Anyone walking down the path from Friarscroft to the Windmill Surgery and London Road will currently see a morass of mud and brash.

Despair not. Prompted by Greening Wymondham, South Norfolk District Council is reviving the neglected site and incorporating it into an adjacent county wildlife area.

Jamie Henry, SNDC lead on the project, says it's been fascinating working on the project. “We’re all helping to revitalise the site and it’s very good to be collaborating with local and county volunteers."

Drainage under the path will allow water from springs on one side to flow into a large shallow pond on the other. The path should then stay dry and can be resurfaced.

Further back into the wooded area SNDC contractors are removing asbestos, rubbish and clearing some bramble.

It’s still a work in progress – suggestions include fencing along part of the path along with dead hedging (using cut branches to make a wildlife friendly hedge and path marker) and planting native bulbs and plants. And possibly a bench and a link to other paths to connect the area to Toll’s Meadow and Fairland.

Residents near Rothbury Park have also been working with Greening Wymondham on plans to improve the park with new paths and much better access for pushchairs and wheelchairs. It will be an attractive place for all ages to enjoy nature, to sit and chat in a green space, with sports zones, new adventure play areas for younger children and lots of planting for wildlife.

Ann Rostron of GW said “we commissioned an exciting design to show residents and park users what the park could become. We hope it will eventually transform the area into a lovely place to be proud of, with something for everyone.”

Greening Wymondham also now has support from Norfolk Rivers Trust to continue to deal with the Himalayan Balsam on the Tiffey. Like most invasive species brought in by Victorian plant hunters for its attractive nature, it corrodes our river banks. So not only does it exacerbate flooding but threatens kingfisher nests and our burgeoning bank vole population.

For those brave souls who don’t mind getting wet there will be “balsam bashing” and river litter picking. And as a longer-term prospect, river testing to make sure our Tiffey is safe for humans and wildlife.

So there it is – restoration, Rothbury and river! We would love to hear from you if you have suggestions, comments or might like to volunteer. Visit www.greeningwymondham.org or email us at greening.wymondham@gmail.com. And find us on Facebook!