Wroxham Broad

Yachts of the Norfolk Broads Sailing Club on Wroxham Broad

Wroxham Broad is on the River Bure near the village of Wroxham in Norfolk, all within the Norfolk Broads. The broad has an area of 85.0 acres and a mean depth of 4 feet. It lies to the west of the Bure, with two navigable openings between river and broad. The village and broad lie in an area of fairly intensive agriculture, with areas of wet woodland adjoining the broad and river.

The broad is home to the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club. Visiting boats are not allowed to land, but navigation is allowed.

Maintenance and restoration

Between 2000 and 2005 the island between the two channels linking Wroxham Broad to the Bure underwent restoration to stop erosion and improve the island's ecology, which had become degraded. The project was a joint initiative involving the Broads Authority, Norfolk Broads Yacht Club and the local landowner, Trafford Estates. Scrub was cleared and a stretch of piling installed, allowing sedge, reed and rush to grow back. By 2005 it was reported that more birds, including kingfishers, were nesting on the island and the rare Cetti's warbler was often spotted.

Greater numbers of ducks, including pochard and tufted ducks, now wintered nearby and there was a greater profusion of wild flowers and marsh flora including orchids.

During the course of the work, in 2004, volunteers came across an unexploded Second World War hand grenade in the dredgings, which had to be exploded by an army bomb disposal team.

Around the water

Close to Wroxham Broad stands the early 18th century Broad House, a Queen Anne style estate house and formerly the seat of the local land-owning Trafford family, more recently a 'boutique' hotel.