WOODBRIDGE, 27 OCTOBER 2023 — Lord Deben, the former chair of the UK Climate Change Committee, and former Conservative Secretary of State for the Environment and MP for Suffolk Coastal, on Thursday urged voters to hold politicians to account over climate change during a talk in Woodbridge for the River Deben Association (RDA). Continue reading
By Matt Lis
“Leave only footprints. Take only memories” they say of walking in the countryside, for those of us who enjoy hours afloat I suppose that translates to “Leave only ripples” so how do we achieve that?
When Julia asked me to write an article on how boaters can reduce their impact on the Deben I wonder whether she appreciated the enormity of the topic. I will fail to answer all questions for all people but by focusing on just a few topics I can try to summarise those things in just one long article.
‘Evoelectric’ afloat
In autumn 2022 the RDA Committee initiated conversations with the Suffolk Otter Group and Penny Hemphill (independent ecologist) regarding the merits of starting an “otter spotting” project on the River Deben. This was agreed in principle with a view to being able to use the data as an indicator of river health. The RDA invested in 2 specialist wildlife cameras to kick the project off. The funding for one of the cameras was very generously donated by way of legacy from the late Gwen Nelson and for which we are most grateful. The Deben Magazine (Autumn 2023) has a short article about the project so far and we are pleased to share some footage of some of the initial findings. Updates to follow!
By Sue Ryder Richardson
Map. OS Explorer 197. Map reference: 250462
What3Words: ///widget.depending.sourcing
Distance: 5.25 miles
Refreshments: The Red Lion and Black Tiles, Martlesham
Whatever the season this walk is beautiful. On a cold winter’s day when there is a crispness to the air, the marsh can prickle with frost and the river, with its mud ridges and shallows, has a sharp clarity. The air echoes with the cries of birds, and waders impervious to the temperature, strut and pick at the banks. This time we walked in late summer and Walk Farm Woods at the outset offered welcome shade as we wandered through its chiaroscuro of light. Too early for mushrooms, or the turning of deciduous leaf, but both poised to promise autumnal glory in the weeks to come.
Over the Saltings
Quay Street Church, Woodbridge, IP12 1BX, Thursday 26th October, 7.00 for 7.30pm start. Continue reading
By Alice Thorogood
It’s been a BIG summer of sailing. Every year since my three children started in Cadets there has been a BIG summer of sailing. This year we’ve been to Newport in Belgium for the World Championship, a long weekend back home for the Waldringfield Cadet ‘Week’ then a quick wash of everyone’s kit before we headed off to beautiful Abersoch for the National Championship.
Sometimes I find myself asking if all this packing/unpacking and travel is worth it…
Then I see some of the wonderful things our Cadet Alumni are up to, and I know that the work we all put into Cadets – as parents or volunteers as well as sailors — is more than worth it. We are helping to develop resilient, capable young people who will go on to achieve different successes in the future.
It was a real honour to take a break from the crazy whirlwind of The Nationals and talk to an inspirational ex-Cadet sailor who embodies more that we might have dreamed of. Willow Bland is about to take part in the Ocean Globe Race as part of the crew of Tracy Edwards’ boat Maiden. Continue reading
By Simon Read
Directly opposite Woodbridge Town Quay, there is a small saltmarsh of approximately 2.5 hectares. This is Sutton Saltmarsh and was the subject of a management project undertaken by the River Deben Association in 2008-2009. Continue reading
By Robert Simper
George Collins (from The Deben River: an enchanted waterway by Robert Simper)
I suppose the first time I remember meeting George Collins was in about 1948. This was first time I first went afloat and at young age I found nighttime trawling very exciting. We were in the open boat Lassie, built in 1924 and sadly shortly after this her owner died. Jack Garrard bought the boat and was one of first people to have a boat mooring at Ramsholt. Continue reading
Report by Julia Jones
The speaker at this year’s AGM was John Patrick, founder member of the Felixstowe Hydrocycle (https://www.felixstowehydrocycle.com/).
His talk was detailed and fascinating. We are most grateful to him for allowing us to reproduce the slides from his presentation. This report can only skim the surface and hope to convey a few main points as understood by a completely non-technical audience member. Continue reading
By Ben Grundy
Last year Julia asked me to write something for the RDA Journal and I had agreed without much thought what to write about. Then in January the opportunity to become the new Chair of the Kyson Fairway committee came, and then came again an email from Julia asking if I was still interested in doing an article. Yes, I was still interested but the theme didn’t come until late April when I was voted in as the KFC chairman.
Making fast our towing gear in the “Deben” to the “MSC Tessa” on her maiden call to Felixstowe last week – Photo credit Jeff Welch photography