People are being urged to follow in the footsteps of royalty and get out on the Broads for Britain's second National Parks Week. (July22nd -29th)
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will be taking a trip on the Broads Authority's solar powered boat 'Ra' on Barton Broad on Tuesday (July 26th) to celebrate the magical qualities of Britain's National Parks. The regular daily 11/4 hour boat trip is just one of the many water borne activities on offer on the Broads.
The week, packed with special family events, is aimed at enticing the public into some of Britain's most beautiful countryside and making them aware of the health and emotional benefits and recreational opportunities on offer.
On the Broads the week kicks off on Friday (22nd) with a landrover safari, transporting visitors from the heart of Norwich into the secrets of the Broads. The first stop will be Barton Broad nature reserve when people will board the solar boat 'Ra' to visit hidden wildlife places inaccessible by land. The trip will move on to How Hill to call in at a traditional marshman's cottage, and then tour St Benet's Abbey. The trip is already fully booked but more safaris to different parts of the Broads will be organised later in the year.
On Saturday July 23rd water borne and land based fun and frolics will be going on at Hoveton Riverside Park Open Day, off Station Road, from 10.30 am -3.30 pm. This is the only public place to get down to the water's edge in Hoveton and here there will be 11/2 hour guided Canadian canoe trails at 11am, 1pm and 3pm and half hour wherry trips. Pond dipping, environmental games and wildlife face painting will be on offer as well as Nutmeg Puppet Company performing 'Apple Pip', a show for younger children, free of charge at 12 noon and 2pm. Live jazz will be played from 11am -12 noon and 1pm -2pm. Advance booking for the canoe trails is available from Beccles Broads Information Centre on 01502 713196.
On Monday July 25th, 1.15pm - 4.45pm, the public are invited to join a country park ranger for a cruise from the centre of Norwich to Whitlingham Country Park. They will disembark for a stroll around the Great Broad before boarding the river bus to return to Norwich. Meet at Station Quay, opposite Norwich Railway station. Book in advance at Beccles Broads Information Centre on 01502 713196. Cost: Adult £7, child £5.
On Tuesday July 26th, 10am - 4pm, Norfolk Wherry Trust is holding a free open day at the Museum of the Broads, Stalham Staithe. This is a chance to go on board the oldest trading wherry on the Broads, the black-sailed Albion. Contact: Pamela Oakes on 01603 505815.
On the evening of Wednesday July 27th, 7pm - 9pm, join a Broads Authority countryside ranger on a relaxed, family friendly stroll around Beccles marshes. Meet at Beccles Quay. Contact: Beccles Broads Information Centre on 01502 713196.
On Thursday July 28th, 10am - 4pm, get on your bike and pedal down the disused Waveney Valley Railway line with a countryside ranger to trace the remaining features and learn about the fascinating history of a bygone era. Bring your own bike or hire one! Meet at Outney Meadow Caravan Park, Bungay, and bring a packed lunch and waterproofs. Not suitable for under eights. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Book in advance at Beccles Broads Information Centre on 01502 713196.
Cost including bike hire: Adult £12, child £7. If bringing own bike Adult £5 child £3.
The final day of the week, Friday July 29th, will be celebrated with three events. A Moth Evening is being held at Salhouse Broad, meeting in the car park, from 8.30pm - midnight, when there will be a chance to see and learn about some of the broad's most secret creatures. Tea and coffee will be served. Book in advance with Rosanna Dollman, on 01603 721144.
Cost: Adults £5, children free.
A free 1920's musical comedy woven from local history is being performed at the Locks Inn, Geldeston at 6pm by Spin-Off Theatre Company. 'Snapped Again' provides fun for all the family, with songs and frolics from a period of unparalleled frothiness!
During the day a second landrover safari from Norwich will be exploring Hickling nature reserve, transferring to a boat to visit secret wildlife places inaccessible from land. It will then move on to the coast, and onto Cockshoot Broad boardwalk on the River Bure. This event is fully booked.
There are plenty of opportunities to design your own trip to the Broads.
The Broads Authority and Norfolk Wildlife Trust run several quiet electric boat trips, and there are electric day boats, canoes and bicycles to hire. To find out all that is going on in this special wetland pick up a free Broadcaster magazine from the Broads Authority's office at 18 Colegate, Norwich, tel: 01603 610734 or any Broads information centre, or visit http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk
To book the 'Ra' or any of the Broads Authority boat trips ring Hoveton Broads Information Centre tel: 01603 782281 or any of the Broads Information Centres. To book the Norfolk Wildlife Trust water trail on Hickling Broad ring 01692 598276; for the NWT Ranworth Broad water trail from the floating Wildlife Centre ring 01603 270479, for a boat trip from Salhouse Broad to Hoveton Great Broad Nature Trail call 01603 721144 or 07795 145475.
Reproduced by kind permission of
Broads Authority.
