HADLEIGH RIVERSIDE WALK

Location Plan of the Corks Lane end of Riverside Walk

The Hadleigh Riverside Walk is a local nature reserve owned and managed by Babergh District Council. The walk is about 800 metres (½ mile) long, but the wooded nature of the site often means that the view of the river is obscured. 

Babergh District Council provides and maintains lifebelts next to the River Brett.  If you notice any missing or damaged, please contact us as soon as you are able.

This part of the river through Hadleigh is both wider and deeper than either upstream or downstream indicating that it has been canalised at some point in its history.  Some believe this could date back to the times of Roman occupation, but whenever it was done it has played an important role in Hadleigh’s fortune – the wool trade of the middle ages was highly dependant on water and Hadleigh certainly prospered through this industry right up until the 17^th century.

By the 20^th century the river was more important for its leisure interests – boating, swimming and fishing.  Nowadays the riverside provides a cool, tranquil, scented walk along the edge of Hadleigh from the ancient Toppesfield bridge (dating from the 16^th century) to the more modern Babergh District Council offices on Corks Lane (which were converted from a derelict granary and surrounding buildings).

The gently rolling landscape of Suffolk is intersected by many rivers and their floodplains and was renowned for withy and reed crafts.  This small remnant of wet woodland in Hadleigh includes an old osier bed.  This type of willow grows 2 metres (6 feet) or more each year and would traditionally have been harvested every autumn and treated to produce white, brown or buff willow “withies” suitable for basket making.

Other trees in this woodland would also have been harvested for their wood.  Hazel was coppiced and woven into “wattles”, used today as attractive garden fencing.  Hazel is also used to make thatching spars and beanpoles.  The alder produces a yellow wood popular for turning (to make chair legs, brush heads and handles), and also for making clogs.