Good afternoon everyone,

As I write this, the 2nd COVID Lockdown has been in place for a week and unfortunately we still haven’t been able to secure any clear guidance from the Government regarding the use of private motor boats. I have been working with colleagues in the other inland navigation authorities, the RYA, British Marine and the Inland Waterways Association but to no avail.

The Government very quickly announced that because paddlesports provide exercise they were permitted. No such clarity has been provided regarding private motor boats other than that visiting them for winterising and non-essential maintenance is not permitted. We have been inundated by calls from owners seeking answers and it has been very frustrating that we are unable to pass on any specific guidance. Instead we have been instructed to remind boaters of the need to digest the Government guidance on travel and overnight stays if they are considering going out on their boat.

For full Coronavirus information please see: 
https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/coronavirus-covid-19 
https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/coronavirus-frequently-asked-questions

• From late November and during December, a 100-metre upstream section of the How Hill 24-hour moorings will be refurbished with new wood capping and path repairs. The footpath will still be accessible during this period.
• Work is nearly complete on improvements to the mooring path at Hoveton Viaduct 24-hour moorings (see photo). The work has been carried out on both the upstream and downstream ends of the mooring to further level and increase the width of the path. At the adjacent Hoveton Riverside Park, repairs have taken place on retaining structures to maintain serviceability for users.
• After a minor delay in the installation of electric points at Acle Bridge, the final stage of this work starts on Friday. The pillars should be installed and switched on during November.
• Broadsword volunteers have been busy on the banks of the River Ant near the Stalham Junction (see photo). This work will continue once lockdown ends. 
• New bridge-height gauge-boards are being installed at the mouth of the River Bure in Great Yarmouth. These boards replace the wider boards which were knocked off during a hard collision at the height of the season. 

We are pleased that the Environment Land Management (ELM) scheme is being tested in the Broads with almost 80 farmers and land managers via funding from Defra. 

The full ELMs test and trial report and Action Plan submitted to Defra, and Broads Tier Structure (all PDFs) are essential reading to gain farmer and land manager views about the ELM scheme.

It is great news that we have been granted further work by Defra to investigate the following areas:

• Farmer advice provision in the scheme, which we believe is front and centre to a good ELM scheme.
• Role of a local convenor and a local delivery board in ELM scheme delivery – we want to make things work for land managers, ensuring people get the right information and access finance for managing the more complex wetland habitats of the Broads and river valleys.

For more information see: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/looking-after/projects/environment-land-management-scheme 

The floating pennywort plant has been found on the River Ant, between Tonnage Bridge and Wayford Bridge. This invasive species spreads rapidly in water and can grow up to 20cm a day, creating a dense raft of vegetation, which clogs up streams and rivers.

As a precaution to help prevent any further spread, please do not let dogs swim in this area. See how to identify the pennywort here (PDF) and if you spot it, do not disturb it. Contact NNNSI@norfolk.gov.uk with the location of where you saw it. We will issue more information on efforts to tackle this plant shortly. 

We have just gone out to tender for the replacement of 58 marker posts on Breydon Water over a possible 5 year period. Many of the current wooden posts have suffered with age and adverse weather and some have become rotten/are now missing. The replacement of posts with new longer-lasting steel ones will be welcomed in order to safely mark out the channel for those crossing Breydon.

See more information on the invitation to tender page: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/about-us/how-we-work/transparency/invitations-to-tender

Can you help a final-year student from Kingston University with their research? They are running a survey on National Parks to look at local residents' use of outdoor recreational activities, conservation and conflict within parks. It only takes around 10 minutes and can be found here. 

In November, National Parks UK is launching a great new monthly email newsletter, Postcards from the Parks. Every month it will feature an interview with a public figure or activist about how they were inspired by nature and what they are doing to help others be inspired by or to care for nature as a result. There will also be articles from people working in National Parks about a special location or journey in a Park that has been a big influence on their life. There’ll be regular links to special offers from  partners and news of special events too.

Sign up here to receive your monthly Postcard from the Parks and send this link to friends, partner organisations and family members so that they can sign up too.

Congratulations to last year’s apprentices Eloise, Emily and Becky, who all passed their apprenticeships with flying colours. Having excelled in their college and BA work, their assessor and trainer Des from Easton College was full of praise for them, as was their BA supervisor Matt. They have subsequently been taken on as Trainee Operations Technicians for a year and started their new roles in September. 

Finally, I've been informed of the sad news that Bryan Read recently passed away. Bryan played a huge part in the life of the Broads. As former Chairman of the Port and Haven Commissioners, he had a hand in the creation of the Broads Authority. He led the campaign to save the Hunter Fleet and was deeply involved in the Norfolk Windmills Trust and the Broads Society. He was a great friend of the Authority. All our condolences go out to his family and friends – he will be greatly missed.