The new Ouse Washes LP Website is Live!!

Today is a very exciting day as we are finally able to share our new website with the world!

 

 

Please pass on the message to others: www.ousewashes.org.uk

 

This website is intended to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for local people and visitors to explore the Ouse Washes Landscape:

• Explore the Ouse Washes LP area’s tourist attractions, nature reserves and museums in more detail through our interactive Explore map;
• Find out what’s going on in the area through our What’s on section;
• Find out how you can get involved through our projects, events and our volunteering options in our Get Involved section
• Find out what makes the Ouse Washes LP area special, by reading through our Discover section;
• The Ouse News is our old WordPress blog incorporated in this new website – keep up to date of all new events, project development and information about the area though this newsreel
• And a lot more – go on, find out for yourself!

 

Do let us know what you think about the new website – we want this to be useful for you, so please help us make things better – drop us a line through the Contact section.

 

Happy reading!

 

Press release: Press release_New website for Ouse Washes Landscape now live!

Denver Sluice Complex, one of the key hubs in the Ouse Washes Landscape area. Image: Kite Aerial Photography by Bill Blake Heritage Documentation

 

River Basin Management Plan

Have your input in the River Basin Management Plans for your area – workshops planned for 11, 16, 17 and 18 December for the Middle Level, Old Bedford, Ouse, Cam and NW Norfolk catchment areas:

Water Care Partnership

The Water Framework Directive is the main driver of improvements to water quality within Europe and consists of 6 yearly cycles of planning and delivery, in England these plans are the responsibility of the Environment Agency.

The first planning and delivery cycle began in 2009 and the Environment Agency has produced their draft River Basin Management Plans for the next cycle, which will begin in 2015. This plan is currently available for consultation and the draft plan can be found at https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/wfd/draft_plans/consult.

To help you do this the Environment Agency is holding a series of workshops over the next few months.  The first workshop will look at the Old Bedford and Middle Level Management Catchment on 11 December 2014, 9.30 – 1.00pm at the Environment Agency’s Denver Complex (Sluice Road, Denver, Downham Market, PE38 0EG) and you are cordially invited to come along.

In this first series of workshops the Environment…

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Swan in Sixty Seconds

This blog post I just stumbled upon really summarises the fantastic swan & bird experience you can have at WWT Welney Reserve this time of year.

Fifty-Two Weeks of Things With Beaks

On the way home from my weekend in Norfolk (Did I mention I’d been to Norfolk??), I decided to pop into the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Welney, situated on the Ouse Washes.  The Washes are the largest area of frequently flooded grazing marsh in Britain and are internationally important for wildfowl.

The purpose of my visit was two-fold: to provide me with a mid-morning tea stop and toilet break and, hopefully, enable me to tick off two new bird species for my 2014 bird list –Whooper and Bewick’s Swans.  Tea, toilet and swans…  Is that three-fold?  Never mind.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) is a conservation charity, founded in 1946 by Sir Peter Scott – a celebrated ornithologist, artist, one-time Olympic medallist and only child of Antarctic explorer Robert Scott.  He also designed the original panda logo for the World Wildlife Fund.  Quite a talented…

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Impressions of the Ouse Washes LP conference

 

We had a fantastic day last week in the Corn Exchange in St Ives. This excellent venue was the scene for the first annual conference for the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership scheme. With a range of speakers, 112 attendees – representing over 64 organisations – and 20 exhibitors on the day we were off to a good start.

This conference, ‘Conservation, Farming, Flooding: our Natural Landscape?’ – the first in a series of three taking place annually – explored the natural landscape of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership area. The conference aimed to provide attendees with an overview of future management challenges including issues around biodiversity value, wetland habitat creation, farming challenges, water management and flood relief.

Full house in the St Ives Corn Exchange. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP

A range of speakers from several key organisations (Natural England; RSPB; National Farmers’ Union; Environment Agency; and a consultant botanist who has carried out work for the OWLP scheme) provided for a rounded view of the central theme of the day.

This was followed by lively discussions focusing on the question which priorities  Ouse Washes Partnership need to set for this important landscape to ensure a sustainable future for this landscape. By bringing together local people and a range of partner organisations with a range of land-use interests we have encouraged stimulating debate and helped promote a wider appreciation and understanding of the challenges of living and working in this ever-changing landscape.

Impression of conference. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

We have had a lot of good feedback, with the vast majority of people I have spoken to or received feedback from finding the day very enjoyable, highly informative, great for networking opportunities and with lots of food for thought as a result of stimulating round table discussions. In addition, there were 20 informative exhibitions from a range of organisations involved or associated with the partnership, great food, and an excellent walk to the nearby Holt island Nature Reserve at the end of the day.

