News | Recovering the Deben from Source to Sea

NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE DEBEN CATCHMENT

Check out the latest news and updates on the river Deben and the Recovering the Deben From Source to Sea project.

If you have a news item you'd like to share then please contact: info@essexsuffolkriverstrust.org

DEC 2025 - Deben Estuary Water Quality Update - Woodbridge Outfall Safari

Water Quality is a fast moving, high interest area for the River Deben Association. Since the last RDA Journal Article (‘Water Quality Update’ January 2025), Waldringfield Bathing Water Designation Area has achieved (announced 25th October 2025) a second year of clear run 20/20 [Excellent] measurements across the May-September Environment Agency (EA) bathing season.

This latest journal article focusses on trying to resolve the debate on just how many outfalls there are between Martlesham Creek to Wilford Bridge. Read more

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NOV 2025 - Woods for Water Event

On 28/11/25, two of the Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust (ESRT) team attended the Woods for Water - Recovering the Deben from Source to Sea drop in event at Wickham Market Village Hall. This drop in event, led by the Forestry Commission, was attended not only by the Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust, but also the Woodland Trust, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Suffolk Tree Wardens and National Landscapes. Read more

SEP 2025 - Beauty of Deben Estuary seen from new coastal path

A stretch of a new walking route is set to open up one of the region's most beautiful saltmarsh landscapes. The King Charles III England Coast Path, now includes 11 new miles (17.7km) around the Deben Estuary, linking Felixstowe Ferry to Bawdsey in Suffolk. Natural England said the area has a "unique landscape, home to over 40% of Suffolk's remaining saltmarsh". The entire King Charles III England Coast Path, once completed, will be a 2,700 mile national trail around the whole of the English coast. Read more

AUG 2025 - Major rivers to get routine sewage pollution tests

The Four Rivers Project in Suffolk will now also cover the Alde-Ore river system, the Waveney and the Blyth. It builds on work done by volunteers on the Deben to highlight sewage spills and other pollution, and will be backed by more than £200,000 from East Suffolk Council over three years. It will provide regular updates on bathing water quality and share data with regulators. Read more

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JULY 2025 - Woodbridge and Melton storm overflow incident in July

Deben Climate Centre volunteers conducted their monthly sampling on Monday 7th July after the weekend rains. The samples taken from the tidal section, between Wilford Bridge at Melton and Kyson Point near Woodbridge, were tested for E,coli and the results showed that a major pollution incident was in progress, with E.coli levels between 3 and 30 times the “safe bathing limit” Read more

JULY 2025 - Lowestoft swim ban lifted but River Deben water still ‘worrying’

After a recent sewage spill, Lowestoft’s seawater has been declared safe for swimming again by the Environment Agency. However, water campaigners in Woodbridge remain concerned about the health of the River Deben. Campaign group Save the Deben said amber and red readings for endotoxins had been recorded in the last few days, which indicates faecal or negative bacteria contamination. Read more

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JULY 2025 - Lower Deben landowners call for action to maintain river

In summer, parts of the River Deben are barely visible beneath dense foliage - but two winters ago it burst its banks causing widespread devastation. The damage caused by Storm Babet in 2023 prompted landowners based along the banks of the river to form the Lower Deben Riparian Owners Group (LDOG) in August last year. Read more

JUNE 2025 - Bathers urged to check water quality this summer

The Environment Agency (EA) is urging bathers to check water quality before taking a dip in rivers and beaches this summer. The agency is taking samples from 451 bathing waters throughout England between 15 May and 30 September - on the lookout for levels of two particular types of bacteria. Samples will be taken from 43 bathing spots in the east, including the river Deben in Waldringfield, Suffolk. Read more

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MAY 2025 - Anglian Water ringfences £80m to improve bathing water quality

Anglian Water has ringfenced over £80 million in a dedicated bathing water investment pot. It will fund a programme of source apportionment studies at a number of inland and coastal locations, including Woodbridge on the River Deben in Suffolk. The studies will identify and understand sources of bacteria impacting bathing water quality. Read more

Protestors have said they are "outraged" by the sewage scandal (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)

MAY 2025 - Woodbridge protestors ‘outraged’ by River Deben pollution

Protestors “outraged” at sewage discharges into the River Deben have taken to the water to swim, kayak and sail in a demonstration against the pollution. Read more

Deben wetland. Image by Natural England (OGL3)

MAY 2025 - Harnessing nature-based solutions to help combat flooding

As climate change brings more frequent and severe flooding, innovative solutions are emerging to tackle these challenges. Working with nature, not against it, Natural England is proposing schemes to help tackle flooding in Norfolk and Suffolk. Projects on the Wissey and Deben show how working with nature can combat flooding. Read more

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APR 2025 - Job Opportunity: Recovering the Deben Programme Manager

The Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Programme Manager to lead the Recovering the Deben from Source to Sea project and studies. The Programme Manager will also lead on communications and action on the ground, supporting the ESRT to work with partners to influence change within the river Deben and estuary environments. Read more

Two people conducting a fish survey in a tidal creek, using a large seine net.

FEB 2025 - RDA publish citizen science fish survey results

The River Deben Association have been supporting the Institute of Fisheries Management in conducting fish surveys on the lower Deben for the past 3 years. Now the results of the 2024 survey have been published, highlighting fish found at the mouth of the Deben as well as at a new site, supported by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust near Martlesham. Read more

JAN 2025 - £280k secured to help reduce flood risk in Debenham

The East Suffolk Catchment Partnership have secured £280,000 of funding from the Environment Agency’s Water Environment Improvement Fund through the Recovering the Deben: From Source to Sea initiative, to create two new natural flood storage areas, which will help lower the risk of flooding downstream in the Deben catchment. Read more

Hands in gloves holding a transparent container with a small fish inside, measured against a ruler, near a pebbly shoreline with water and seaweed in the background.

