Swaffham Bulbeck Lode Bridge Opened

A new bridge over Swaffham Bulbeck Lode was officially opened today by Councillor Loder Bevington, former Chairman of Swaffham Bulbeck Parish Council, in front of an enthusiastic gathering of cyclists and horseriders.

The National Trust built the bridge and 850 metre surfaced track to the South of the bridge as part of the development of the Wicken Spine Route, which will provide virtually traffic free access from Waterbeach and Anglesey Abbey in the South, to Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve in the North.

Development of the Spine Route is a key feature of the Wicken Fen Vision, an ambitious plan by the National Trust to create a new landscape scale nature reserve for benefit of people and wildlife covering around 56 sq km between Cambridge and Wicken Fen. The aim of the Vision is to create a mosaic of fenland habitats to secure the survival of threatened species and to provide a green lung for Cambridgeshire and the East of England.

The bridge and access route was funded by a Growth Area Fund grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government for the development of green infrastructure links in the Cambridge Sub Region. The development of the Spine Route received a further financial boost in December 2007 when an additional grant of £600K was secured from the Sustrans Connect2 Big Lottery Fund Award

Speaking after cutting the ribbon, Councillor Bevington said …. "I should like to say a big thank you on behalf of the residents of Swaffham Bulbeck and the Parish Council to the National Trust and all their staff and supporters who have contributed to the planning and construction of this bridge, and for the Wicken Fen Spine Route of which this bridge forms a part."

Phillip Broadbent-Yale, National Trust Area Manager said … "The new bridge and bridleway will significantly improve access for leisure and recreation making additional areas of countryside available to walkers, cyclists and horseriders alike.

Development of the Spine Route is set to continue in the next 12 months with the creation of a link from Waterbeach Station to Bottisham Lock and the creation of a raised bridleway between Reach and Burwell Lodes across Burwell Fen. In 2009 /10 the National Trust are hoping to provide a cycleway link from Bottisham Lock to Lodeside and to improve cycleway access to the West of Anglesey Abbey. A new bridge is planned to cross Reach Lode together with improvements to the Burwell Bridge and River Cam crossing at Bottisham Lock.

Completion of the Wicken Spine Route will bridge the current gap in the National Cycle Route 11, which links Harlow, to Cambridge, Ely and on to Kings' Lynn.

The £300,000 bridge was designed by Mott MacDonald of Cambridge and constructed by Jackson Civil Engineering of Ipswich. The bridge made from sustainable timber supplies has gentle access ramps and 1.8 metre high parapets to enable safe use by horse riders.

The excavation of gault clay used in the construction of the access ramps will enable two new wildlife ponds to be created on the Southern side of Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. The ponds will have shallow margins for planting and easier access by wildlife. The planting of coppice and willow along the path and bridleway will create a new habitat for wildlife and a pleasant setting for users of the route.

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Note to Editors
1. Information on the Wicken Fen Vision can be found at www.wicken.org.uk