Check out the Old Forge Restaurant Blog for details on their recent award of a new star for their accommodation

Great day yesterday with the East of England Tourism, Broads Authority and Wroxham Barns teams, for the launch of the new “ Stay a little longer guides” These guides are a brilliant A5 design printed on recycled paper.

Each one  details the attractions close,

to a different town, all accessible by foot, public transport or bicycle. The emphasis is on sustainable  tourism. So encouraging visitors to recycle the guides, try local produce, and explore an area with a minimal carbon footprint.

The lunch supplied was made from 100% norfolk produce, with Catherine Temples cheese, and the Wroxham Barns own micro brewery beer proving big favourites. We had a chance to spend some time at Wroxham barns feeding the animals, then enjoyed an awesome 2 hour cruise from Wroxham to Salhouse broad and back again.

Today we are off to the launch of the Sustainable Tourism East Guide.

We get to spend time with other tourism provider and have a look around Wroxham Barns

The Guide encourages people to be more responsible by promoting tourism in the immediate area. So attractions which are within walking and bike riding distance. The program has the support of EDDA, Defra and the EU.

The main attraction other than a great networking opportunity we get a local produce buffet and a boat trip on a new type electric cruiser.

Will keep you posted on the specifics of the guides.

Enjoy! http://hwkwright.blogspot.com

The dredging of Heigham Sound will shortly begin in a bid to restore a lost island eroded by tides and grazing geese.

The Broads Authority is trialling an innovative project to use gabion baskets lined with geo-textile materials for the disposal of dredgings from the navigation channel. The interlocking baskets will form a perimeter into which dredged sediment will be placed to form an island.

The experimental work to create a 20m x 20m island will be monitored for a year to assess its viability, stability and habitat creation qualities.  If the trial stage is successful and Natural England, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency agree, the whole island measuring about 1 hectare (2.3 acres) will be restored. This will help separate Duck Broad from the main channel and give shelter to over wintering birds while re-creating reed swamp habitat and restoring channel depth for navigation.

Over £10,000 has been invested in measures to reduce the risk of an outbreak of Prymnesium algae which can prove toxic to fish if the algae blooms. These costs include an impermeable silt curtain which will surround the dredger to limit the release of nutrients and sediment into the main waterway, and monitoring equipment.

Water quality is being tested in three locations on a daily and weekly basis for Prymnesium levels, salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature and turbidity. An emergency action plan in the event of a Prymnesium outbreak has been drawn up between the Broads Authority and Environment Agency.

Rob Rogers, Broads Authority Head of Construction and Facilities, who is managing the work, said: “The project team has worked very closely with Natural England, the Environment Agency and angling groups to address concerns over Prymnesium and aesthetic issues raised during the consultation stages. The water sampling is showing very low levels of Prymnesium and favourable conditions for dredging. The sampling will continue for some weeks after the project to ensure good scientific data is gathered.”

Heigham Sound, which leads to Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere, has silted up to a depth of 90cms in places resulting in some traditional Broads sailing cruisers going aground. Dredging has been delayed because a disposal site could not be found.

The Broads Authority has designed and built the cages based on gabions filled with soil and rock which have been used by the British Army as barricades in Afghanistan. If this pilot scheme is successful it could be rolled out to restore other eroded islands across the Broads. The work, centred on Duck Broad, does not obstruct boating.

Stuck for a short break this half term? try a house boat stay and enjoy the fun of a waterside holiday.
Being fully moored you have the advantage of enjoying a boat holiday with out the need to worry about moorings and traveling each day.

You can find deals for this summer at www.norfolkbroadshouseboats.co.uk Moored at Horning the House Boats “River Lodge” and “Grand Lodge” offer excellent quality accommodation. Being located right on the Norfolk Broads you can hire day boats to explore or head inland to Norwich, all this is within a short drive of the east Norfolk Coast and about 40 mins to the North Norfolk Coast.

The whole point of a break like this is relaxation,

just sit and while the day away with a good book watching the other river boats pass by.The great thing is you never waste time doing nothing on the Norfolk Broads, every moment you dedicate to your self is a moment well spent.

House Boating offers a very relaxed pace of holiday and an individual holiday experience. For details on the great, late prices contact Kerry at eNorfolk Broads Houseboats, please call 01493 369997 or 07801 589627.
e-mail: holidays@watersideleisure.com

Half term deals are at £545.00 for both the “River” and “Grand lodge”

dates 29th May  to 5th June

August dates are 31st July to 31st August  for the “River lodge” you can check the accommodation details and prices at Boat Hire Norfolk Broads