Love the Broads

The beautiful and diverse Broads National Park offers so much to see and do for everyone.

But this magical place needs everyone’s support to safeguard its future for generations to come. The Broads Trust is a local charity that aims to do just that, by welcoming donations from visitors, local people and businesses through its fund-raising scheme, Love the Broads.

So far, Love the Broads has given over £100,000 in grants to 54 amazing projects that benefit the landscape and wildlife of the Broads, and help school groups and other visitors to enjoy and understand the special Broads environment. Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve was an early beneficiary. You can find all the projects that have been helped thanks to donations raised at lovethebroads.org.uk.

The scheme has three main elements: businesses and organisations can apply to Love the Broads for funds for projects, they can collect donations to Love the Broads from their visitors and anyone can become involved by donating to Love the Broads or becoming a member.

Many grants are for relatively small amounts that nevertheless make a big difference to projects, or make them more accessible to a wider range of visitors. Organisations such as the Nancy Oldfield Trust, the Museum of the Broads and Burnt Fen Alpacas are just some of those that have benefitted from grants to increase accessibility. The trust's website gives full details about how to apply for funding.

If you run a business serving visitors to the Broads, you could give your customers the chance to show that they love the Broads, again, full details are on the website.

The trust is also developing a network of Discovery Hub information and adventure points, to help visitors discover the landscape, wildlife and history of the Broads, exploring on foot, by bike and by boat. The first three hubs have opened at Salhouse Broad, Beccles Quay and South Beach Parade, Great Yarmouth. The Salhouse hub includes a stargazing net where you can lie back and discover the dark skies and bright stars over the Broads.

Please support the Broads Trust – you’ll be helping to keep the Broads special. There are many ways that you can give a little back and make a real difference to the Broads. You can donate at justgiving.com/nsbct, or become a member or consider leaving a legacy to fund a significant project – contact info@lovethebroads.org.uk. Charity number 1124552

Here are some recent projects that have received funding, which have links to the Broads Authority.

Illegal eel trafficking – a new educational board game and poem

A new educational board game has been developed through a partnership between the Broads Authority, Extraordinary Lives and the University of Plymouth. The board game is accompanied by a poem that is being taken into schools – The Last Eel on Earth – which raises awareness of illegal eel trafficking.

Water, Mills & Marshes Landscape Partnership Scheme – Halvergate Marshes people counters

A grant was provided towards the purchase and installation of five data counters for use during both the preliminary and evaluation stages of the Halvergate Mills Trail project, to obtain data about current use of the existing Halvergate public rights of way network and to measure changes in users' behaviour outside the main visitor season.

Canoe Pontoon at Geldeston Lock

A new canoe platform has been installed at Geldeston Lock on the River Waveney. The structure benefits the increasing number of canoeists within the Broads National Park, with access to a local community pub, local villages and countryside as well as the wider river network. Find out about the Geldeston canoe trails.