New boardwalk opens at Hoveton Riverside Park Open Day
A new 63 m non-slip boardwalk opens to celebrate National Parks Week at Hoveton Riverside Park Open Day on Sunday 23 July at 10.00am.
The boardwalk is a vital link between the longest Broads Authority 24 hour moorings at Hoveton Viaduct, Hoveton Riverside Park and Hoveton village.
It is to be opened at 10.00am by Arthur Hindley, a Hoveton resident for 40 years, a former Great Yarmouth Port and Haven and Broads Authority river inspector, and the county chairman of the Royal British Legion.
The boardwalk, built of non-slip decking, was built in four months during the winter by the Broads Authority Project Team and volunteers. Piling had to be driven 12 m into the marsh in some places.
The £16,000 project was paid for by additional funding from Defra to improve easy access within the Broads. The budget included Network Rail licences, making trees safe near the boardwalk and building a 10 m long safety shelter under the viaduct to meet health and safety requirements, which during its construction, became popular as a mating area for resident frogs! A potential bat roost was also made safe.
The Broads Authority Countryside Volunteer Team cleared scrub and trees ready for the building of the boardwalk and reprofiled the spring meadow pond at the far end of the boardwalk to provide a shelf for emergent water plants to grow and allow ease of access for amphibians. They cut the reed and sedge beds on a rotation basis to provide a mosaic of habitats for wildlife.
Elaina Slark, Countryside Ranger for the Bure Valley, said: ”The area has been managed to attract a wide variety of wildlife and the boardwalk now provides a beautiful riverside walk right on the edge of Hoveton. It is visted by kingfishers, siskins, marsh tits, tree creepers, gold finches, great spotted woodpeckers and snow buntings.”
Factfile
The traditional Hoveton Riverside Park Open Day will be in full swing with Nutmeg Puppet Company performing its free, environmental, open air show, 'Heatwave', at 11.00am and 2.30pm, music from the Taverham Brass Band at 12.00pm and 1.15pm, guided and self-guided trails, dyke dipping and other countryside activities for children.
Step aboard a traditional Broads reed lighter - a boat used by marshmen for transporting reeds - for a 40 minute boat trip down river, or the more adventurous can embark on an hour long canoe trail. Reed lighter trips run every hour from 11.00am - 3.00pm, and cost £3 for adults and £2 for children. Family ticket £8. Book on the day. Canoe trails run at 12.00pm, 1.15pm and 3.30pm and cost £7.50 for adults and £5 children. Book at Beccles Broads Information Centre on 01502 713196.
17/07/2006
