Geldeston Meadows SSSI site visit

The Sustainable Abstraction Projects Team recently carried out a joint site visit to Geldeston Meadows SSSI, part of the Broads Special Area of Conservation, to strengthen our understanding of the site’s hydrology and groundwater interaction. Representatives from Essex & Suffolk Water, Natural England, JBA Consulting, Hydrology UK, and the landowner hosted us for a two‑hour walkover of the wet meadow complex. The visit focused on how water enters, moves through, and drains from the site, including the pathways for surface‑water inundation and the interaction between groundwater and the wetland habitats. Points of interest included the monitoring boreholes shown in the adjacent photo, as well as stop‑logs, sluices, and other structures influencing water retention and flow.

The team also walked the adjacent River Waveney to consider how river levels and channel features may affect surface‑water dynamics within the SSSI. The visit concluded with a follow‑up meeting at Essex & Suffolk Water’s Lound Water Treatment Works, where initial observations were discussed and next steps agreed. This collaborative fieldwork forms an important part of our ongoing work to understand hydrological pressures on designated sites and to support sustainable abstraction management across the Broads.