We are proud to provide a sustainable, affordable, clean and safe water supply and to manage and treat the waste water returned to us in a way that protects the environment.
Funding from Northumbrian Water Limited’s Branch Out initiative has helped the Norfolk Wildlife Trust implement the Wildlife Trust’s nationwide Living Landscapes project within the Bure Valley. The Bure Valley catchment spans from Cotishall in the West to Great Yarmouth in the East and incorporates many areas which are actively managed for conservation. Within the catchment are several sites which are notably important for wildlife:
• Bure Broads and Marshes (SSSI, SAC, SPA and Ramsar site), 741 hectares
• Upton Broad and Marshes, (SSSI, SPA and SAC), 194 hectares
• Trinity Broads (SSSI, SPA and SCA), 444 hectares
Owned largely by Essex & Suffolk Water, the Trinity broads are managed in partnership with the Broads Authority, the Environment Agency and Natural England.
The aims of the Bure Valley Living Landscape project are:
• To enhance connectivity through a long-term, partnership approach for the benefit of people, landscape and wildlife
• To improve water quality
• To develop a naturally functioning wetland system
The Living Landscapes project and the Branch Out initiative share a vision: to enhance and link habitats to benefit both people and wildlife. Through Branch Out, Essex & Suffolk Water are making valuable contributions to the Bure Valley Living Landscape by working with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and other environmental partners to develop conservation and educational opportunities and increase public access and communications. Funds from Branch Out enabled the Norfolk Wildlife Trust to purchase a boat at Ranworth Broad in 2008. Around 70 school visits to Ranworth Broad are made each year and informal learning events are held on the site for both children and adults. The boat has allowed children and adults to get closer to the unique habitat and species of the Broad by increasing site accessibility.
In the 2008-09 financial year, Essex & Suffolk Water provided £15,000 of funding for the Habitat and Visitor Infrastructure Enhancement and Creation project at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Nature Reserve within Upton Broad and Marshes. A component of the Bure Valley Living Landscapes project, this sub-project focuses on habitats and people. Funding from Branch Out has contributed to habitat creation on newly acquired land and fen habitat restoration, through clearance of over 8 hectares of scrub on the Nature Reserve.
The involvement of Branch Out will aid the delivery of other aspects of the Bure Valley Living Landscapes project, including co-ordination land management for conservation and promotion of Environmental Stewardship Schemes and Catchment Sensitive Farming. Essex & Suffolk Water hope to contribute further Branch Out funding in future years to build upon the progress made to date.