Welcome to THE WINTER NEWSLETTER - January 24
WINTER NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2024
Welcome to the winter edition of the ERRA newsletter and to any new residents and a very happy new year to you all.
A few days ago I had the pleasure of leading some of our committee members on a guided walk around Carlton Marsh Nature Reserve, near Lowestoft. With the National Lottery Heritage Fund's investment of over £4 million in the Suffolk Wildlife’s Trust’s vision for 1000 acres of wildness, the transformation of Carlton Marshes into the southern gateway to the Broads is now complete and it was thrilling for the group to see the results. Spirits were high and there was good banter. It was fortunate that we had largely dry weather with hints of blue sky and interesting cloud formation. We met outside the magnificent visitor centre, had a brief introduction to the reserve by one of the volunteers and then set off. Fortunately, the trails were in excellent condition, perfectly walkable and only muddy at the river’s edge. Once we had returned to the visitor centre we went inside to have some refreshments and met the site manager who was able to give us an interesting and excellent account of the nature reserve. The reserve is a haven for a great variety of wildlife and good times to visit the reserve would be in April when the spring migrants have returned and the reedbed comes alive with their sounds; May, June and July for sightings of a variety of butterflies, dragon flies, the chicks of breeding waders etc. For those of you who aren’t keen on walking around nature reserves but have an interest in wildlife, the visitor centre does host a number of wildlife-related activities, such as garden bird photography talks, creative art collage, drop-in bird feeder making and art classes. For further information, please contact the visitor centre 01502 359480.
WINTER NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2024
Welcome to the winter edition of the ERRA newsletter and to any new residents and a very happy new year to you all.
A few days ago I had the pleasure of leading some of our committee members on a guided walk around Carlton Marsh Nature Reserve, near Lowestoft. With the National Lottery Heritage Fund's investment of over £4 million in the Suffolk Wildlife’s Trust’s vision for 1000 acres of wildness, the transformation of Carlton Marshes into the southern gateway to the Broads is now complete and it was thrilling for the group to see the results. Spirits were high and there was good banter. It was fortunate that we had largely dry weather with hints of blue sky and interesting cloud formation. We met outside the magnificent visitor centre, had a brief introduction to the reserve by one of the volunteers and then set off. Fortunately, the trails were in excellent condition, perfectly walkable and only muddy at the river’s edge. Once we had returned to the visitor centre we went inside to have some refreshments and met the site manager who was able to give us an interesting and excellent account of the nature reserve. The reserve is a haven for a great variety of wildlife and good times to visit the reserve would be in April when the spring migrants have returned and the reedbed comes alive with their sounds; May, June and July for sightings of a variety of butterflies, dragon flies, the chicks of breeding waders etc. For those of you who aren’t keen on walking around nature reserves but have an interest in wildlife, the visitor centre does host a number of wildlife-related activities, such as garden bird photography talks, creative art collage, drop-in bird feeder making and art classes. For further information, please contact the visitor centre 01502 359480.
AGM - 2024
Our AGM will take place on Monday 13 May at 7:30pm when our speaker, from the Norfolk Rivers Trust, will talk about their current work on the River Yare. Please put the date in your diaries now and there will be further details in the next newsletter. Thank you.
Our AGM will take place on Monday 13 May at 7:30pm when our speaker, from the Norfolk Rivers Trust, will talk about their current work on the River Yare. Please put the date in your diaries now and there will be further details in the next newsletter. Thank you.
ERRA Garden Club Closure
We are sorry to have to announce that in spite of Glynis’s plea in the newsletter last summer, no-one has come forward to take over the Gardening Club. Although several members have expressed an interest in making up an informal committee, nothing has materialised and so it has had to close, at least in the short term. We’d like to thank Glynis and her helpers for organising a wide range of interesting talks and visits over the last three years and hopefully someone will come to the rescue and take on the Club. In the meantime lookout for some pop-up events – all is not lost!
We are sorry to have to announce that in spite of Glynis’s plea in the newsletter last summer, no-one has come forward to take over the Gardening Club. Although several members have expressed an interest in making up an informal committee, nothing has materialised and so it has had to close, at least in the short term. We’d like to thank Glynis and her helpers for organising a wide range of interesting talks and visits over the last three years and hopefully someone will come to the rescue and take on the Club. In the meantime lookout for some pop-up events – all is not lost!
