The River Gipping Trust

29/10/2026

Trust volunteers trimmed the overgrowing brambles along a stretch of the Great Blakenham riverside path this week in an attempt to make the path safer to walk along. The path in this area has quite a severe slope making it very slippery when wet (a few nasty accidents have been reported along here). It also provides walkers improved views of the river. With nine volunteers we also cleared a total river blockages just a few feet upstream on the same day (see separate post). Volunteers making a difference for the benefit of the public. Could you help? Always looking for more volunteers on Wednesdays. Contact Ian Petchey

29/10/2026

Trust volunteers Cleared a total river blockage across the river this week at Great Blakenham. With thanks to Metro Rod and Mid Suffolk District Council for their generous support with the tools required to help facilitate this. With nine volunteers we also made the footpath safer just a few feet downstream (see separate post).

Note; This river clearance work aligns with the Trust’s recently adopted policy to only remove total river blockages, such as fallen trees spanning the entire channel that restrict flow and trap floating debris and sewage. This approach supports the Environment Agency's (EA) initiative to naturalise and restore main rivers like the Gipping. This restoration is guided by a combined framework of Nature Recovery strategies, Nature-Based Flood Management, and stricter statutory regulations that encourage riparian landowners to let the river behave naturally. We will however still clear overgrowth and part blockages within lock chambers, many of which are grade II listed and 230 years old.

25/10/2026

With the heavy rain, 8 x AW CSO’s (combined sewer discharges) over the last couple of days into the river Gipping totalling 10hrs 23mins plus 10hrs 40mins upstream of the Orwell bridge

1hr 19min 23Oct - AWS 00919 onehouse / Haughley Wc
2hr 30min 24Oct - AWS00919 Onehouse / Haughley WC
2hr 40min 24Oct - AWS01010 Stowmarket
0hr 5mins 24Oct AWS01319 Stowmarket
1hr 30min 23Oct - AWS00301 Needham Market
0hr 49min 24Oct- AWS00250 Coddenham
1hr 15min 24Oct - AWS00405 Hadleigh, Ipswich
0hr 15min 23Oct - AWS01228 Riverside Rd Ipswich
AWS00866 Needham - unknown, not reporting / monitoring

1hr 30min 24Oct - AWS00763 London Rd, Ipswich R.Orwell
6hrs 0min 24Oct - AWS00645 Orwell Bridge
3hrs 15min 24Oct - AWS00647 Orwell Bridge

22/10/2026

RGT volunteers were out this week trimming the riverside footpath through Great Blakenham (between Baylham and Claydon). Sharmford lock looking nice with overlooking seat. Not smoke from the cutters but water vapour from the wet grass. Probably our last trim along here this season, but we will be back to trim a section of the brambles back to create a more level footpath closer to the river (we made a start) and to clear the fallen tree blockage across the river just downstream of the railway crossing.

20/10/2026

Great news. Bramford PC voted (19-Oct) to approve the Trusts investigation work into applying for Bathing Water Status at Bramford. Once designated the local authorities will have legal obligations to investigate e.coli (poo) pollution sources.

Another article of interest on the pollution in the river Gipping

Water samples taken at Haughley Watercourse, which flows into the River Gipping, have recorded the highest pollution levels ever.

16/10/2026

Water test samples from Fishponds at Haughly are indicating extremely high levels of pollution in the river. Our highest ever recorded phosphate and Ammonia levels (14,200 ppb and 4.06ppm) with high e.coli levels of 22,000 cfu/100ml and Nitrate levels of 60ppm. All Reported to the Environment Agency. All the latest water testing along the Gipping here https://rivergippingtrust.org.uk/latest-river-gipping-trust-water-test-results/

16/10/2026

Riverside footpath trimming from Claydon. Towards Paper Mill and to Barham this week. Great Blakenham next week

10/10/2026

A few more storm water discharges into the Gipping yesterday (9th Oct). Although diluted by rainwater they still contain raw sewage, pathogens and environmental pollutants
Stowmarket AWS01010; 34mins
Stowmarket AWS01319; 10mins
Sproughton AWS00405; 15mins
Boss Hall Road Ipswich; 15mins

08/10/2026

After yesterday’s (Wednesday 7th) rain, just one reported untreated discharge into the Gipping, for 15 mins at Boss Hall Road, Ipswich.

08/10/2026

Riverside path trimming at Bramford and Sproughton this week by the RGT volunteers. Just managed to complete before the rain came.