Broadland Catchment Partnership

Catchment partnership vision

The nature and value of water, and the benefits that the catchment provides, are widely recognised and understood. Those who manage the land to provide these benefits are adequately rewarded. Agriculture and water treatment are sustainable and organisations involved with the management of land and water work together effectively. We have met the challenging targets to improve water quality, water supply and flood protection. Widespread understanding and support has motivated many people to change their practices to make a positive contribution. Rivers function more naturally. The catchment supports a range of habitats and native species and is becoming adapted to climate change. Local action brings multiple benefits and wildlife dependent on water is thriving and able to move around. Communities embrace and celebrate waterbodies in their local environment whilst their enthusiasm and knowledge is sought in decision-making. Recreational use of water has increased in a sustainable way.

Related websites

Find out more about the activities and ambitions of this catchment partnership and how you can get involved to help improve the water environment in the catchment.

• Broadland Catchment Partnership webpage
• Catchment Management Plans on CaBA website

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

As Broadland Catchment Partnership we hold regular meetings with a wide range of stakeholders to share knowledge, ideas and facilitate collaboration. We have shared multiple ecosystem services and run-off modelling through a web map to locate interventions for multiple benefits and collaborative projects. We have reduced arable run-off using silt traps through a series of projects and the Water Sensitive Farming project has been promoting and funding: compaction remediation, tramline management, cover crops, reduced tillage, controlled traffic, undersowing, mechanical weeding and regenerative agriculture. We formed the Wensum Catchment Partnership, supported by an officer to facilitate river habitat improvement and diffuse pollution reduction, who have established a citizen science water quality testing pilot run through Norfolk Rivers Trust. We are working closely with The Upper Wensum Cluster Farm Group (Wensum Farmers) who have established an innovative water quality testing programme to measure their reduction in leaching and run-off. The Waveney Catchment Partnership has been working with volunteers, agronomists and farmers to improve land management, river and riparian habitats, and hay meadows working closely with Water & Woodland Farm Cluster Group, which has received funding for a project working with farmers to reduce fertiliser application and monitor runoff. We have enhanced river habitat in many of the catchments, most notably via the Upper Bure Valley (Riverlands) Partnership and undertaken Natural Flood Management at Buxton (Bure) and Worthing (Wensum). We have improved fish passage most recently on the River Tiffey (Yare).

Partnership development plans

We will build on our successes and collaborate with more stakeholders, at the strategic and local level. We are exploring new ideas and projects with people and organisations who share the same goals e.g. Water Resources East, Environmental Land Management Pilots, WWF and private companies (e.g. Coca-Cola and Tesco). We will also engage with local people through citizen science including water quality monitoring (e.g. CastCo) and through opportunities such as bathing water status (e.g. Waveney). We plan to strengthen the partnership by reaching out to local action groups e.g. Climate Friendly Flegg, South Yare Wildlife Group and Felbeck Trust. We plan to work together to identify new opportunities for funding through nutrient neutrality, biodiversity net gain and carbon financing, and bring blended finance options to the work of the partnership. We will engage with local Nature Recovery Strategies in the catchment, which may provide opportunities around water quality and quantity.