Celebrate National Parks Week on the Broads
What do you do after weeks of watching football and tennis? Answer: Escape into the beauty of the Broads and celebrate National Parks Week July 21 - 28.
The Week is a chance to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Britain’s 14 National Parks, which include the Broads, and the Broads Authority has laid on a special programme of events to help you do just that.
Hoveton Riverside Park Open Day starts the fun with a kaleidoscope of Broads experiences at the riverside park near Wroxham on Sunday 23 July 10.30am-3.30pm. There will be guided and self-guided trails, dyke dipping, and countryside experiences for children, music by the Taverham Brass Band, trips aboard a traditional Broads reed lighter and canoe trails.
The magical, outdoor Nutmeg Puppet Show, aptly called ‘Heatwave’, will be performed free of charge at 11.00am and 2.30pm. It will be moving on to Horsey Mill on Tuesday 25 July at 11.30am and 3.00pm and Bungay Castle Green on Thursday 27 July at 11.30am and 3.00pm.
Under the theme 'Stretch Your Legs, Stretch Your Mind', the Broads Authority has organised a guided walk 'The Flying Jewels of the Wetlands' on Wednesday 26 July between 2.00pm and 4.00pm on the beautiful Bure Marshes National Nature Reserve. Full of special plants and animals, this enchanting wetland is guaranteed to provide you with plenty of amazing experiences to remind you what a wonderful place the Broads really is. This event is free so meet at Woodbastwick moorings/car park, Ferry Road, Woodbastwick and make it a day to remember.
To round off the day you could join a gentle Evening Stroll in the Broads between 7.30pm and 9.00pm taking in the panoramic views of Barton Broad and its wildlife. This is an easy access stroll suitable for everyone. The local rangers will provide you with a fascinating insight into the history and wildlife of this part of the Broads. There is no need to book on this free event, just meet at Long Road car park near Gay’s Staithe, Irstead. The walk is suitable for wheelchair users and there is an easy access car park if necessary. Please phone 07900 266496 if you need to be met from this car park.
There will be hours of fun for children on the same day with pond dipping to see what lives under the water at Whitlingham Great Broad, right on the doorstep of Norwich. Sessions run hourly from 10.00am to 1.00pm and cost £1 a child. There is a car park charge of £1 for 2 hours, £3 all day. Book at Beccles Broads Information Centre, 01502 713196.
If you want to take to the water why not pack up a picnic and hire a day boat from one of the many Broads boatyards and explore the Broads for yourself? Or go on a canoe trail silently exploring miles of quiet, undisturbed tributaries, dykes and streams, often not seeing another soul, but with kingfishers, dragonflies and even the elusive otter for company. You can hire two and three seater Canadian canoes from one of six centres for £25 a day or £15 a half day. Or on Wednesday 26 July go on an evening guided canoe wildlife trail on the River Wensum from £10 a head. Contact Mark Wilkinson 01603 499177.
National Parks Week is a great opportunity to visit How Hill National Nature Reserve with its wildlife water trail aboard the 'Electric Eel', nature trails and marshman’s museum. The Broads Authority also runs trips aboard the solar powered boat ‘Ra’ on Barton Broad, an electric reed lighter, ‘Helen’ at Ranworth Staithe and on an Edwardian-style boat, the ‘Liana’ at Beccles.
You'll find lots of ideas here for your visit to the Broads, including all the Fun in the Broads events, boat trips, canoe hire details and Broads Information Centres.
13/07/2006
