Our environment policy

Please read our Environmental Policy which has been developed in line with guidance from the RYA and accepted best practice. This was reviewed and adopted by the committee on behalf of the club.

To support the policy, a small group of us work on an environment plan which is reviewed each year. Please get in touch if you would like be involved with this. 

Individual Action

You can play your part in protecting the River Deben by following the Paddlers Code or signing up to the RYA’s Green Blue Pledge. There is plenty more information on the Green Blue website including a quick checklist for dinghy sailors How Green is your Dinghy or, for more detail, have a look at the Green Guide to Inland Boating.

Habitat and Wildlife Protection

We are very fortunate the River Deben is an area of international importance for both breeding and overwintering birds. There are Brent geese, curlews, red shank, avocets and lapwings to name but a few. Please take a look at the guidance and maps on what to do and which areas to avoid to protect these rare birds and other wildlife.

Stop the spread

Invasive non-native species (INNS) risk damaging local habitats and wildlife. If you travel to other water ways with your boat, please help stop the spread of INNS by following the RYA advice to check, clean and dry  your boat before travelling in either direction.

Pollution Prevention

One of the most important things we can do to protect the river is to minimise the risk of pollution. This can be by using safer products when cleaning and painting our boats as recommended in the RYA’s guide to antifouling Protect, Collect, Dispose, minimising the risk of fuel and oil spills following advice such as Stop the Spill and by taking our rubbish home to recycle or dispose of appropriately.