Friends of Danby Wood
Discussions are underway to decide on the next work programme which will involve curtailing the domination of nettles along the paths as well as undertaking another litter pick before rubbish is obscured by the growing plants. As soon as a programme has been decided, I will send out details of a date and location as to where we should meet. If anyone has recently moved on to the estate, or has made a new year’s resolution to become involved in the group, please email me, Chris, at clewishiggins@gmail.com and I will include you on our mailing list. If you have never participated before, it is a very rewarding couple of hours a few times a year to help in the upkeep of this fantastic resource that’s right on our doorstep.
Neighbourhood Watch
As you will have seen in the Press, there’s been a surge in shoplifting nationwide including in Norwich where Co-op stores across the city have been affected. Les has been meeting with the two new Neighbourhood Police Inspectors for Norwich and asking them to demonstrate more ‘visible policing’ in local shops. There is nothing too specific to report for Eaton Rise other than that Les is planning to replace the Neighbourhood Watch signage across the estate during 2024.
On a different tack, those residents who have hedges fronting and overhanging the footpaths may wish to think about giving them a prune, especially as the council seems to have someone who goes round looking at this issue and notifying householders if it’s deemed a problem. Thank you.
Discussions are underway to decide on the next work programme which will involve curtailing the domination of nettles along the paths as well as undertaking another litter pick before rubbish is obscured by the growing plants. As soon as a programme has been decided, I will send out details of a date and location as to where we should meet. If anyone has recently moved on to the estate, or has made a new year’s resolution to become involved in the group, please email me, Chris, at clewishiggins@gmail.com and I will include you on our mailing list. If you have never participated before, it is a very rewarding couple of hours a few times a year to help in the upkeep of this fantastic resource that’s right on our doorstep.
Neighbourhood Watch
As you will have seen in the Press, there’s been a surge in shoplifting nationwide including in Norwich where Co-op stores across the city have been affected. Les has been meeting with the two new Neighbourhood Police Inspectors for Norwich and asking them to demonstrate more ‘visible policing’ in local shops. There is nothing too specific to report for Eaton Rise other than that Les is planning to replace the Neighbourhood Watch signage across the estate during 2024.
On a different tack, those residents who have hedges fronting and overhanging the footpaths may wish to think about giving them a prune, especially as the council seems to have someone who goes round looking at this issue and notifying householders if it’s deemed a problem. Thank you.
Danby Park
Some of you may have noticed that the large climbing frame at Danby Park was removed last spring. We contacted Norwich City Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Department to ascertain why this was done and they said that it was removed because of safety concerns. However, it is to be replaced with new equipment later this spring.
We are pleased to report that a new bench, kindly paid for by County Councillor Brian Watkins from his Community Fund has been installed alongside the path on the left as you go into the Danby Close entrance: many thanks to Brian for this. It will be a welcome rest stop at the top of the hill for those walking up from the wood.
Some of you may have noticed that the large climbing frame at Danby Park was removed last spring. We contacted Norwich City Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Department to ascertain why this was done and they said that it was removed because of safety concerns. However, it is to be replaced with new equipment later this spring.
We are pleased to report that a new bench, kindly paid for by County Councillor Brian Watkins from his Community Fund has been installed alongside the path on the left as you go into the Danby Close entrance: many thanks to Brian for this. It will be a welcome rest stop at the top of the hill for those walking up from the wood.
UFC Coffee Mornings
You may remember that for the last two years Gareth Phillips has led a group of volunteers to run ‘Open Doors’ during January and February, providing food and a space to chat in the warmth. He has kindly offered to do something similar this year to be called ‘The Open Doors Café’ on six Mondays from 15 January to 22 February between 10:30am and 2:30pm, excluding 11 February which is the regular Community Lunch. There will be a donations bowl for the food and drink and a ‘Bring and Take’ stall and it is hoped that the café will provide a friendly, comfortable place to sit and get warm, have something hot to eat and drink, chat to friends and make new ones.
You may remember that for the last two years Gareth Phillips has led a group of volunteers to run ‘Open Doors’ during January and February, providing food and a space to chat in the warmth. He has kindly offered to do something similar this year to be called ‘The Open Doors Café’ on six Mondays from 15 January to 22 February between 10:30am and 2:30pm, excluding 11 February which is the regular Community Lunch. There will be a donations bowl for the food and drink and a ‘Bring and Take’ stall and it is hoped that the café will provide a friendly, comfortable place to sit and get warm, have something hot to eat and drink, chat to friends and make new ones.
Future Events
It is hoped that a guided walk on Marston Marsh will be undertaken at some point once a person who knows the wildlife of the marsh can be found.
It is hoped that a guided walk on Marston Marsh will be undertaken at some point once a person who knows the wildlife of the marsh can be found.
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