With 3km of towpath reinstated in 2023, the Trust plan worked on the Bramford to Stowmarket Gateway 14 stretch this year (2024).
Many parts of the current footpath have nettle and weed growth between the path and the river, which in the height of summer grow above head height, blocking views and making sections of the path impassable, and thus reducing the walking experience of a riverside walk. Keeping the path adjacent to the river will also dramatically reduce the growth of Himalayan Balsam and the known bankside erosion it causes when it’s dies back in winter. It has been established that constant cutting and mowing areas of Himalayan Balsam can completely eradicate the invasive plant after a two year period.