BFER Newsletter 3rd Edition August 2021

BFER NEWSLETTER
3rd EDITION – AUGUST 2021

Project Focus

Although lots of projects have been incredibly busy this year, here are a few highlights to celebrate key project milestones.

The fantastic new fish ladder and canoe pass at Brandon Staunch are 99% complete. The Larinier-type fish pass is open to fish and (we hope) working well. We’re currently looking at ways to monitor and detect fish using it. Watch this space for updates on that!

The canoe pass is built-in but is currently not accessible as our Environment Agency partners are completing safety signage, and securing the additional funding to re-align the boom at the top of the pass to make it possible to paddle up to the top of the pass.

Read more about the project here

Also, check out our before and after slider on the project page. 

 
Credit: Imogen Radford

In early July we hosted our first event: Tales from the River: Doing research and discovering the archives at Norfolk Record Office. 

This project aims to discover and celebrate Brecks’ swimming and outdoor recreation heritage. It will train and involve volunteers in gathering history, stories, and folklore about recreation in/on/by the Brecks’ rivers and other waters.

In the beautiful setting of Santon Downham, The Norfolk Records Office trainer explained how to access the archives and do your own research, illustrated with examples of relevant documents/maps/material from the collection.

This training session was followed by a discussion on how volunteers can take the project forward.

No previous experience is needed to get involved, and this project is a great opportunity to develop research skills and to put them into practice delving into the rich history and wealth of memories of watery outdoor activities in the Brecks area.

We will also be training and recruiting volunteers in September. If you are interested in getting involved please email bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk to ensure that we send you any relevant information nearer the time. And we are looking for people who have any stories, memories, folklore, old maps, photos or films about swimming and other watery recreation in the Brecks, and would be happy to talk to us about these or send us info.
 
Read more about the project here
 
Contact Imogen Radford imogen36@googlemail.com

We are delighted to announce that the third BFER grant awarded from our small grants fund was awarded to Honington and Sapiston Parish Council this month.

In addition to £500 awarded by Suffolk County Councillor Joanna Spicer, Nick Dickson from the Brecks Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership presented a cheque for £775 to Rob Williams and Linda Howe of Honington and Sapiston Parish Council in support of a new series of Heritage interpretation boards celebrating the rich history of the Parish.

More on that project once the work gets under way!

We have helped fund various projects throughout the Brecks through our 3rd Party Grant Fund, including a series of amphibian pools at the BTO reserve in Thetford, river restoration works on the River Lark with the Bury Trout Club, and most recently Preventing Plastic Pollution with The Rivers Trust which will be awarded a cheque next month.

If you have your own project which you would like funded through the 3rd Party Grant Fund visit our website https://brecks.org/bfer/projects/revealing-the-rivers-connecting-with-communities/4-6-3rd-party-grant-fund/ or email BFER.admin@suffolk.gov.uk

BFER Events

PARTNER Event: RSPB Lakenheath’s Fen Big Wild Sleepout 2021: 14 – 15th August
https://tinyurl.com/RSPBPartnerEvent

BFER Outdoor Swimming Intro: 15th August
For families and children
https://tinyurl.com/OWSwimAug

Norfolk Heritage Open Days: 10th – 19th September
More news to come

BFER Outdoor Swimming Intro: 12th September
Venue still to be confirmed
 

Do you have an event you would like us to promote on our newsletter, on our website, or across our social media pages?

Please complete the form for us to share your event:

Event detail form

Volunteer Opportunities

Our Partners below are recruiting volunteers for a variety of exciting projects in the Brecks:

River Lark Catchment Partnership

Breckland Society

West Stow Country Park

Thetford Town Council Conservation Group

Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Freshwater Habitats Trust

If you are recruiting volunteers in the Brecks area and would like to advertise your opportunities here, please email: bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk

Are you following us on Instagram? Click the photo to view our profile!
 

Are you subscribed to us on YouTube?

We will be creating more video content this year so make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube and hit the notification bell!

While we are out filming videos for you, you can watch our latest video here:

Open Water Lifeguard Training May 2021

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