JAN 2025 - Water quality update from the River Deben Association

Is it safe to swim in the Deben? What's the overall water quaility? What are the problems in specific areas? Here's a detailed summary from RDA co-chair Colin Nicholson drawing on data from 2024 water sampling programmes: Read more

JAN 2025 - East Suffolk Council bans hiring of personal water craft

East Suffolk Council took the decision not to license commercial operators after hundreds of people objected during a consultation. At a meeting on Monday, councillors voted against licensing, although private owners can still use them as that does not fall within the authority's jurisdiction. Read more

A collection of small boats and kayaks resting on a grassy and gravel area near a calm waterfront. A few sailboats are moored in the background, with a white building and wooden docks nearby under an overcast sky.

JAN 2025 - Hundreds object to hiring personal water crafts on river Deben

A consultation on whether to allow licenses to hire out personal water craft (PWC) has received hundreds of objections. More than 370 people responded to the consultation by East Suffolk Council ahead of a decision on the issue on 20 January. The majority of people objected on the grounds of "public safety, public nuisance and concerns over the impact on wildlife". Read more

A redshank bird standing on a patch of seaweed near shallow water. The bird has brown plumage, a white underbelly, bright orange legs, and an orange-tipped beak. The background features calm water with scattered vegetation.

JAN 2025 - Martlesham Wilds sees "diversity of species" and winter birds

A new nature reserve on the banks of the river Deben - created to provide "a wild place of immense value to local people and wildlife" - has seen "huge wildlife successes," Suffolk Wildlife Trust has said. The conservation charity has recorded "spectacular" starling murmurations at the new Martlesham Wilds reserve, along with growing numbers of wildfowl and wading birds using the salt marsh to feed. Read more

DEC 2024 - River Deben study finds traces of cosmetics in samples

Citizen scientists, including representatives from Woodbridge-based clean water campaign group Save the Deben, have been conducting tests on inland bathing waters, including Suffolk's River Deben. The study revealed high levels of organic substances, including a cocktail of pharmaceuticals, polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which are synthetic chemicals, pesticides, vet medicines, caffeine and nicotine. Read more

A serene stream flowing under a small brick bridge surrounded by lush greenery. Sunlight filters through the trees, casting reflections on the water's surface.

OCT 2024 - Suffolk landowners join forces to form river action group

Landowners living along the banks of the River Deben are calling for more robust government action to prevent a repeat of the devastating Storm Babet floods. Worried landowners have now formed a campaign group - called the Lower Deben Riparian Owners Group (LDOG) - to lobby for a much more proactive approach from government bodies. Read more

OCT 2024 - Jet ski use on Deben sparks consultation in Suffolk

A consultation on licensing private hire personal watercraft is to take place after a new business opened up offering tours on the river Deben. A report
to East Suffolk Council has raised concerns over the use of water scooters, such as Jet Skis, and the impace it might have on wildlife, pollution and other users of the river. Read more

OCT 2024 - Lord Deben – Patron of the River Deben Association

The River Deben Association (RDA) is delighted to announce that Lord Deben is to become its patron from October 2024, supporting the association in its efforts to understand and protect the River Deben and conserve it for all users. Read more

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JULY 2024 - Citizen scientists warn: rivers becoming 'reservoirs of disease'

A recent BBC news article reveals that researchers at the University of Suffolk, along with citizen scientists from the Deben Climate Centre, have found that rivers, specifically the River Deben in Suffolk, are becoming "reservoirs of disease" due to bacteria in the water acquiring antibiotic resistance from sewage contamination. Read more

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JUNE 2024 - Water Restoration Fund bid for the river Deben

The East Suffolk Catchment Partnership has recently submitted an application to the Water Restoration Fund to help finance the Recovering the Deben from Source to Sea project. The funding will help deliver the next stage of the programme, which is aimed at benefitting the range of red list wildlife species that the river and estuary support. Read more

MAY 2024 - Secretary of State approves Deben Estuary Coastal Path

One year after the approval of initial sections of the coastal walking path along the Deben Estuary, the entire length, from Felixstowe Ferry, through Woodbridge and down the opposite, eastern bank has now been approved. It will take some more time for the rights to come into effect, but will allow walkers to enjoy the whole estuary. You can read more about this through the Deben Estuary Partnerships article.

MAY 2024 - River Deben Action Plan launched

Today marks a pivotal moment for environmental conservation as the East Suffolk Catchment Partnership unveils its action plan to recover the river Deben, all the way from “Source to Sea”! Read more on our blog to find out what representatives from some of the organisations involved have to say about the initiative, or go directly to the Action Plan to read it for yourself.

APRIL 2024 - New questionnaire available - have your say

The Recovering the Deben from Source to Sea project is open to everyone! You can have your say and help us shape the future for our natural environment on the Deben by taking a few minutes to answer our questions. Click here to open the questionnaire form

APRIL 2024 - Organisations come together to recover the river Deben

On the 18th of April, in the historic town of Debenham, close to the river's source, representatives from organisations across the Deben met to agree a shared ambition to Recover the Deben. As part of the day, we visited some of the work already happening on the land and water which flows into the Deben river and estuary. Read more

NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE DEBEN CATCHMENT

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