Hoveton Little Broad, or Blackhorse Broad, as it is known, is a Broad accessible through the River Bure. It is a private water, open to the public for a week at Easter and between Whitsun and October.
Hoveton Little Broad history
Paddle to the scene of a rebellion and mass trespass in 1949 that parallels that on Kinder Scout by ramblers earlier in the 20th Century!
In the 19th century several Norfolk landowners prevented access to broads from the main river network. This was even though all Broadland waters had been considered part of the King’s River and so freely accessible to all.
Boat builder Herbert Woods led a public campaign against the landowners’ action, culminating in the ‘Invasion of Black Horse Broad‘ in March 1949.
Woods and 30 local men dismantled the barrier that the landowner had placed across Black Horse Dyke. This direct action resulted in an agreement with the broad’s owner.
The owner agreed to open the broad to the public each year between Easter and mid-September. Sadly, unlike the Kinder trespass, this campaign did not lead to the re-opening of other closed broads which remain ‘private’ to this day.
So, you should canoe Hoveton Little Broad, because you can! You should also canoe the broad because it is very attractive and quiet!
A note: the invasive non-native killer shrimp (Dikerogrammerus villosus) has been found in the Broads. This shrimp has become widespread in Europe and threatens our native species.
Despite its name it is no threat to humans, more the native wildlife it destroys. Please remember to check, clean and dry your kit after each paddle.
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