The Wherryman's Way

Part of the original B&R Plan
The concept for the Wherryman’s Way was first sketched out within the Broads & Rivers LEADER+ Development Plan. This recognised the need to widen the tourist attractions available within the area and especially within the Southern Broads. The route is therefore seen as a strategic component of the Broads & Rivers programme.

A wide partnership
The Wherryman’s Way will be delivered by a partnership of organisations, resulting in a project much bigger than any one organisation could deliver on its own. The Countryside Access team at Norfolk County Council (NCC) is coordinating the project in close partnership with South Norfolk Council, the Broads Authority and the Chet Valley Development Partnership. The four organisations have been able to pool resources, to ensure that all aspects of the project; infrastructure, interpretation, promotion and events are all delivered successfully.

A number of groups will also focus on the implementation of key elements. The Chet Valley Development Partnership will contribute to the collation of local information relating to the Chet Valley area and will promote the project to local tourism business, helping them to develop ways to exploit it commercially. Parish councils are also expected to play a key role in developing the village trails and will receive support from NCC to enable them to do this.

For walkers
The project will see around 30 public footpaths being cleared and upgraded. To give walkers confidence in following the route, special signposts will be installed with a clear branding to show the route's identity. In addition to the main route, each of the linked circular routes will offer around 2-5 miles (3-8 km) of walking.
To ensure that the route is accessible to all, around 3 miles of the route will be upgraded to a standard suitable for wheelchair users and benches will be installed approximately every mile.

For cyclists
The cycle route will be signed along quiet roads and bridleways around both sides of the Yare from Norwich to Reedham. To allow cyclists to explore villages along the route, cycle racks will be provided at 14 points. City Boats have also agreed to provide cycle racks on their riverboat service, allowing cyclists to take to the water! The route will link up with the Hull to Harwich national cycle route.

Telling a story
Interpretation points will be sited along the route to allow visitors to get a better understanding about what makes the area special. Designers and artists will work with local people to agree the content of these points, but topics are expected to include natural history, social and architectural history. The area has a number of stories to tell, including the history of the sailing wherries that give the route its name, and of “Billy Bluelight”, a local runner famed for pacing these wherries along the riverside path.

The big launch
A programme of launch events is envisaged for the summer of 2005, likely to commence with a press launch at Bramerton Common. This will be complemented with open-air theatre performances, an archive film show and a touring puppet theatre. One of Norfolk's remaining wherries will make a tour of the Yare and members of the public will be encouraged to take part in guided walks and a photo competition.

Benefits
The main benefit of this project is that it will represent a significant new sustainable tourism project able to benefit the local economy. The interpretation and launch components will incorporate 94 cultural events with 12,000 people expected to participate in these and many more people to use the route itself.
The project will also provide improved access and information about the countryside, whilst 15 local communities will be able to gain knowledge and understanding of their areas by researching the social history of the wherries. Around 220 local people are expected to be involved in the organisation of community activities, with 6 likely to take part in practical countryside management activities.

Grant awarded
The Wherryman's Way is a major investment in the Broads & Rivers area with a total cost of £187,066, split roughly 50-50 between capital improvement works and interpretation/events. LEADER+ will provide funding of up to £116,189, representing 63% of total costs. Match funding has been offered by Norfolk County Council, South Norfolk Council, the Wherry yacht Charter Charitable Trust, the Broads Authority, Chet Valley Development Partnership and City Boats. Additional in-kind help will be provided by Broads Environmental Services Ltd (BESL).

Contact
Peter Barber, Norfolk County Council,
peter.barber@norfolk.gov.uk