Exploring the Broads past and future

Bungay High school pupils dug into the origins of the Broads to help launch a plan that sets out a 20 year vision for the future on Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Carlton Marshes. Broads Authority chairman Dr Stephen Johnson launched Broads Plan 2011, the key strategic management plan for the area, alongside students studying environmental conservation at Bungay High School who travelled 6,000 years back in time to explore its past. They dug peat cores from six metres underground which showed them how the landscape of the Broads was formed.

The Broads Plan sets out a ‘Vision for the Broads to 2030’ together with long-term aims and short-term objectives. Over 600 organisations, groups and individuals with an interest in the Broads were invited to contribute to the plan, which is reviewed every five years. “From the peat cores the children were able to see a real example of how water levels have fluctuated in the Broads in response to climate change,” said Broads Authority Education Officer Nick Sanderson. “The peat that forms the Broads holds the key to both the past and the future. It preserves evidence of the historic habitats and vegetation of the area and locks in carbon from the atmosphere which contributes to global warming and climate change.” Helping residents and visitors to adapt to climate change and sea level rise, and leading the way towards a low carbon economy is central to the Broads Authority’s objectives.

It is one of three key priorities for the Broads Authority and its partners over the lifetime of this Broads Plan, alongside the sustainable management of the Broads landscape, biodiversity and navigation and encouraging local people and visitors to enjoy the Broads in a sustainable and caring way.

An electronic version of the Plan has been produced which will provide progress updates, links to relevant documents and partner websites and other supporting information. The e-Plan may be viewed at http://www.broads-plan.co.uk./

The Plan’s structure reflects the integrated and cross-cutting nature of the Broads Authority’s statutory functions, the multiple responsibilities of other agencies and bodies, and the wide variety of partnership working in the Broads area.