The River Glaven Eel Trail

The HLF Glaven Eel project aims to connect people with their local rivers, so part of the project involves creating an eel trail for locals and tourists. Taking inspiration from some other trails around the country, we decided to combine science and art as well as involving the local community. We contacted a number of art groups in the local area asking for some creative input and our first entry was the award-winning Susan Purser-Hope,  a glass artist in North Norfolk. Susan’s specialty is working with community groups and part of the eel project was to engage with local schools so Susan ran some workshops with Walsingham and Hindringham schools to create 3 glass panels relating to eel life cycles and habitats. The work coincided perfectly with World Fish Migration Day event hosted at Cley Marshes visitor centre so we arranged for the children’s art work to be exhibited at the event, along with some glass eels on display and a pond dipping session to look at eel prey and habitat.

Our other North Norfolk artist, Henry Stephens, is a metal sculptor and we found him purely by chance and jolly good luck when we were looking at eel passage sites. We noticed Henry’s distinctive work around the grounds of his home, and saw this blaze of light and the screeching of metal coming from the workshop. Jonah and I sat in the car wondering if this was something that would fit in to the eel trail and since we both agreed, we figured we would just ask if he would be interested.  When Henry agreed, we were over the moon.

After months of organising best locations all the art work has been installed into its final position and you can see these pieces featured at Natural Surroundings, Letheringsett Mill, Bayfield lower meadow and on the Norfolk Coast Path at Blakeney Harbour. We’re still working on the interpretation boards and leaflet but as soon as they’re complete we will release more information about the Glaven Eel Trail.

We hope to see you out and about!