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Due to family bereavement, Rose O'Neill is now unavailable, and the Broads Society is pleased to introduce: Nick Hall, Political Affairs and Campaigns Manager Campaign for National Parks “The State of the Broads in the Family of National Parks” An illustrated talk to be followed by an interactive discussion, chaired by Dr Mark Collins, Chair of the Broads Society. 3:00pm to 5:00pm, Thursday 11th April. The Auditorium, The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich NR2 1TF S

The Broads have a distinguished heritage in maintaining navigation. It’s the only member of the national park family that has such a long, navigable and tidal inland waterway running through it, which is why the Broads were late to the party in getting full UK protection status. In fact, an international treaty, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, led the way, listing parts of the Broads way back in 1971. Later on, the Broads were protected unde

The Norfolk Broads, a haven for remarkable wildlife, proudly hosts the European Perch (Perca fluviatilis) among its most captivating inhabitants. Beneath the surface of its waters, the perch emerges as a visual spectacle, its body a lush green canvas streaked with bold, dark vertical bars, and its fins a fiery red. More than just a feast for the eyes, the perch embodies the resilience and adaptability of freshwater fish. Despite facing near extinction in the Broads during the

More than 200 navigation authorities look after Britain’s inland waterways. All of these have regulations governing access; many require a licence for boating, using the income to maintain waterway infrastructure. In the case of the Broads Authority, an annual toll is charged, as required by the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988. There are 12,000 boats and over 8,000 boat owners who pay these tolls to enjoy over 200km of navigable tidal rivers and more than 60 moorings in t

Our "Walking in the Broads" series continues with this lovely 4-mile walk which starts from the parking area at Hardley Staithe (Explorer Map OL40 G/R TG388012). Hardley village can be reached from Chedgrave, which is on a good bus route between Norwich and Lowestoft but about two miles distant, via Hardley Road. The route of the walk goes through Hardley Street with its pretty cottages. It then visits St Margaret’s Church, Hardley, with its Norman round tower and 15th centu

The businesses at the site of our boatyard have, over the last 100 years been, severally, known as: Southgate Bros; Southgate Bros Yachting Station; Stalham Yachting Station; Stalham Yacht Services; Moonfleet and, now, Simpson's Boatyard. Before 1945 I believe Josiah Cubitt Teasel (1831-1906) was the first person to run a boating business from the current site of Simpson's Boatyard although the site then was considerably smaller. Teasel was born at Riddlington and was origina

The construction of Herring Bridge at Great Yarmouth has sparked discussions about its impact on the river's ability to flow freely to the sea. For some, the bridge has been an easy target to blame for the flooding in the Broads this winter. In the busy world of social media, lots of different ideas on this subject have been shared, but they are not always correct or complete. For example, the new bridge has reduced the river's width by one-third, but rarely noted is the fact

Broads Pike Swimming below the surface of Norfolk Broads, the Northern pike (Esox lucius) commands the waterways with a quiet, dignified presence. This majestic predator is deeply intertwined with the ecological and cultural fabric of this unique landscape. The Norfolk Broads labyrinth of rivers, lakes, and marshes serve as ideal habitat for the pike. The pike's journey through the waterways of the Norfolk Broads is not just a recent phenomenon but a saga deeply rooted in hi

This pleasant 6-mile walk starts from the village sign on the green in Martham. The village is on a regular bus route from Great Yarmouth. (Explorer map OL40 G/R TG 457180). Martham surrounds a large green bordered by several Georgian houses and containing two duck ponds. There has been a village here since the Saxons settled here around AD 601. The large St Mary's Church in the middle of the village is known as the Cathedral of the Fleggs due to its size and rich interior. T

Hundreds gathered at Hickling Community Barn on Friday 2nd February for a critical meeting to confront the escalating flooding crisis. The event, which fell on World Wetlands Day, marked a pivotal moment, drawing community members, experts, and officials together to face the mounting challenges. The meticulous planning of the event by Duncan Baker MP and his team, which spanned months, was reflected in the presentations by the diverse panel, drawn from the Internal Drainage B

Today marks World Wetlands Day , and in 2024 we are celebrating the huge impact that wetlands have on human wellbeing. Wetlands, are not simply breath taking parts of our natural landscape but also critical ecosystems providing numerous benefits. These unique areas, where water and land intricately intertwine, are vital for the health of our environment and significantly impact human well-being. Among these precious ecosystems, the Broads, the largest of the UK protected fres

When discussing conservation in the Broads, the first thing to remember is that this is not a natural environment. If it was, we could leave it alone, and it would thrive in its own equilibrium. But because it is largely man-made and has been maintained for human purposes for hundreds of years, if it were left to its own devices the broads and rivers would silt up, woodland would encroach, and much of the area would revert to swamp. Clearly, this is not what is needed. The ba