Minister celebrates National Parks Week in The Broads
Jonathan Shaw, the Landscape and Rural Affairs Minister, visited The Broads on Wednesday 30 July to promote National Parks Week.
National Parks Week, which started on Sunday 27 July and runs until Sunday 3 August, celebrates the special qualities of the 14 areas that make up the UK’s national park family, and its authorities are organising a multitude of events to encourage people to get out and enjoy the countryside.
The Broads Authority's programme of events to mark National Parks Week started with a Picnic in the Park at How Hill (Sunday 27 July) and continues with guided walks, boat trips, canoe trails and a Family Fun Day at Hoveton (Sunday 3 August). The minister joined in the Woodland Survival Course held for youngsters at Whitlingham Country Park and tried his hand at flint knapping.
He also met a group of teenagers who had worked in the park to improve facilities for the public andl presented them with certificates for their achievements.
The minister also went out on the river, visiting the Broads Authority’s new, green headquarters in Norwich, which is nearing completion, and a group of restored windmills on the River Yare.
At Seven Mile House, near Reedham, he had the opportunity to see the history of the drainage of The Broads, visiting North Mill where he met the Broads Authority’s trainee millwrights who will be renovating the brickwork.
He also saw the new flood-banks and moorings created as part of the Broadland Flood Alleviation Project, and learnt of the progress being made in the dredging and disposal of mud from the river.
Kerry Turner, Chair of the Broads Authority said: “We are delighted that the minister has chosen to come to The Broads to celebrate National Parks Week. We are particularly proud of the work we are doing with young people at Whitlingham and it is also a good opportunity to show him the improvements the Authority has made in facilities for visitors.”
31/07/2008
