The Deben river wall behind the riverside promenade at Woodbridge has a new attraction thanks to the Woodbridge Group of the RSPB.

Two illustrated information boards were recently launched by the Mayor of Woodbridge James Bidwell, accompanied by the RSPB Area Manager, Rob Macklin.

At the launch Rob Macklin complimented the Woodbridge Group, and Colin Coates in particular, for all their efforts on behalf of the RSPB. He said that ‘the Suffolk river estuaries, such as the Deben, are of crucial international importance for wintering wildfowl, such as ducks, geese and waders’ and that the ‘identification panels will add to visitors' knowledge of, pleasure in and understanding of the birds of the river’.

As James Bidwell also thanked the RSPB Group for their contribution to the education and enjoyment of the people of Woodbridge, as flocks of curlew and lapwing circled over the river and alighted to feed on the low-tide mud among the turnstones and black tailed godwits.

Situated close to the band-stand, the boards show maps of the area, and illustrate 26 species of birds which can be seen on the river, salt-marsh, mudflats and water meadows on either side of the wall between the town and Kyson Point.

Woodbridge lies in the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The boards owe their existence to Suffolk Coasts and Heaths AONB Partnership's generous grant and for donations collected by local businesses through the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths ‘Connect’ scheme. Woodbridge Community Council funded the cost of the planning application. The Environment Agency gave permission to place the boards on the river wall and English Nature gave permission for their erection in the SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest.