08/08/2026
Over the past few months the River Health Group, a team of River Stour Trust and Sudbury Canoe Club volunteers, has been working to clear a channel in the River Stour from Sudbury Meadows down to Cattawade. This is a minimal intervention project - the objective is that, once the work is complete, a canoe or paddleboard should be able to pass through more easily than it can at present. The majority of the work is carried out from the water, and where there is bankside access care is taken not to disturb fauna and flora, including an ecology report if deemed necessary.
The principal reason for this undertaking is that there are sections of river in the middle reaches where branches and reeds are blocking the channel and slowing the flow. These present obstacles and hazards to those who do paddle the river but equally, if not more importantly, were they not cleared in a few seasons the river would be completely blocked, silt would build up and the water would become deoxygenated. The River Stour Trust was also formed to preserve the Navigation that was established by an Act of Parliament in 1705 and while it is recognised that it is extremely unlikely that lighters will ever again sail from Brundon Mill to Cattawade - although the John Constable (pictured) regularly sails between Sudbury and Henny - it is important that the right to navigate is protected for the health of the river.
With permission from the Common Lands Trust and the Environment Agency the RHG started by clearing the two channels up to Floodgate Pool and the Salmon Leap on Sudbury Water Meadows. After a well-earned break to allow the fish to spawn and birds to nest they are now heading downriver. A similar group of volunteers from River Stour Trust (the River Maintenance Group) and Ipswich Canoe Club are working their way upriver from Cattawade.
Last week the RHG was working on the upper river stretch between Bures and Rushbanks, concentrating on removing obstacles and hazards. The reeds and w**ds which are passable but restrictive will need another work party, hopefully before Sudbury 2 the Sea on 12th and 13th September. Next week the RHG will be heading from Rushbanks to Boxted Bridge, which is the meeting point with the RMG group coming up from t’other end.
If you see our volunteers amongst the branches and reeds, give them a wave!
