4.3 Accessible Rivers: Improving Access

Project Update

Aims/Objectives

To connect local communities with the River Lark corridor via provision of new public access, interpretation, engagement, and promotion.

To connect the local community with the cut off channel via provision of new and promotion of public access. Releasing access pressure on neighbouring Special Protection Area (SPA).

To Connect the local community with the River Blackbourn valley via promotion of public access, new waymarking and interpretation.

To engage local communities in landscape heritage, and contribute to public health and well-being through the provision of a programme of launch events, guided walks, and activities

Re-connect Thetford to the river for recreation and education and provide a new River Access Point & boat storage facility at Riversdale House

Promote water-based activities and deliver have-a-go sessions for the community

Deliver a new Heritage trail linking the town centre to the historic landscape

Raise awareness of the town’s unique river heritage through community focussed engagement activities

Reach out to new audiences: including residents, and visitors to the town. Core programme to include inclusion of community support groups, Immigrant community groups, and other ‘hard to engage’ audiences.

To improve access for visitors to Lakenheath Fen for visitors with limited mobility. Increase disabled access provision all the way down to the furthest viewpoint and on the short circular route. Improve signage and information for visitors on the reserve.

Summary

This project is a conglomeration of the 5 access improvement opportunities for rivers in the Scheme area.

The River Lark: It will create public access improvements to the 7.5km River Lark corridor including provision of new access routes and a programme of heritage interpretation provision and links between communities. It will deliver new circular trails that promote heritage and health and establish sustainable links to long distance trails that remove recreational pressure on the Special Protection Area (SPA).

The Cut-off Chanel: Public access improvements and new provision of 9.2 km of permissive routes to link the river corridors and cut-off channel including a programme of landscape heritage interpretation provision

The River Blackbourn: Connecting RAF Honnington to Local communities and provide accessible Health walks for communities on the river Blackbourn by creating, signing, and promoting multi distance circular walk routes at Honnington, Sapiston and Fakenham Magna with associated interpretation and leaflet.

The Little Ouse and Thet: Raise awareness of the town’s unique river heritage through community focussed engagement activities; Re-connect Thetford to the river for recreation and education by providing a new River Access Point & boat storage facility at Riversdale House in Thetford; Promote water-based activities and deliver have-a-go sessions for the community

This element will reach out to new audiences including residents, and visitors to the town. Core programme to include inclusion of community support groups, Immigrant community groups, and other ‘hard to engage’ audiences.

The Little Ouse at Lakenheath: Improve access for visitors to Lakenheath Fen for visitors with disability and limited mobility by making tracks, ramps, hides and viewpoints accessible, and upgrading waymarking and signage across the site

All new access will be promoted by launch events and a programme of Health walks and connection to Honnington RAF base for recreational and training run access.

If you’d like to get involved in this project contact us for more information or to be added to the project mailing list: bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk

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