Projects
What are projects? Our projects cover specific areas or activities within the Broads.
They may be concerned with conservation, land and water management, planning, recreation or visitor services. Most projects involve all of these areas in varying degrees. They usually involve several organisations or individual people working together. They are often jointly funded by these organisations and often have grants from other sources as well. Projects often take place over several years and once completed they need to be maintained and sometimes further developed.
You can find out here about some of our current and past projects.
Duck Broad Island
Barton Broad
Trinity Broads
Upper Thurne
Bittern II
Lound Lakes
Research
MSc Project List
Previous projects managed by, or in partnership with the Broads Authority
Whitlingham Visitor Centre Whitlingham Country Park, situated on the River Yare on the southern fringe of Norwich, is regarded as a gateway to the Broads. The flint barn has been refurbished to provide a visitor centre offering tourist information services, an exhibition space, a meeting venue and a cafe. Funding partners include Norfolk Environmental Waste Services (NEWS), the Countryside Agency, South Norfolk Council, the European Union (EU) LEADER+ and English Heritage. The Broads Authority has responsibility for the management and operation of the visitor centre and cafe.
Restoration of the Norfolk Broads - LIFE funding Carried out between 1993 and 1996, this LIFE project was aimed at increasing the understanding of factors controlling the recovery of broads and developing a range of techniques for their restoration. It focused on research and experimental management for ecological lake restoration, and a whole lake biomanipulation trial was carried out to test the techniques developed in the pilot phase. The project had a total budget of €1million, half of it funded by the EU.
Urgent Action for the Bittern (II) - LIFE funding The Broads Authority was a partner in this RSPB led project. Its aim was to improve the conservation status of the rare bittern by expanding and improving the available breeding habitat at various sites in East Anglia, the species' current stronghold. It was hoped that this would provide suitable habitat in Britain to support a bittern population 2-3 times greater than at present. The total project budget was €1million, half of it EU funded. The Bittern II project, an extension of this successful project, was completed in 2005.
New Wetland Harvest project - LIFE funding This Broads Authority led project, which began in 1997, aimed to establish and test new technology that would enable the harvesting and use of natural materials from wet reed-beds and fens. The project was a major development that allows economic large scale cutting of wet fen using environmentally friendly low ground pressure machinery. Project partners included Anglian Water; English Nature; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; the British Reed Growers Association and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. The whole project cost was just over €1 million with an EU contribution of €492,000.
Developing Sustainable Tourism through improved quality within the Broads - LEADER+ This project is aimed at helping tourism businesses in the Broads to become more sustainable in terms of local economic and environmental issues. To achieve this, a number of different activities are carried out, including training workshops, seminars and business visits. Key aims are to improve quality across the tourism sector and to encourage business owners to become more environmentally friendly through practical steps such as reducing exhaust emissions. The project received £59,600 from LEADER+ towards a total project value of around £209,000. The Broads Authority is the leading partner in this project.
Southern Electric Power Project - LEADER+ This project allowed the Broads Authority to double the number of electric charging points throughout the Broads river system, to enable electric boats to venture further afield. The project was funded by LEADER+ with money from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), local authorities and the Broads Authority.
Filby Broad Shore Enhancement Scheme This project involved the construction of a boardwalk with easy access for disabled visitors. It will not only reduce bank erosion but also provides facilities for angling and bird watching. Additionally, the project provided opportunities for trainees at National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level. The Broads Authority coordinated the building work, with Filby Parish Council as the leading partner. The total project cost of £61,000 was funded by a number of partners.
The Wherryman’s Way - LEADER+ This project saw the creation of a new long distance riverside walk that follows the route of the historic Broads trading wherries between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. The 35-mile Wherryman’s Way winds through existing footpaths, open marshes, reed-beds, grazing meadows and riverside villages along the banks of the River Yare. The strong support of a variety of partners, including the Broads Authority, resulted in the successful launch of this project in August 2005. The total project cost of £187,000 benefited from a major contribution from LEADER+.
