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Will you help restore our much-loved community boardwalk?
UEA is home to beautiful green spaces and free-for-all high quality facilities that welcome the public onto our community campus. Situated among the many areas of ecological conservation on campus is the UEA broad, a county wildlife site that is rich in biodiversity. A circular boarded path runs along the UEA broad, linking up walking trails along the River Yare in Bowthorpe, Cringleford and Marston Marshes, and offers a tranquil and calm environment for our local community to exercise, unwind and enjoy being in nature.
Our much-loved nature trail around the UEA broad experienced a three-fold increase in usage over the covid-19 pandemic and sadly the boardwalk has been closed off to the public since January 2024 due to health and safety concerns arising from degradation and wear-and-tear. Our neighbouring communities are longing for the site to be re-opened so that they can access this peaceful nature trail and walk the length of the River Yare, however, we must restore the boardwalk before we can re-open access.
We are working with the Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council, as well as local community groups, such as the Yare Valley Society and Norwich Fringe Project, to keep the public informed about plans for the boardwalk replacement and our fundraising progress.
Sustainability and accessibility is key
To restore the boardwalk sustainably and in a way that provides longevity and minimal disruption to the wildlife, as well as offering optimal accessibility, we must invest in the infrastructure and opt for a recycled composite plastic that will last upwards of 25 years. The Development, Alumni and Campaigns Team have been working closely with UEA Estates to ensure that this popular circular trail around the broad and adjoining Blue Bell marsh can be re-opened to the public at the earliest opportunity without compromising on sustainability or disturbing the wildlife.
In addition to offering wellbeing benefits, UEA would like to make visits to the boardwalk area educational and inspiring for all audiences by incorporating interpretation panels around the walk. These interpretation panels will help showcase the heritage of the university, showcase the unique array of wildlife on site and signpost to other free-to-use facilities across the campus, such as our library and the Sainsbury’s Centre, an international art museum housing world-class art collections.
An area of important ecological conservation
The broadwalk serves as a peaceful retreat while also playing a crucial role in ecological conservation efforts. The site’s habitat of fen and wet woodland is exceptionally rare and is classified under the UK’s ‘Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats’ (BAP) Therefore, maintaining access to the boardwalk area is essential. To preserve this important habitat, the UEA Estates team work with the Environment Agency, Norfolk Rivers Trust and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust who conduct site visits and wildlife site surveys every 5 years to accurately record the wildlife present around the broad.
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How You Can Help
Please donate now to support the restoration of the community boardwalk and create a legacy of connection, recreation and shared experiences.
If you’d like to find out more, contact the Development, Alumni and Campaigns Office at giving@uea.ac.uk.