FibreBroads

Project Overview

Led by the Broads Authority, FibreBroads investigated the barriers we identified as the most significant to adoption of paludiculture. It was designed to inform our strategic and operational thinking.

The project workstreams were:

Grow Paludiculture Crops
Test Case for Water Management and Permissions
Develop a Spatial Opportunity Mapping Tool
Work alongside farmers and landowners
Demonstrate a business case for Paludiculture products
Develop a network for the future

Our overall aim is to unlock paludiculture as a new opportunity for farmers in the Broads and surrounding floodplain areas. By working with peatland farmers and reedcutters to share knowledge and and assessing where change is possible, testing novel propagation and harvesting, wetland crop systems, and developing a business network around the most viable products, we will help farming systems adapt to climate change and sea level rise.

Our partnership brought together stakeholders within the Broads National Park to develop different elements of paludiculture, including crop cultivation, water management issues and paludiculture product development. This will create knowledge and networks, connecting growers with construction businesses, to encourage viable market chains supporting carbon neutrality and nature recovery.

Project partners were: Norfolk FWAG, Norwich University of the Arts, Hudson Architects, Wetland Products.

Impact from FibreBroads workstreams

Enhanced technical knowledge and innovation in paludiculture through the demonstration of crop growth, improved understanding of novel planting methods, and evidence of benefits for water quality, biodiversity, and long-term productivity.

Simplified regulatory guidance for implementing paludiculture, achieved through clear online guidance and training that streamline water-related permissions and create a more enabling environment for investment and growth.

Improved spatial understanding of water table dynamics and the potential for water management and paludiculture expansion in the Broads, supporting strategic planning and identification of economically viable sites.

Stronger engagement and skills development among farmers, landowners, and advisers through one-to-one learning and targeted workshops, helping to build capacity for diversification and new income streams from wetland farming.

Demonstrated market potential through showcasing a prototype wall section, developing a commercial application of novel sustainable acoustic panels from natural fibres and an economic model for thatching reed production.

Established professional network connecting reedcutters, growers, thatchers, developers and architects to foster collaboration, stimulate market growth, and drive the development of an emerging bio-based construction economy using wetland fibres.

Grow Paludiculture Crops

Improve our understanding of the agronomy of Typha angustifolia and compare different methods of planting, growing and harvesting the crop. Harvest and dry T. angustifolia for testing at University of East London and Natural Building Systems in construction materials.

Improve our on-site water management.

Demonstrate the filtration of ochre pollution. Ochre is released from acid sulphate peat soils when they are drained resulting in negative impacts on local biodiversity. The wetland is not only growing crops, it is successfully removing ochre.

Share our learning with in-person tours of the site and via media opportunities. We ran 16 tours of the Paludiculture site for a total of over 150 people including local farmers and landowners, architects, students and policy makers.

A sample of river water containing orange ochre

Watch our short film exploring paludiculture at the Horsey Estate to learn more.

Sustainable wetland farming at the Horsey Estate | Paludiculture in theBroads National Park

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Horsey paludiculture demonstration site in 2021

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Horsey paludiculture demonstration site in 2024

cut typha

Bundles of harvested typha being dried.

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Horsey paludiculture demonstration site in 2021

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Test Case for Water Management and Permissions – A Water Design Guide:

The Broads Authority worked with the Environment Agency to develop a design guide to help wetland scheme developers plan and implement watertable management projects. The on-line guide focusses on the water available in the Broads National Park and creates a first-time single document that guides potential applicants through the permissions required for the restoration of lowland peat.

The Design Guide to Support Water Table and Water Resource Management in the Broads National Park is available for you to share and The Broads Authority have given permission for others to use the guide as they wish – only the introduction/context is specific to the Broads.

Design Guide to Support Water Table and Water Resource Management in the Broads National Park

Spatial mapping tool

The Broads Watertable Model had previously been developed by Cranfield University and following a workshop was endorsed by Broads farmers and landowners and acts as a first-time, field-by-by assessment of ditch water and watertable and carbon emissions that is now being developed in other lowland peat areas of the UK. Therefore, maps created from this model were used in the interviews described below as a starting point for more detailed conversations with landowners about land use and opportunities.

Work alongside farmers and landowners

We interviewed 12 landowners in the Yare Valley to the Southeast of Norwich to assess the current land use on peat soils, water management, perceived challenges of farming on the peat, and future plans.

