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July 2024 : Preserving biodiversity through community effort

We would so like to give public thanks to Councillor Eleanor Laming, who is still fighting our corner about the important biodiversity work we do at Blackwater Carr, even though the appeal has been refused and the situation is dead in the water. We were not refused on the grounds of the yurt, but on the fact that we are in a flood plain....Duh!!!! We know that and never go there without checking flood alerts and high tide information! As for the nutrient neutrality, don't get us started about the 22 fishing swims next to us with no toilet facilities at all. Our gate camera records just what is going on there.


Also, on the same theme, David Dukes, from Postwick Parish Council,has been very keen to help us and has kindly lent us his petrol John Deere mower until September. We have been very concerned with the rampant growth because of all the rain. Some of the paths are beginning to disappear, With only our strimmer and a refurbished one we have got from Brundall Men's Shed the task looked onerous and frankly impossible.





It is the ongoing generosity of such people which helps us stay positive in such gloomy and demoralising times.


We had our last hurrah in July with our family, who travelled from London and Glasgow to support us. They supported us in so many ways.













The snakes have coped well with and after the flood. Last year we saw 8 at 1 time. This year we have only been seeing 1 or 2 at a time. However, the snakes we are seeing are of a very decent size.









We have been contemplating the effect of the floods on biodiversity. The Broads started to be drained in the 13th century and were completed by the 18th century. Intermittent flooding seems to have become more frequent however, probably because of global warming and lack of improvements. At Blackwater Car, continued flooding has resulted in sewage and agricultural chemicals affecting the site, resulting in surges in nettles and bindweed. the recent floods wiped out our moles, earthworms, wood mice and slow worms resulting in fewer owls, thrushes. Moths have declined greatly, but they are now beginning to recover. Touch me not, Impatiens noli-tangere, has greatly increased.

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