Sudbury campaigners launch appeal for volunteer support to clear River Stour of dangerous overgrowth

Excessive growth across Sudbury’s main waterway has reached dangerous levels, according to campaigners, who are seeking help to ensure the safety of river users.

The River Stour Trust and Sudbury Canoe Club are launching a new joint campaign, appealing for volunteers to help clear significant overgrowth.

Certain areas of the river have reportedly become heavily choked up with reeds and trees, while invasive plants like Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed have also taken root on the riverbanks.

The issue was highlighted when canoeists and paddle boarders encountered navigation challenges during the Sudbury to the Sea event in September.

Steve Giudici, chairman of the River Stour Trust, said: “Frankly, in places, the reed growth was so thick there was barely room for a single canoe to squeeze through.

“The trust was established back in 1968 to maintain navigation rights on the river.

“Although we’ve done a pretty good job, where our passenger launches operate from Sudbury and Flatford, the same is not true of the areas in between.

“There was a time when the Environment Agency would have undertaken this work, but they are now so under-funded that it falls to volunteers to fill the gaps. If we don’t do it, it simply won’t get done.”

Trustee John Kemp revealed that they are aiming to bring together at least 20 volunteers, and hope to complete the bulk of the necessary clearing work within 12 months.

He confirmed that the work will be guided by an ecologist and, once finished, they will monitor the issue to ensure it does not reoccur.

“It has always been part of the trust’s stated aim, to retain the navigation routes where everyone who wants to use it can,” Mr Kemp told the Suffolk Free Press.

“The canoe club feel it’s dangerous because inexperienced canoeists are very likely to capsize, and then get into serious trouble from there.”

Nikki McGenn, chairman of Sudbury Canoe Club, cited the river upstream of Ballingdon Bridge – described as ‘a favourite of many paddlers’ – as one of the areas worst affected by overgrowth.

“Only a few years ago, it was possible to paddle upstream, and use either the right fork to the Floodgate Pool, near the Mill Hotel, or the left fork to the Salmon Leap,” she said.

“Today, neither is safely possible. The tangle of willow branches and reed growth represents a genuine danger, especially to inexperienced paddlers who could easily be capsized.

“We make an annual effort to keep the growth under control but, to be honest, it has been a losing battle.”

Anybody who is interested in joining the volunteer work parties can get in touch with the River Stour Trust by telephoning 01787 313199, or by sending an email to adminstrator@riverstourtrust.org.