With the vernal equinox fast approaching and with so much going on with the BOHT, I thought it a good moment to update you on the latest harbour-related matters. 

Groyne and Saltmarsh Restoration Project – Presentation at BOS Village Hall on Saturday 9 March 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

As many of you know, in December we were thrilled to announce that the BOHT had been chosen as the main beneficiary charity of the 2024 Norfolk Superhero and that this will help enormously in our fundraising campaign for a groyne restoration project.  We are now in position to share our plans for this major project that will be carried out in the winter of 2024-2025.  Please do join the Groyne Group, comprising Will Garnett, David de Stacpoole, John Owles, John Thompson and Ash Faire-Ring on Saturday 9 March, when they will be discussing the project and be delighted to answer any questions that you might have.   The cost of the work will be considerable and we do plan to embark on a fundraising campaign later in the year with a book launch being its focal point……

A history of the creek

The BOHT is also delighted to announce that it will publish the definitive history of the Burn Valley and the Burnham Overy Creek on the occasion of the 2024 Norfolk Superhero. This is in recognition of the Superhero’s munificent contribution to the forthcoming restoration project.  Richly illustrated, it’s written by our very own Jim Ring, who has lived in the Burnhams since 1989. He is an award-winning historian, novelist, and documentary maker, best known for his biography of Erskine Childers. As stated above, the book will be the focal point of the fundraising campaign for the Groyne Project (to augment Superhero funds) and will serve to emphasise the importance of the Creek to the village over time.  The BOHT will own the copyright and 10 sponsors have kindly committed to underwriting the initial cost – all revenue derived from book sales in excess of the costs will go to the BOHT.   Jim Ring has very kindly agreed to attend fundraising events to be held during the course of the summer at which he will talk about the book and what he has learned whilst researching it. 

Licensing

As you know the Trust generates its income principally from donations and boat licences.  We were extremely gratified that a record number of licences were sold last year.  Thank you for supporting the BOHT in this way.  This year we wanted to make it easier to buy licences so there will be the option of paying by paypal or by direct bank transfer.  As a reminder, all craft using the harbour must have a licence (BOHT Licence) and insurance before they launch. 

The Verges and The Hard

Thank you to all for your cooperation in removing your craft (and detritus!) from the verges and The Hard.  We plan to cut the grass and make any repairs (including re-seeding if necessary) during the first couple of weeks of March.  Therefore, we would very much appreciate if you could wait to put any boats back till the weekend of Saturday 23 March.  As was the case last year, we will have to dispose of a small number of abandoned and unusable boats at some cost.  Please do remove rather than abandon! 

Annual General Meeting

This year we will hold the BOHT’s AGM on Friday 16 August at 6.30 p.m. at Burnham Thorpe Village Hall. For those with long memories, August was the normal month for the BOHT AGM in prior years.  We have chosen to revert to August as more of our members tend to be around and as it will give us time to have the accounts audited and signed off. 

Moorings 

As mentioned last year, the BOHT will provide a numbered tag, free of charge, to be attached to all moorings. This will aid the ongoing identification process that will allow us to further update the Moorings Map which can be found in the Boat House coffee room.

Please contact admin@burnhamoveryharbour.com to arrange for an identification tag to be fitted. 

Boats moored in the harbour are done so at the owners’ own risk. It is important for boat owners to understand that moored boats that collide in strong winds are the responsibility of the boat owners themselves and not the BOHT. The BOHT expects all boat owners to be insured, and also that larger boats are only moored on those moorings with enough swing room.  

We also would like to highlight that damage done by fisherman anchors or anchors with sharp, upward facing points will be the liability of the anchor owner.  During the past year, these type of anchors have caused significant damage and those using them should ensure they remain well buried.

Swimming Caps

As in previous years, we encourage swimmers to wear swimming caps and/or use a float in order to avoid accidents. The BOHT will continue to provide caps free of charge and they can be collected from John Thompson, who operates the Welcome Ferry, or from the Boathouse. 

Thank you again for your support and cooperation in maintaining the good management of the creek and helping to preserve this very special place.  If you would like to provide any feedback or have a query please do not hesitate to contact the BOHT at admin@burnhamoveryharbour.com or speak directly to one of the members of the Harbour Support Group (Ben Goakes, David de Stacpoole, Will Garnett, David Hart, Max Owles, Peter Mitchell, Toby Campbell-Gray). 

Will Garnett, Chair of the BOHT Management Committee