During the October floods two footbridges at Badley were swept away and another dislodged necessitating a long footpath deviation around the bridges. Trust volunteers reinstated all three footbridges. Then one of the footbridges we reinstated floated away in the late May flood. Volunteers reinstated it again and have temporarily tied it to a nearby tree. A more permanent solution will be done soon.
Starting from Badley lock and meeting up to the area mowed the week before at Creeting St Mary. The result is a nice wide path between Hawkes Mill and Badley. Walkers have made their own way around the two 'missing' bridges. Both are in good condition and ready to be reinstated. The Trust hope to do this before the end of the month. Makes a lovely walk from Hawkes Mill / Creeting to Roots and Shoots garden centre with its Caffe. With thanks to them for allowing us to use their car park to get our gear to the river.
The final part of the Pipps Ford lock restoration work was completed in August 2023, leaving it ready for lock gate installation. To do this the lock was pumped dry by damming off the river in front and behind the lock. More info here.
Three RGT Trustees met up with MPs Tom Hunt and Dan Poulter together with Suffolk Council representatives at Baylham on 7th July. They are all very supportive of the work the Trust is doing and are looking at ways to further support us. Copy of Dan Poulter FB page and more volunteer path maintenance work below.
Trust volunteers are now working on keeping the footpath clear of nettles and brambles, suitable for walking in shorts, between Bramford and Badley Lock. The footpath between Bramford and Badley will be cut once per month. Volunteers recently worked on the Bramford to Claydon section.
The Trust have named the footbridge at Baylham ‘Howard’s Bridge’ after our much loved and missed volunteer Les Howard who passed away two years ago. Les was instrumental in the early planning and fund raising stages of the Bridge. At the Trust’s naming ceremony on Sunday 30th April, Les’s wife and family attended with Trustees and volunteers. The footbridge in now open to the public with the official opening by Dr Dan Poulter being on Saturday 20th May. All welcome.
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