Deben Climate Centre

22/09/2026

New project coming soon... head over to ourrivers.tv to find out more!

17/09/2026

Would you like to learn more about community renewable energy? Do you ideas you'd like to share about how it could be implemented locally? If you live in the Deben area you're invited to join an upcoming workshop!

When and Where?
September 29th, 6:00-8:30pm
The Art Haven, 15 Tide Mill Way, IP12 1BY

What is the workshop?
Join us for free buffet food and a friendly conversation about community renewable energy and how they could benefit the community.
No prior knowledge is needed, everything will be explained step by step in a clear way.

What we'll do together
☀️Learn about what community renewable energy is.
🔋Discussion potential opportunities that could be explored in the local area
💡Start to think about how the local community could benefit from potential projects

Find out more and book your free place by visiting:
https://buff.ly/UlZnANd
Places are limited!

This workshop is hosted in partnership with East Suffolk Council, Centre For Sustainable Energy, Ashden, Community Energy England, and Transition Woodbridge

15/09/2026

Thanks to our brilliant team of Citizen Science volunteers last week we sampled almost 80 locations across the Deben catchment!

💧 E.coli
In the non-tidal Deben below Debenham, with the exception of the Charsfield and Wickham Market, the levels of bacterial pollution are minimal especially above Easton.

Debenham continues to see low flow and many dry sites; this lack of flow coupled with some rainfall wetting others has resulted in a surge in the number of high E.coli sites by comparison with July and August.

The Fynn/Lark tributary shows much higher levels of E.coli than in previous months at many locations; these may be due to low flow but also the high readings coming from Anglian Water STW outfalls.

In the tidal section, we recorded some of the worst ever E.coli results in the Woodbridge area, with a succession of unsafe bathing areas from the Tide Mill to Kyson Point/ Martlesham Creek. The sample from Deben Yacht Club at 840 colonies per 1ml was almost 100 times the EA "safe bathing limit" - this on a day with no rain when water users were out on the river. Environment Agency and Anglian Water were advised as soon as these results became known and have been asked to investigate.

💧 Phosphate
There has been a slight increase in phosphate pollution levels across the catchment this month, most likely associated with a combination of low flow and limited rainfall flushing some ditches. The usual hotspots are at and below Anglian Water STW's, where there is no PO4 stripper installed; notably at Henley, Tuddenham, Martlesham Creek and Kirton, and the Charsfield STW appears to be having continuing problems. We will continue to push Anglian Water to install PO4 stripping at the high pollution treatment works.

💧 Nitrate
Levels of nitrate pollution are still relatively low for this time of year; we think this is largely due to the lengthy period with minimal rainfall and hence very low run-off from fields, ditches and highways. The spikes in nitrate are all associated with known Anglian Water STW outfalls.

💧 Ammonia
The stand-out ammonia issue this month is at Kyson Point where higher than trend E.coli (59 colonies per 1ml) was combined with an extremely high ammonia reading at 6.38 mg/litre. Given that this sample was taken at or close to high tide, this is a very worrying result with public health implications. It was immediately reported to the Environment Agency and to Anglian Water and we are awaiting a response.

Read the full report on our website: https://buff.ly/3KMfwRE

12/09/2026

Do you live in Woodbridge or the surrounding villages? Struggling with your energy bills, or want to reduce your home's climate impact? If so, our Energy Champions would love to meet you!

Thanks to the support of Community Energy Pathways our Energy Champions can provide FREE advice on all aspects of home energy efficiency, lowering your energy bills, insulation and loads more.

Book a chat with them by filling in this form https://buff.ly/Kz33aIS or drop in to our hub on Ferry Quay!

04/09/2026

Great news!

🌟Portal Woodlands 🌟
We are pleased to confirm that Martlesham Parish Council has secured the 11.37 acres of land known as Portal Woodlands for the continued and future benefit of the community.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported and pledged towards this work.

04/09/2026

Interested in community energy and how it can make a difference locally?

To support the East Suffolk Community Energy Programme, the Centre for Sustainable Energy is hosting an introductory webinar on 16 September, from 1pm to 2pm via Zoom.

The session will explore what community energy is, how community-led renewable energy projects work in practice, and what groups need to consider when getting started, including governance, funding, skills and local partnerships. Attendees will also hear examples of successful projects, from community solar schemes to energy advice and home retrofit support.

Find out more and register via the link in the comments.

04/09/2026

🚨 Tidal Deben Pollution Incident Opposite Ramsholt 🚨

Our volunteers spotted a probable pollution incident in July just upstream of and opposite the Ramsholt Arms on the Deben estuary and have now investigated again this week. Their sampling at the Anglian Water Kirton STW revealed very high E.coli levels - around 140,000 CFU's per 100ml - with lower but very significant bacterial pollution in the estuary itself near where the Kirton ditch emerges into the river. This was at least 9,600 CFU's per 100ml - more than 10 times the "safe bathing" guideline. (see photo attached)

The source of the pollution appears to be coming from a small pumping cabin which discharges straight into the estuary. It is difficult to be certain as the area is on private land.

Anglian Water and the Environment Agency have been advised and asked to investigate, given the proximity to Waldringfield and Ramsholt, both frequented by many water users.

Our advice is to avoid this section of the river especially close to the shoreline, at low water or on a falling tide.

01/09/2026

Would you like to learn more about community renewable energy? Do you ideas you'd like to share about how it could be implemented locally? If you live in the Deben area you're invited to join an upcoming workshop!

When and Where?
September 29th, 6:00-8:30pm
The Art Haven, 15 Tide Mill Way, IP12 1BY

What is the workshop?
Join us for free buffet food and a friendly conversation about community renewable energy and how they could benefit the community.
No prior knowledge is needed, everything will be explained step by step in a clear way.

What we'll do together
☀️Learn about what community renewable energy is.
🔋Discussion potential opportunities that could be explored in the local area
💡Start to think about how the local community could benefit from potential projects

Find out more and book your free place by visiting:
https://DebenCRE.eventbrite.co.uk
Places are limited!

This workshop is hosted in partnership with East Suffolk Council, Centre For Sustainable Energy, Ashden, Community Energy England, and Transition Woodbridge

31/08/2026

We had a brilliant time at the Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music this weekend! Thank you to everyone who came to say hello, chat about local climate action, and even have a go at Climate Jenga - we had some of the highest scores we've ever seen!