Trinity Broads
Encyclopedia
The Trinity Broads are part of the Broads National Park in Norfolk, England, comprising 5 broad
s in total. The three largest are Rollesby Broad, Ormesby Broad and Filby Broad
, and there are two much smaller broads named Lily Broad and Ormesby Little Broad. The broads themselves cover an area of 0.64 square miles (1.7 km²), and form part of an area of 14 square miles (36.3 km²) managed by the Broads Authority, and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
in 1998.
Situated to the north west of Caister-on-Sea
, the Trinity Broads are on a tributary of the River Bure
, but there is no navigable link to the main river system, and they are therefore virtually undisturbed.
. The quality of the water is good, and has been further protected by the construction of a sluice where Muck Fleet meets the River Bure. In order to meet their statutory requirements for conservation and recreation, ESW have formed a partnership with the Broads Authority, the Environment Agency
and English Nature
. A joint management plan has ensured that recreational use is maintained at a low level and the value of the broads as a wildlife habitat is retained. The level of water in Muck Fleet is lower than that of the River Bure, and water from the channel is pumped into the river by Stokesby pumping station, which is maintained by the Internal Drainage Board
.
A project to rectify poor water quality in Ormesby Broad began in 2010. Costing £120,000 over three years, the project involves pumping mud from the bottom of the lake. The mud is rich in nutrients, as a result of agricultural runoff, and removing it increases the capacity of the lake to store water, which is extracted as drinking water, as well as providing better habitat for reedbeds at the edges of the lake. Twelve lagoons were prepared to hold the mud until it dried, but initial archaeological investigation of the site for the lagoons revealed the presence of a Middle Bronze Age field system, the first such system found to the east of the Cambridgeshire Fens. The start of pumping was delayed while the site was investigated. Pumping began in March 2010, but was delayed again when live ammunition was sucked up in the mud, and became trapped in the pumps.
By mid-May, pumping had to stop, due to the rapid growth of aquatic plants. It resumed in August, and by early 2011, around 20000 cubic yards (15,291.1 m³) had been removed. Once the mud has dried, the nutrients in it make it good for fertilising poor-quality soil, and it is ploughed in. When completed, around twice this volume of mud will have been removed from the bottom of the broad.
Besides sailing, the broads are also very popular with anglers
. Recently, new facilities for disabled people have been created, including a special platform for anglers in wheelchair
s. Ormesby Little Broad is used for sailing model yachts, and the Norfolk Model Yacht Club have an arrangement with Essex and Suffolk Water, which allows them to use the broad for this purpose once a month. Like their larger counterparts, the use of petrol or oil engines is not permitted, and all remote control is therefore by electric motors.
Broad
Broad may refer to:* Broad Group, a manufacturing company based in Changsha, global leader in producing absorption chillers* Broad , English gold coin minted under the Commonwealth with a bust of Oliver Cromwell on the obverse...
s in total. The three largest are Rollesby Broad, Ormesby Broad and Filby Broad
Filby Broad
Filby Broad is one of five broads in the Trinity Broads in Norfolk, England. It lies within the Broads National Park, adjacent to the village of Filby...
, and there are two much smaller broads named Lily Broad and Ormesby Little Broad. The broads themselves cover an area of 0.64 square miles (1.7 km²), and form part of an area of 14 square miles (36.3 km²) managed by the Broads Authority, and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
in 1998.
Situated to the north west of Caister-on-Sea
Caister-on-Sea
Caister-on-Sea, also known colloquially as Caister, is a settlement in Norfolk in the United Kingdom, close to the large town of Great Yarmouth. It is a seaside resort and busy holiday destination on the "Golden Mile", with its main attraction being its sandy "Georgian Beach". It is home to Great...
, the Trinity Broads are on a tributary of the River Bure
River Bure
The River Bure is a river in the county of Norfolk, England, most of it in The Broads. The Bure rises near Melton Constable, upstream of Aylsham, which was the original head of navigation. Nowadays, the head of navigation is downstream at Coltishall Bridge...
, but there is no navigable link to the main river system, and they are therefore virtually undisturbed.
Water Supply
In 1995, most of the broads were bought by Essex & Suffolk Water, as a means of supplying water to Great YarmouthGreat Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
. The quality of the water is good, and has been further protected by the construction of a sluice where Muck Fleet meets the River Bure. In order to meet their statutory requirements for conservation and recreation, ESW have formed a partnership with the Broads Authority, the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
and English Nature
English Nature
English Nature was the United Kingdom government agency that promoted the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England between 1990 and 2006...
. A joint management plan has ensured that recreational use is maintained at a low level and the value of the broads as a wildlife habitat is retained. The level of water in Muck Fleet is lower than that of the River Bure, and water from the channel is pumped into the river by Stokesby pumping station, which is maintained by the Internal Drainage Board
Internal Drainage Board
An internal drainage board is a type of operating authority which is established in areas of special drainage need in England and Wales with permissive powers to undertake work to secure clean water drainage and water level management within drainage districts...
.
A project to rectify poor water quality in Ormesby Broad began in 2010. Costing £120,000 over three years, the project involves pumping mud from the bottom of the lake. The mud is rich in nutrients, as a result of agricultural runoff, and removing it increases the capacity of the lake to store water, which is extracted as drinking water, as well as providing better habitat for reedbeds at the edges of the lake. Twelve lagoons were prepared to hold the mud until it dried, but initial archaeological investigation of the site for the lagoons revealed the presence of a Middle Bronze Age field system, the first such system found to the east of the Cambridgeshire Fens. The start of pumping was delayed while the site was investigated. Pumping began in March 2010, but was delayed again when live ammunition was sucked up in the mud, and became trapped in the pumps.
By mid-May, pumping had to stop, due to the rapid growth of aquatic plants. It resumed in August, and by early 2011, around 20000 cubic yards (15,291.1 m³) had been removed. Once the mud has dried, the nutrients in it make it good for fertilising poor-quality soil, and it is ploughed in. When completed, around twice this volume of mud will have been removed from the bottom of the broad.
Recreation
No motor boats are allowed onto the Trinity Broads, although rowing boats and dinghies are available for hire. Muck Fleet, which connects the broads to the River Bure, is too shallow even for such craft.Besides sailing, the broads are also very popular with anglers
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
. Recently, new facilities for disabled people have been created, including a special platform for anglers in wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
s. Ormesby Little Broad is used for sailing model yachts, and the Norfolk Model Yacht Club have an arrangement with Essex and Suffolk Water, which allows them to use the broad for this purpose once a month. Like their larger counterparts, the use of petrol or oil engines is not permitted, and all remote control is therefore by electric motors.