoveton Riverside Park with the Ladies’ Group. Country Park, where the launch was held, to recreate the speed challenges made by colourful Broads character Some of the group’s dozen members have been turning Billy Bluelight in the early 1900s. out every week, whatever the weather, for 16 years, to tackle a variety of practical jobs throughout the Broads The celebrated naturalist and award-winning author including coppicing, clearing scrub and mowing Richard Mabey was special guest at the festival’s launch. moorings. He told the crowds: “There is nowhere like the Broads. It Jill Donley, a retired teacher of the deaf, says it keeps her is an example of a county where different land uses and fit. She said: “The Broads is a very special area which has professions get along in the same place. It has a lot to to be maintained. I enjoy being outside and feel that I am teach people about how we can use land together and making a difference.” keep it beautiful and ecologically rich.” Simon Wright MP said: “I was delighted to spend time More than 100 events were held over the two weeks of with a number of regular volunteers who do such the festival including guided walks, cycle rides, treasure fantastic work. I heard about the pleasure they take in hunts and canoe trails. Despite the wet weather, looking after the sites, learning more about the Broads, hundreds of people got out and enjoyed themselves. and making new friends. Staff and members of the Here’s a taste of some of their feedback: Broads Authority also explained to me just how crucial the conservation work of volunteers is. They should be “Great atmosphere and a good range of activities.” commended for their superb efforts.” “Very entertaining - lots for kids to do - a really pleasant experience.” Any vacancies for volunteers will be posted on the Broads Authority’s website: “Really positive people doing great stuff for the “Investing in your future” Crossborder cooperation programme 2007-2013 Part-financed by the European Union www.broads-authority.gov.uk/authority/ environment.” (European Regional Development Fund) volunteer/volunteer-vacancies.html 4 Broads welcomes Dutch and Belgian visitors A party of European visitors to the Broads was given a Wear warm welcome with a trip on board the Wherry Albion followed by the prize of a weekend on a Norfolk Broads it Direct cruiser to explore our magical waterland for themselves. The four Dutch and Belgian visitors were winners of an online quiz organised by the STEP programme which the Broads Authority has been taking part in for the past two years with parks in the Netherlands and Belgium.