New path opens up nature reserve
Access to an award-winning nature reserve in Eaton has been improved.
The hard-surface path, which will improve access for wheelchairs and pushchairs, will be officially opened at Marston Marsh tomorrow.
The project is down to the hard work of Eaton Village Residents’ Association, supported by Norwich Fringe Project and Norwich City Council., who were awarded almost £50,000 from the Big Lottery Community Spaces Fund to improve the area.
The lottery money, together with further funding from the city council, has now been used to produce the interpretation signs and lay the 1km-long path, which will run from the Eaton entrance by the golf course crossing point alongside the river and back onto Marston Lane at the Ipswich Road end of the marsh. Norwich-based civil engineering contractors Dunnella Ltd carried out the construction work.
Matt Davies, Norwich Fringe Project co-ordinator said: “This really has been a fantastic project and I can’t give enough praise to the local community who have played such a vital part in making it all happen: “There is a real sense of ownership with local people wanting to be active in the management of the marsh – it really has brought people together, and is a brilliant example of a community taking action in partnership with a local authority to create an area which can be enjoyed by everyone.“
The easy access path was created from gravel taken from four key areas of the marsh, the removal of which created new areas for wading birds. The project has also seen two new habitats established for young fish and birds and a children’s outdoor classroom built from two of the marsh’s very own poplar trees.
The work carried out this year follows a range of conservation work done by the city council at Marston Lane over a number of years to enhance wildlife and open marsh habitats.
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