Vision Statement
Vision for The Broads
A shared vision for The Broads is set out in the Broads Plan 2004. The vision, developed from that in the 1997 Broads Plan, was based on feedback received from stakeholders during the preparation of the 2004 plan.
The Broads . . .
An unrivalled naturally functioning wetland ecosystem of international natural and cultural importance, with a landscape that: comprises a mosaic of interconnecting rivers and shallow lakes, fens, marshes, wet woodlands, mud-flats and coastal dunes; supports a wealth of plants and animals; and reflects historic patterns of human activity over many hundreds of years.
A place where people live or work in harmony with its natural and cultural qualities and where the local economy is sustained through small and medium-sized enterprises: building and hiring boats; providing services and accommodation, and producing food and other products locally to meet the needs of visitors; harvesting the fens; and farming livestock on the marshes.
A place where people come to enjoy quietly the special qualities of this wetland landscape: exploring the waterways by boat; exploring on land the extensive network of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways; and pursuing a range of recreational activities that are compatible with its special qualities, environmentally sensitive and socially acceptable, such as sailing, canoeing, fishing, bird-watching and visiting historic sites.
A changing place that, in response to increasing climate and human influences, reflects an increasingly harmonious interaction of people with nature, where local communities enjoy economic prosperity through engagement with the natural environment.
A place where opportunities are sought to enhance and expand the wetland ecosystem, while also seeking to provide wider associated social and cultural benefits, such as flood management and quiet areas for peaceful recreation.
And, importantly, a place treasured for its seclusion and wildness and which provides, in the words of the late Norfolk naturalist Ted Ellis, 'a breathing space for the cure of souls'.
(Broads Plan 2004)
