"We are working to ensure our rivers, wetlands and water resources are resilient to the changing climate and population growth, are richer in biodiversity, support a thriving economy and contribute to the wellbeing of the citizens of Suffolk".
Formed in December 2013, the East Suffolk Catchment Partnership covers the river catchments of the Gipping, Deben, Alde, Thorpeness Hundred, Yox, Blyth and Lothingland Hundred.
The East Suffolk landscape is primarily rural with agricultural land making up ~90% of the total land area. However, the catchment also has significant urban areas at Felixstowe, Ipswich, Woodbridge, Wickham Market, Stowmarket, Saxmundham, Halesworth, Southwold and Kessingland. Although agriculture is the predominant land use within the area other pockets of industry exist, including food processing, milling, malting and the manufacture of farm machinery and fertilisers.
The ESCP is a group building on the successful work and Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) pioneered across the UK by the Rivers Trust movement. The partnership is hosted by the Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust and draws together a group of engaged organisations and individuals far beyond the ‘usual suspects’ including members from local community groups and diverse organisations spanning conservation, agriculture, and industry. You can view the list of ESCP Partners.
The partnership aims to address the issues of urban development, water availability, diffuse pollution from rural and urban sources, physical modifications to rivers, and the significant water management issues currently identified in the Water Framework Directive. You can find the about the Partnership Aims below or find out more about the pressures facing our rivers, and the opportunities to improve them, in the East Suffolk Catchment Plan.
PARTNERSHIP AIMS
The East Suffolk Catchment Partnership aims to provide a source of inspiration to spread the catchment management agenda into the wider public arena through its members and demonstrations of good practice, thus helping to embed sound catchment management principles into the plans and activities of landowners, business organisations and statutory bodies and foster and support the growth of local catchment improvement initiatives.
The partnership aims are as follows:
1.
To continue to update and expand the Catchment Plan for the river catchments within the East Suffolk area.
2.
To continue to engage with existing organisations, groups, and projects in whatever way is felt to be mutually most beneficial and to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.
3.
To continue develop collaborative projects to improve environmental conditions, and raise funds to deliver them.
4.
To support activities and projects which meet the aims of the Partnership being carried out in the area through promotion, funding, and expertise.
5.
To be wide and open and to reach out to organisations, individuals and groups including those not historically included in ‘catchment management’ work.
6.
To embed a catchment management ethos into the operations of our own businesses and plans as well as advocate the take up of catchment management actions by others.
7.
To be willing to go beyond the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) but to retain the WFD as a core objective in our work.
8.
To pursue a twin-track approach – delivering Water Framework Directive aims in the short-term, but seeking to deliver more widely on environmental improvements wherever possible, including themes such as ‘Ecosystem Services’ mapping.
Discover the East Suffolk Catchment Plan and read more about or vision for 2030.
Find out about projects that the ESCP has supported.
View past editions of the ESCP newsletter and sign up to recieve the latest news.
.jpg)
The Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust is a Registered Charity Number 1157392. Company Limited by Guarantee Number 08834787. Registered in England. Registered Address: 8 Gorse Road, Reydon, Southwold IP18 6NQ.
© 2023 Essex & Suffolk Rivers Trust
Website designed and built by 2408