Below are some images of the conference. If anyone, whether you attended or not, has any further questions, do drop me a line. Later down the line there will also be a report summarising the discussions on the day, and a short film will also be produced by NorthLight Media who took photographs and videos throughout the day – watch this space for further updates.

The results of the conference will feed into the ongoing legacy planning work of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership, with the recommendations and ideas generated helping the partnership’s work tremendously. Thank you all for your input!

 

Related posts and pages:

• Annual Conference 2014
• Conference invitation

 

 

The Mayor of St Ives starting the day. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP

 

John Heading, farmer and IDB Chair, and OWLP Board member, Chairing the day. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alastair Burn, Natural England, setting the scene for the day, talking about the wetland vision for the Fens. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP

Jonathan Graham, Consultant Botanist, providing data of new research on the biodiversity value of the fenland ditches in the OWLP area. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP

Jonathan Graham, explaining the biodiversity value of the Fen ditches in the OWLP area. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

 

Chris Hudson, RSPB, giving an understanding of the Ouse Fen nature reserve developments. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP

Rob Wise, National Farmers’ Union, giving an overview of the Fen farmers’ challenges and opportunities. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP

Peter Doktor, Environment Agency, explaining the reasons for the new habitat creation schemes next to the Ouse Washes. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP

Peter Doktor, Environment Agency. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

Round table discussions. Image: Bill Blake Heritage Documentation.

Round table discussions. Image: Bill Blake Heritage Documentation.

Round table discussions. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP.

Round table discussions. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP.

Round table discussions. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP.

Round table discussions. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP.

Round table discussions. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP.

Round table discussions. Image: NorthLight Media, for OWLP.

ADeC’s display of the three newly created murals. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

ADeC’s display of the three newly created murals. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

RSPB and Jonathan Graham’s displays. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

Various displays in Corn Exchange. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

ACE’s display. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

Bill Blake’s display of KAP imagery. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

Athene Communication’s display of the results of the ‘Opening up the Ouse Washes to All’ workshops.Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

Barn Owl Conservation Network’s display. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

East Anglian Waterways Association’s display. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

Green Light Trust’s display. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

Fens Museum Partnership’s brand new animated film about the Ouse Washes. Image: Cambridgeshire ACRE

Guided walk on nearby Holt Island Nature Reserve, led by Ian Jackson. image: @TheBrecksBNG

 

Ouse Washes 2015 Calendar

Blog post on behalf of one of our key partners, Bill Blake Heritage Documentation:

Ouse Washes 2015 Calendar

 

Following the OWLP conference a limited number of these are now available for sale.

If you would like to purchase one please contact Bill Blake by email at bblake@theolt.com or call 07780 332114 to arrange payment and delivery.

 They are priced at £10+p&p. Strictly first come 1st served.

Details are here: https://ousewasheslps.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/your-2015-ouse-washes-kap-calendar/

 12 original views of the heart of the fens : a perfect seasonal gift!

 

3D KAP: textured surface animation

Fantastic imagery from Bill Blake, taken by kite aerial photography, of one of the hidden gems of the OWLP area, the Civil War period Earith Bulwark

Billboyheritagesurvey's Blog

A quick fly around the model of the Civil War earthwork at Earith;

I added an artificial light source to enhance the shallow features.

Image quality has taken a tumble to get the animation quickly,

The real detail is captured in the imagery:

This frame shows the denudation of the SE corner of the monument caused by winter flooding.

The video is prepared for discussion at the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership 2014 Conference: Conservation, Farming, Flooding: Our Natural Landscape?

All tickets are taken so I expect a busy time!

B

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Littleport Fourteen 1914 – 2014 : event this weekend

On behalf of the Littleport Field Theatre Group I am passing on the below information about this exciting Littleport Fourteen event held this weekend:

 

You are invited to join us at Littleport Village Hall, 15 & 16 November, 10-4 pm for a fascinating range of displays of artefacts, photos, memorabilia and other items from the Great War. There will be talks and exhibitions, live music from Littleport Lyrics, and a costumed WW1 canteen courtesy of Littleport Women’s Institute.

There will be an exhibition of work by pupils of Littleport Community Primary School, and a display by the Field Theatre Group, about their recent production: Field of War.

The poetry anthology Perspectives, featuring new writing on the theme of the Great War will also be available to buy. All proceeds from the anthology will be divided between the Royal British Legion, Littleport Branch, and Help for Heroes.

