Broads Authority's reedcutting revival success wins top award
The Broads Authority has won a Royal Town Planning Institute award for its work in helping to turn around the fortunes of the Broads reed and sedge cutting industry.
Chief Executive John Packman received the top award in the rural areas and the natural environment category at a ceremony in London yesterday (Thursday 2 Feb).
The judges commended the Broads Authority’s planning service for “refusing to accept that the decline in the fortunes of the industry was inevitable and irreversible. They’ve succeeded in creating a climate for partnership working and played a pivotal role in the project. Significant progress has been made and the industry is now in an early recovering phase,” they commented.
John Packman said:” We’re delighted with the result. The judges commented that it was an unusual entry so it stood out in the crowd. The Broads Authority sought to discover why reedcutting was dying out locally while reeds for thatching were being imported from Eastern Europe. Although this led to the illusion of retaining the character of traditional Broads buildings it was at the expense of the environment and local skills.
In 2002 the Broads Authority commissioned a report by Risk and Policy Analysts to address the problem. The results showed the lack of living wage was at the core of the decline and the consultants recommended that the reed and sedge cutters form a group to access grants for basic equipment and acquire further skills to provide earnings during the closed cutting season.
This led to the formation of the Broads Reed and Sedge Cutters Association - a fairly radical development in itself as reedcutters were all one-person businesses run by individuals working largely in isolation.
The Broads Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund has given a total of £67,400 over the last two and half years matched by £57,000 from the European funded Broads and Rivers LEADER + programme.
Two new young reed and sedge cutters have since taken up the trade and the Association has been able to purchase basic cutting machines which are rented to members. The Association provides a voice for the reedcutters. It collaborates with the Broads Authority on management issues and maintains its own website.
The Broads Authority has persuaded landowners and managers to reduce or drop royalty payments for cutting reed and plans to work with the East Anglia Master Thatchers Association to ensure a ready market.
The project has resulted in reed-beds being restored and reed being cut commercially on some sites for the first time in many years.
Broads Authority Conservation Officer Sandie Tolhurst said: ”This kind of project touches so many aspects of people’s lives in the Broads - conservation, historical environment, social and the wellbeing of people living in the area. The project has resulted in a real sense of partnership.”
The Peak District National Park Authority was commended for its work on affordable housing in the same category.
02/02/2006
