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BFER March Newsletter 2022

View this email in your browser Download as a PDF BFER NEWSLETTER 10th EDITION – March 2022 Welcome to the BFER newsletter Hello again from the BFER scheme. It seems like only yesterday that I wrote the intro for the last newsletter, and although the snowdrops and aconites are still flowering, another month has passed, […]

BFER NEWSLETTER
10th EDITION – March 2022

Welcome to the BFER newsletter

Hello again from the BFER scheme. It seems like only yesterday that I wrote the intro for the last newsletter, and although the snowdrops and aconites are still flowering, another month has passed, and along with it several big storms and strange weather have hit us in the Brecks. We may yet have some snow, but our thoughts are definitely focussed on better weather and lots of interesting things to get involved with this Spring.

This month our newsletter is a very visual one as we’ve been getting out and about and are keen to share what we’ve been up to. I’m also delighted to report that we have successfully recruited our new Volunteer and Engagement Officer, who will join our team later this month – more on that in the next newsletter.

The first oral history interviews are also starting to take place as part of the ‘Tales From the River’ project, which is really exciting.

We will be holding several drop-in events in the spring where people can find out more and share their experiences of the wonderful Brecks Rivers. The first of these will be at Thetford Library on the 3rd of May

In other news, BFER partners had a successful (although still online) Collaborative working and BFER Legacy Forum in February. Attended by a really encouraging number of people, it provided a great opportunity for discussion about future opportunities for landscape heritage, the negative impacts of Covid on the Scheme, as well as the positive outcomes of working in new ways with new partners.

Once again, I hope you enjoy reading about some of the highlights of this month in our newsletter, and would encourage you to visit the website for more information on these and our other projects

BFER Scheme Manager

Project Focus
 

1.3 – Little Ouse River Improvement
This month we have been out again with our 360 camera visiting the newly constructed fish pass at Brandon Staunch. We were hoping for a bright and sunny day, but when we arrived it was very grey and started to rain. An hour later the sun came out and the landscape came to life. See below two photos shot with the 360 camera, just an hour apart. Which photo do you prefer?

 

1.6 – Managing the Margins: Riparian Landowner Advice


 

A new interactive mapping portal produced by Norfolk Rivers Trust has just been added to our website. This is an amazing tool that riparian landowners in the Brecks can use to discover the characteristics of their local river catchment area.
 

4.5 Volunteer Hub & Engagement


credit: Kevin Marshall
 

In February, we hosted another guided walk at Knettishall Heath. The route took walker’s past Lady Diana’s old school at Riddlesworth Hall. 

We are continuing more of these guided walks with the next one happening in March. If you have any ideas for walks, locations, themes, or you’d like us to host your group or organisation for a Brecks walk, please get in touch: BFER.admin@suffolk.gov.uk
 

NEXT GUIDED WALK THURS 17th March
 
If you are interested in joining our next guided walk, led by Positive Steps Fitness & Wellbeing, and want to find out more information: click here

4.6 – 3rd Party Grant Fund (Bury Trout Club)
In February we met up with David Hudson from the Bury Trout Club to see the completed works on the River Lark. Bury Trout Club was awarded a 3rd Party Grant Fund last year to build structures during several volunteer work parties. They’re made from brash bundles that would narrow the river to improve habitats and restore breeding grounds for fish and insects. Using the new drone we could see that the work is already having an effect.
 


 
 

In other news

Our Tales from the River project volunteers have been busy organising interviews with local people about their stories and memories of the rivers in the Brecks. Click the video below to hear an extract from our first story with Mary interviewed by Helaine.


We are delighted to announce that we have hired a new Volunteer and Engagement officer who will be starting this month. We are very excited to welcome our new team member and will introduce you all to her in the next newsletter.
 

Upcoming Events

We are really excited to share with you some of the wonderful outdoor events and activities that are in the pipeline.

BFER Events

Lynford Arboretum Guided Walk: 17th March
The starting point is Lynford Arboretum car park and our walk will take us where woolly mammoths once roamed, and where Dad’s Army was filmed! Lead by Positive Steps Fitness & Wellbeing

West Stow Open Day Weekend: 26th to 27th March
We will be at the West Stow Anglo Saxon Village open day with a stall and various craft activities, so add this date to your diary and we hope to see lots of you there!

Thetford River Day: 16th July (SAVE THE DATE)
We are looking for partners to come and join us for a day of river celebrations.
Would you like to have a stall or run activities? Then get in touch!

Festival of the Fens – Celebrating 20 years of LOHP event – 3rd July 11am to 4pm
We will be supporting our friends at LOHP at Parkers Piece, opposite Thelnetham Windmill with a stall and hopefully various craft activities, so add this date to your diary and we hope to see lots of you there!

 

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

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

Brecks’ Fen Edge and Rivers LP – Events Volunteers

Bush Adventures UK – Events Volunteers and Garden Volunteers

Charles Burrell Museum – Front of House Volunteer, Main Display Area Guide, Café Staff and Engine Specific Volunteer

Tales from the River – Research Volunteer

Run Breckland – Volunteer Marshals

Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) – Practical Conservation Volunteer

For more information on the opportunities visit: https://brecks.org/bfer/resources/volunteer-hub/

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

Social Media
 
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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:

Tales from the River – Interview ‘Mary’

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Project 2.2 Update March 2022
Bury Trout Club – Project Update February 2022
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