A second award for Trinity Broads
The Trinity Broads have won a second award after fifteen years of work to restore water and wetland habitats and involve the local community in improving the special environment.
The broads, that supply drinking water to Great Yarmouth and surrounding villages, have won the UK Landscape Award for the East of England which was created by the European Landscape Convention. Earlier this year they also won a prestigious Waterways Renaissance Award.
The Trinity Broads Partnership – whose members are the Broads Authority, Essex and Suffolk Water, Natural England and the Environment Agency - have pooled their expertise, resources and commitment since 1995 to tackle pollution sources, restore neglected fens, mud-pump and manage non-native species such as mink.
This was the first project in the UK to bio-manipulate an entire lake. An innovative technique was used at Ormesby Broad to encourage water fleas to thrive and clear the water of algae, encouraging aquatic plants to grow and a diverse fish community to develop. The resultant clear water has now permeated to the other broads in the group.
The Trinity Broads is an internationally important nature reserve and has the best remaining reedswamp vegetation anywhere in the broads.
Andrea Kelly, Head of Conservation at the Broads Authority, said: “This is wonderful news. I am lucky to have been involved in the project from day one and it is fantastic to see how the wildlife has recovered. The Trinity Broads Partnership’s work also helps to improve water quality therefore reducing the amount of water treatment required and associated carbon emissions showing how a small biodiversity project can result in massive gains for people and the wider environment. The Partnership and its many volunteers are delighted that yet again our success has been recognised.”
In the last few years rare plants such as the holly-leaved naiad and stoneworts have reappeared. Otters are now a common sight, while bitterns have been looking to nest in the area.
Fishing was formerly limited to roach and bream but now catches of pike, perch, tench and rudd are common. The reedswamp management has ensured that populations of tiny rare snails such as the Desmoulin’s whorl snail have continued to thrive.
Access has improved for people with limited mobility with better parking, a new boardwalk to the broad’s edge, a bird hide, fishing platforms and a wheelchair accessible boat for fishing and wildlife trips.
A dedicated volunteer group has helped with the restoration. As well as managing the reed swamp, they have cleared scrub and invasive species, maintained visitor areas such as paths and boardwalks, carried out wildlife surveys and helped with events. Local farmers and eight volunteer wardens have also helped with the restoration work.
As regional winners of a Landscape Award the Trinity Broads will now go forward to the UK finals which will be held at the European Landscape Convention Conference in Liverpool on 8th November.
11/10/10
