The Broads Society

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The Broads Society

Discover the Broads Society: Championing a Sustainable Future.

Since 1956, we've been the voice of the Broads' community, ensuring leisure, tourism, and local economy flourish alongside the natural beauty of this unique, protected landscape.

04/11/2026

What is it about the Broads that stays with you?

Perhaps it's a particular stretch of river you've known since childhood.

A village staithe where you always stop for a while. The sound of a boat passing on a quiet morning. Or a view across the marshes that never seems to lose its magic, however many times you've seen it.

For some, the Broads are part of family history. For others, they're a place to work, volunteer, explore or simply feel at home.

And that's what makes them so special. They're not just a landscape. They're part of people's lives.

At the Broads Society, we believe those connections matter. They're why we champion the waterways, wildlife, heritage and communities of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.

We'd love to hear yours. Is there a particular place, memory or moment that sums up the Broads for you?

📸Image with thanks

02/11/2026

Almost 700 years of history, right here beside the Wensum.

Bishop Bridge in Norwich dates back to the 14th century and is the city's only surviving medieval bridge.

For generations, people have crossed it while the River Wensum flowed beneath — a river that once carried trading vessels and goods between Norwich and the wider waterways of Norfolk.

It's easy to pass places like this without giving them a second thought.

But this bridge has stood through centuries of change, from the days of trading wherries to the Norwich we know today.

A remarkable reminder of just how deep our waterways' history runs.

📷 .joan.5811

28/10/2026

💚 Wear your support for the Broads!

We're delighted to introduce our Broads Society merchandise collection!

From cosy hoodies and polo shirts to caps, beanies and reusable water bottles, there's something for everyone who cares about the Broads.

And there's something rather special too — our limited-edition 70th Anniversary polo shirt, celebrating seven decades of the Broads Society!

Whether you're treating yourself or looking for a thoughtful gift, it's a lovely way to show your support for the Broads Society and the place we all care about.

Every purchase helps support the work of the Broads Society.

🛍️ Browse the collection through Shop on our website — you'll find it via Find Out More on our profile.

All orders are handled directly by our merchandise partner, St Cyr.

26/10/2026

You don't have to travel far to find something extraordinary this half-term.

Sometimes, it's right here on our doorstep.

The Broads offer so many opportunities to explore, discover and spend time together — and some of the best don't cost a penny.

A walk beside the river. Watching boats pass beneath a bridge. Spotting a heron standing perfectly still in the reeds. Looking for autumn colours in the woods. Listening for birds overhead or seeing how many different leaves you can find.

Perhaps it's a visit to a favourite village staithe, a picnic wrapped up in coats, or simply sitting beside the water with a flask of something warm.

And there's plenty to be curious about along the way.

Why are there windmills in the marshes? Where does the river go? What lives beneath the water? Who travelled these waterways before us?

You don't need a boat, specialist equipment or an expensive day out to experience the Broads.

Just a little curiosity, some time together and a willingness to see familiar places through someone else's eyes.

The Broads are for everyone. And sometimes the simplest days become the ones we remember.

What's your favourite place in the Broads to explore with children or grandchildren?

📷 View from Ranworth Church tower. Image courtesy of Visit The Broads.

23/10/2026

Pay Now, Pollute Later?

The Broads Society is raising serious concerns about the proposed Environmental Delivery Plan and what it could mean for water quality in the Norfolk Broads.

Our Chair, Mark Collins, explains why we believe the proposals are a compromise too far.

Read the full article in the Blogs section of our website.

The public consultation closes on 27 October.

Image:

22/10/2026

⭐ STARGAZING AT SALHOUSE BROAD – EVENT POSTPONED ⭐

Unfortunately, our 70th Anniversary Stargazing evening at Salhouse Broad, scheduled for this Saturday 24 October, has been postponed due to forecast stormy weather.

The good news is that the event will be rescheduled, and we'll share the new date as soon as it's confirmed.

If you've booked tickets, the Salhouse Broad team will be in touch directly regarding your booking.

Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you beneath the stars on another evening!

21/10/2026

Some conversations are too important to miss.

Tomorrow evening, we're bringing one of Broadland's most pressing heritage questions into the heart of Norwich.

**What future do we want for our historic drainage mills?**

These remarkable structures are part of the identity of the Broads. But preserving them isn't straightforward, and the choices ahead deserve more than passing concern.

At our Third Annual Broads Society Lecture, Dr Andrew Tullett will explore the challenges, possibilities and difficult decisions shaping their future.

Whether you're interested in heritage, passionate about the Broads or simply believe that places with a history deserve a future, we'd really like you to join us.

Drainage Mills in the Broads – Icons in a Threatened Landscape

📅 TOMORROW — Thursday 22 October | 7.30pm
📍 The Forum, Norwich
🎟️ £5 members | £7 general admission

There's still time to book your place. Come and be part of this important conversation.

Get your ticket here:
https://www.broads-society.org/event-details/third-annual-lecture

19/10/2026

The wildlife didn't get the memo.

We sometimes talk about the Broads “winding down” in autumn.

But the wildlife has other ideas.

While some summer visitors are departing, other birds are arriving. Across the marshes, reedbeds and waterways, autumn brings a different kind of activity.

The reeds are losing their summer green. Seeds are ripening, fungi are appearing, and shorter days are changing the rhythms of life across the wetlands.

For some species, autumn means preparing for winter.

For others, the Broads are the place they've been travelling towards.

And as vegetation dies back, parts of the landscape that have been hidden all summer begin to reveal themselves again.

Autumn isn't simply the end of the busy season.

It's the beginning of a different one.

What's the first change that tells you autumn has really arrived in the Broads?

📷 Greylag Geese by Caroline Legg

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16/10/2026

Imagine the Broads without its historic drainage mills.

For generations, these distinctive landmarks have helped define the Broadland landscape.

But many are deteriorating. Climate change, rising sea levels and limited funding are adding to the challenges they face.

We may not be able to save them all.

**So which should survive? Who should pay? And what would the Broads lose if others disappeared?**

These aren't simply questions about old buildings. They're about the future of a landscape we all care about.

Join us for the Third Annual Broads Society Lecture, when Dr Andrew Tullett will explore the difficult choices ahead.

Drainage Mills in the Broads – Icons in a Threatened Landscape

📅 Thursday 22 October | 7.30pm
📍 The Forum, Norwich
🎟️ £5 members | £7 general admission

Your perspective matters. We'd love you to be part of the conversation.

Booking details are in our bio. Go to our website and then events

14/10/2026

A WORD FROM THE BROADS: STAITHE

You've probably seen the word on signs around the Broads.

Ranworth Staithe. Womack Staithe. Stalham Staithe.

But have you ever stopped to think about what it actually means?

a "staithe" is a landing place beside the water, traditionally used for loading and unloading boats.

It's not a word unique to the Broads, but it's woven into the history of our waterways.

Long before many of these places became familiar spots for mooring and watching boats go by, the rivers were busy working routes.

Crops, goods and other materials travelled by water. A staithe was where the river connected with the village, the farm or the wider world.

Today, some remain busy mooring places. Others are quieter reminders of a time when the waterways played an even greater part in everyday working life.

It's one of those little words that can change how you see a familiar place.

Next time you pass a staithe, imagine what might have been loaded or unloaded there a hundred years ago.

Which Broadland staithe do you know best?

Address

Weavers Way Barn, The Hill
Acle
NR133DW

Website

https://linktr.ee/Broads_Society

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