There was a general concern around extreme weather events and the associated challenges for farming within the floodplain. Most participants showed a willingness to learn more about alternative land uses and income streams that are resilient to future climates. Financial support, a proven business case, technical information around the establishment, maintenance and harvest of paludiculture crops, and detailed consultation with neighbouring landowners were all key factors to address before considering paludiculture further.

Two workshops for farm advisers and agronomists were also held. These included presentations on carbon finance, BNG and water permissions.

Raw and fibre board materials experimentation and market opportunities for paludiculture construction materials

Hudson Architects built a detailed 1:1 scale cross section of an insulated wall using 100% paludiculture products which was exhibited at the Royal Norfolk Show in multiple years. The prototype showed how structural insulated panels for both internal and external walls (boards made from compressed microfibrillated typha) can be cut and used in detailed cladding whilst loose, chopped typha fibres can be used as cavity insulation.

FibreBroads also had a stand at FutureBuild 25 the sustainable construction materials exhibition at Excel, London.

We also worked with ADAS to develop the REEDS model. It analyses reed harvesting costs across different site conditions and operational models, providing adjustable, site-specific cost estimates. Results suggest sustainability improves through shared equipment, better infrastructure, diversified markets, and closer coordination between conservation and commercial sectors. Despite challenges such as high costs and competition from imports, domestic reed remains viable and preferred by thatchers when available.

1:1 scale cross-section of an insulated wall using 100% paludiculture products

Small-scale 3-D printing micro-fibrillated typha fibres

Masters students from School of Architecture at Norwich University of the Arts experimented with small scale 3-D printing micro-fibrillated typha fibres to understand how these might be used in construction. Norwich University of the Arts presents ten student experiments exploring paludiculture.

The project partners connected with many organisations from growers though to architects. Norwich University of the Arts organised the symposium 'FibreBroads - Creating Sustainable Futures' with delegates attending from academia and business.

Phase 2: Extension Project – 2025/26

PEF-funded FibreBroads project: The first two years of the PEF-funded FibreBroads project helped us to develop our understanding of each step of the process from identifying opportunities through to an end market for products.

The additional third year of the project, is fine tuning these investigations. The project will:

Use spatial mapping to identify and prioritise opportunities for paludiculture based on habitat needs and water demands.

Further explore novel paludiculture products by developing and testing acoustic insulation products created from reed blended with miscanthus fibres.

Assess the feasibility of reed harvesting in the Broads and surrounding area and foster collaboration among landowners, farmers, and machinery developers and reedcutters in the Netherlands.

Inform how farming systems adapt to climate change and sea level rise, whilst enhancing biodiversity and water management.

Focus on assessing the impact of deer grazing, evaluating the crops' growth, water filtration performance, and biodiversity value at our paludiculture demonstration site.

Publications and more information

Watertable management projects: We are planning and implementing watertable management strategies and have worked with the Environment Agency to create a new Guide to Water Permissions. Download the Design Guide to Support Water Table and Water Resource Management in the Broads National Park (PDF).

Innovative cropping: We are exploring the growth and harvesting of wetland crops to improve water quality and produce sustainable building products (known as paludiculture). Learn more about our current work on the FibreBroads webpage or watch our short film exploring paludiculture at the Horsey Estate to learn more.

Supporting Farm Advisers: We are creating tools for farm advisers to calculate baseline watertables and water requirements. Download the Excel tool here (XLS).

Engaging with Farmers: We are working closely with farmers, helping them access Countryside Stewardship opportunities. Watch our short film with RG Wright and Sons at Chestnut Farm to learn more.

Some of our wider work on peat soils and water, which has been funded by LAPWDP, includes:

•Continuing supporting Farm Advisers: We are creating tools for farm advisers to calculate baseline watertables and water requirements.

Download the Excel tool here (XLS).

•Engaging with Farmers: We are working closely with farmers, helping them access Countryside Stewardship opportunities.

Project partners

Project Lead: Andrea Kelly, Environment Policy Adviser, Broads Authority

Andrea Kelly is the Environment Policy Adviser for the Broads Authority where she focuses on developing ecological and land management strategy for the Broads National Park, including Nature Recovery Strategy, managing wet farming and wetland restoration projects and engaging with farmers about landscape adaptation in the UK’s largest protected wetland.

Mobile: 07711 451503

Email: andrea.kelly@broads-authority.gov.uk

Andrew Walters

Email: andrew.walters@broads-authority.gov.uk

Project Partners are: BA (lead), Norfolk Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group, ESG Natural Capital (wetland fibre processors), Woolly Shepherd (acoustic designers) , Cranfield University, Paul Eldridge (reedcutter).