East Anglia Press Releases for the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads with Press Releases and Articles from the Broads Authority in East Anglia, and the East of England UK.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be making their first public appearance in Norfolk as husband and wife on July 26th when they board the Broads Authority's solar powered boat 'Ra' on Barton Broad to celebrate National Parks Week. (July 22nd - July 29th).

The Prince and Duchess will take a trip round Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Barton Broad, second largest of the broads, where Nelson learnt to sail. They will view the Broads Authority's multi million pound lake restoration project, which has improved both depth and water quality, transforming Barton Broad into a prime sailing area.

The Prince and Duchess will be taking to the water during National Parks Week which aims to promote the health, emotional, and recreational benefits of getting back in touch with nature in Britain's most beautiful countryside.

They will be experiencing one of the quiet, eco-friendly ways of enjoying the Broads, which is a member of the National Parks family, and is the only member to have been awarded Beacon council status for its work in promoting sustainable tourism.

'Ra' was Britain's first passenger carrying solar powered boat, which is arguably one of the most benign methods of propulsion, and has a ramp to enable it to carry wheel chairs.

On the broad the Prince and Duchess will view the pilot enclosures, where, through the use of innovative methods, clear water, water plants and wildlife such as otters, have returned.

They will hear the good news story of how the reed and sedge cutting industry, which was in serious decline when the Prince last visited the Broads in 2001, has been turned around. Thanks to a £73,000 project to rejuvenate the industry financed by the Broads Authority's Sustainable Development Fund and the Broads and Rivers Leader+ Programme, it is on the road to recovery.

One of the main successes has been to attract three new young reed and sedge cutters to the trade who will be introduced to the Prince and Duchess.

The Broads Authority's team who built the Barton boardwalk over swamp in difficult conditions, will also be presented to the royal couple.

During National Parks Week Britain's 14 National Parks will be inviting the public to take part in a series of daily outdoor events and activities for people of all ages and abilities.

Prime Minister Tony Blair is one of a number of famous names supporting the campaign.

"I am very supportive of National Parks Week. I wish it every success and hope
in particular that it will bring the National Parks to the attention of all sectors of society,"

he said.

"I am very aware of the benefits they bring, in conserving the country's finest landscapes, in conserving cultural and natural heritage, in providing opportunities for recreation, and in improving the physical and mental well-being of the nation. I would like as many people as possible to realise what the Parks have to offer."

Reproduced by kind permission of Broads Authority.