NEWS
Check out the latest news and updates on the river Deben and the Recovering the Deben From Source to Sea project. If you have a news item you'd like to share then please contact: deben@essexsuffolkriverstrust.org
FEB 2025 - RDA publish citizen science fish survey results
The River Deben Association have been supporting the Institute of Fisheries Management in conducting fish surveys on the lower Deben for the past 3 years. Now the results of the 2024 survey have been published, highlighting fish found at the mouth of the Deben as well as at a new site, supported by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust near Martlesham. Read more
JAN 2025 - £280k secured to help reduce flood risk in Debenham
The East Suffolk Catchment Partnership have secured £280,000 of funding from the Environment Agency’s Water Environment Improvement Fund through the Recovering the Deben: From Source to Sea initiative, to create two new natural flood storage areas, which will help lower the risk of flooding downstream in the Deben catchment. Read more
JAN 2025 - Water quality update from the River Deben Association
Is it safe to swim in the Deben? What's the overall water quaility? What are the problems in specific areas? Here's a detailed summary from RDA co-chair Colin Nicholson drawing on data from 2024 water sampling programmes: Read more
JAN 2025 - East Suffolk Council bans hiring of personal water craft
East Suffolk Council took the decision not to license commercial operators after hundreds of people objected during a consultation. At a meeting on Monday, councillors voted against licensing, although private owners can still use them as that does not fall within the authority's jurisdiction. Read more
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JAN 2025 - Hundreds object to hiring personal water crafts on river Deben
A consultation on whether to allow licenses to hire out personal water craft (PWC) has received hundreds of objections. More than 370 people responded to the consultation by East Suffolk Council ahead of a decision on the issue on 20 January. The majority of people objected on the grounds of "public safety, public nuisance and concerns over the impact on wildlife".
JAN 2025 - Martlesham Wilds sees "diversity of species" and winter birds
A new nature reserve on the banks of the river Deben - created to provide "a wild place of immense value to local people and wildlife" - has seen "huge wildlife successes," Suffolk Wildlife Trust has said. The conservation charity has recorded "spectacular" starling murmurations at the new Martlesham Wilds reserve, along with growing numbers of wildfowl and wading birds using the salt marsh to feed. Read more
DEC 2024 - River Deben study finds traces of cosmetics in samples
Citizen scientists, including representatives from Woodbridge-based clean water campaign group Save the Deben, have been conducting tests on inland bathing waters, including Suffolk's River Deben. The study revealed high levels of organic substances, including a cocktail of pharmaceuticals, polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which are synthetic chemicals, pesticides, vet medicines, caffeine and nicotine. Read more
OCT 2024 - Jet ski use on Deben sparks consultation in Suffolk
A consultation on licensing private hire personal watercraft is to take place after a new business opened up offering tours on the river Deben. A report
to East Suffolk Council has raised concerns over the use of water scooters, such as Jet Skis, and the impace it might have on wildlife, pollution and other users of the river. Read more
OCT 2024 - Lord Deben – Patron of the River Deben Association
The River Deben Association (RDA) is delighted to announce that Lord Deben is to become its patron from October 2024, supporting the association in its efforts to understand and protect the River Deben and conserve it for all users. Read more
JULY 2024 - Citizen scientists warn: rivers becoming 'reservoirs of disease'
A recent BBC news article reveals that researchers at the University of Suffolk, along with citizen scientists from the Deben Climate Centre, have found that rivers, specifically the River Deben in Suffolk, are becoming "reservoirs of disease" due to bacteria in the water acquiring antibiotic resistance from sewage contamination. Read more
JUNE 2024 - Water Restoration Fund bid for the river Deben
The East Suffolk Catchment Partnership has recently submitted an application to the Water Restoration Fund to help finance the Recovering the Deben from Source to Sea project. The funding will help deliver the next stage of the programme, which is aimed at benefitting the range of red list wildlife species that the river and estuary support. Read more
MAY 2024 - Secretary of State approves Deben Estuary Coastal Path
One year after the approval of initial sections of the coastal walking path along the Deben Estuary, the entire length, from Felixstowe Ferry, through Woodbridge and down the opposite, eastern bank has now been approved. It will take some more time for the rights to come into effect, but will allow walkers to enjoy the whole estuary. You can read more about this through the Deben Estuary Partnerships article.
MAY 2024 - River Deben Action Plan launched
Today marks a pivotal moment for environmental conservation as the East Suffolk Catchment Partnership unveils its action plan to recover the river Deben, all the way from “Source to Sea”! Read more on our blog to find out what representatives from some of the organisations involved have to say about the initiative, or go directly to the Action Plan to read it for yourself.
APRIL 2024 - New questionnaire available - have your say
The Recovering the Deben from Source to Sea project is open to everyone! You can have your say and help us shape the future for our natural environment on the Deben by taking a few minutes to answer our questions. Click here to open the questionnaire form
APRIL 2024 - Organisations come together to recover the river Deben
On the 18th of April, in the historic town of Debenham, close to the river's source, representatives from organisations across the Deben met to agree a shared ambition to Recover the Deben. As part of the day, we visited some of the work already happening on the land and water which flows into the Deben river and estuary. Read more