Entry to the exhibition is free. Refreshments and disabled facilities are available. We do hope you will join our community for this centenary exhibition.

Littleport Festival Fourteen is funded by the heritage Lottery Fund and Littleport Parish Council. The Perspective anthology and prize is funded by East Cambs District Council.

 

Ouse Washes Mosaics on show

 

Over the past three months members of the public have been working alongside professional artists Carolyn Ash to produce three stunning mosaic murals depicting the Ouse Washes landscape. The murals will be installed at the three sites where they were created, Mepal Outdoor Centre, Denver Sluice and Welney Wetland Centre.

However, before the go off to their permanent homes there is a special chance to see all there together on Sunday 16th November from 10am to 3.30pm at WWT Welney Wetland Centre.

This will also be an opportunity to meet Carolyn, see a display of photos of the murals being created and to enjoy a host of activities being offered that weekend as part of the centre’s Festival of Swans.

 

The murals were created as part of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership scheme, and funded by the Heritage Lottery. The scheme was established to raise awareness and encourage greater local engagement with the washes.

 

The mural project was managed by ADeC (Arts Development in East Cambridgeshire).  Nathan Jones of ADeC said:

“This has been the most wonderful project to be involved with. It has been a real privilege to work at the three sites and we have been delighted by the response of the local communities. Six different schools helped with the murals and they should be very proud of their contribution.”

 

For the latest information on the mural projects and a range of images of the three stunning murals, see also https://www.facebook.com/OWLPCommunityMurals

 

Your 2015 Ouse Washes KAP calendar

Marvellous and wonderful images from across the Ouse Washes landscape area – enjoy!

Billboyheritagesurvey's Blog

January:  poplar wind break near Welney

February: Stretham Old Engine

March: A prop trail in the Old Ouse near Twentypence.

April: the Earith Bulwark under water.

May: The flooded Washes near Earith.

June: Looking south to the Cradge Bank.

July: The dry Washes

August the A J Wright Sluice, Denver

September. The ship of the Fens.

October: Earith Bulwark: detail of the NW bastion.

November: The washes outwash: mud and clay at Snettisham Scalp.

December: The Great Eastern Railway crossing near Manea.

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Countryside Engagement & Marketing Officer post – apply now

We are re-advertising the below job, Countryside Engagement and Marketing Officer. This is such an exciting and varied role, you will not be disappointed! Please do pass this on to anyone you think may be interested.

Countryside Engagement and Marketing Officer – with Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership scheme’s central team, based at Cambridgeshire ACRE

We have an exciting opportunity for the right highly motivated and committed individual to take charge of the Partnership’s engagement with the wider public as we seek to turn the Ouse Washes area into a tourism destination.

The successful candidate will be educated to degree-level and have previous experience of community engagement, using social media in a business context, developing engagement strategies and working with others to achieve project goals.

 

Principal Accountabilities:

1. Work with partners and communities to provide a wide range of communication, interpretation and engagement activities across the breadth of the Landscape Partnership Scheme, including the development of the high profile ‘Ouse Washes Festival Fortnight’ events programme and annual conferences.

2. Work with community groups and volunteers offering information, advice and guidance so they can undertake community projects that promote, protect and enhance the Ouse Washes landscape, habitats, species and sites of historic interest.

3. Develop an engagement strategy that will target key audiences, particularly those that have no knowledge of the heritage of the Ouse Washes, enabling them to develop their confidence in accessing the countryside and learning new skills.

4. Lead on the promotion and marketing of the programme and activities using the OWLP website, blog, social media, videos, photography, radio, presentations, attendance at community events and production of marketing literature. This will include writing copy for press releases/marketing materials, coordinating the design and production of any hard copy literature required by the OWLP, and working with partners/communities to generate ‘good news’ stories to celebrate their project successes.

5. Recruit and manage volunteers and identify opportunities for them to actively contribute to the OWLP projects and other scheme developments through the volunteering marketplace.

6. Assist OWLP colleagues in monitoring and evaluating the OWLP scheme as a whole and its individual projects, undertaking monitoring visits where required.

7. Maintain the OWLP customer database using the ACT! system to aid partnership communications.

 

The full job description and person specification can be downloaded from the Resources and Downloads area on the relevant Cambridgeshire ACRE website page, http://www.cambsacre.org.uk/jobs-detail.php?eid=18. To apply, please also download the application form from that page.

The closing date for applications is 01 December 2014 at 12 noon. Interviews will take place on Friday 05 December 2014.

Any enquiries, please call 01353 865029.

The captivating Ouse Washes LP landscape. Image: Bill Blake Heritage Documentation, all rights reserved.