Published: Tuesday, 19th September 2017
World Rivers Day on 24 September 2017 is being celebrated near the banks of the Gaywood River with a free family fun day hosted by partners of the 'Hidden Heritage of the Gaywood River' project.
The event is based around the 12th King's Lynn Scout Hut, Beulah Street, King's Lynn, and takes place between 10am and 2pm.
Activities including tales of the river bank storytelling, mini guided walks around Salters Sanctuary and Gaywood River. Pot decorating and acorn planting, wildlife quizzes, nature and wildlife-inspired crafts, and making fish out of reeds.
There will also be a mobile fish tank and a pond-dipping tank that species that are likely to be found in the Gaywood River can be seen close up. Families can also go on a bug hunt or build a bug hotel and learn all about the lifecycle of bugs and frogs.
King's Lynn District Society of Model Engineers are also offering rides on the miniature railway - a small charge applies to this activity.
Cllr Alistair Beales, borough council cabinet member for Special Projects and Assets, said: "This is a great opportunity to find out more about the history of the Gaywood River and the importance of the chalk stream, and to learn about the species of bugs and wildlife that live in and around the area. It will be a hands on demonstration of the sorts of activities that people will be able to do, once the Hidden Heritage of the Gaywood River project is completed. In future there will be pond-dipping platforms, some of the river banks will be cleared and access to the former landraise site will be improved for wheelchairs. The area will be planted with wildflowers as well as maintaining areas of woodland."
The event is supported by the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Environment Agency, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Norfolk Rivers Trust, 12th Scout Group and Gaywood Valley Conservation Trust.
Project background
A £210,000 project to enhance a former landfill site at Lynnsport looks set to go ahead thanks to a National Lottery grant of nearly £94,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The aim of the project is to create a new disabled-access footpath through the site, and to turn the site into wooded parkland with a wildflower meadow. Planting will increase the biodiversity of the area. The Norfolk Rivers Trust are also planning work to the river to include the installation of a pond-dipping platform. Interpretation panels and benches will also be installed.
Whilst £94,000 is being provided by the HLF, thanks to money raised by National Lottery Players, the remaining project costs will be met by funding from the borough council, Norfolk Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency.