Norwich City Council, working in partnership with Norfolk County Council’s Flood Management Team, is continuing to make progress on carefully planned improvements to Lion Wood, the city’s only ancient woodland. The project includes creating a new accessible path to make it easier for people walking, cycling and wheeling to enjoy the woodland, alongside natural flood‑management features that slow and hold back rainwater to protect the woodland and reduce surface‑water flooding for nearby homes.
The project is funded through a mix of support from the Greater Norwich Growth Board (GNGB), Section 106 developer contributions, and the Environment Agency’s Water Environment Improvement Fund, ensuring a coordinated and sustainable approach.
Carefully planned work that supports the woodland’s future
Over recent weeks, some early tree work has been completed to prepare the site for the new path. This work was shaped by a detailed tree survey and conducted with support from the council’s specialist tree consultant, making sure decisions reflected what is best for the long‑term health of the woodland.
Most of the trees that were removed were self‑sown sycamores, along with a few ash trees and a small number of oaks that were either dead or unable to grow into healthy, long‑lived specimens because of how close they were to other trees. The approach throughout has been to retain the strongest and most ecologically valuable trees so the woodland can continue to flourish. The work was carefully timed to avoid the nesting season, ensuring birds and other wildlife were protected.
Continuing to shape plans with community feedback
The project team is currently developing the detailed design, working closely with technical specialists, the appointed contractor, and the comments gathered during the public consultation in April 2025. The emerging plans reflect many of the priorities residents shared with us, including the use of native planting, natural materials and features such as leaky dams, seasonal ponds, and small temporary water‑holding areas. These elements will support natural water management and deliver meaningful biodiversity improvements across the woodland.
The planned, wider path also responds directly to consultation feedback, providing the improved accessibility that many respondents wanted to see.
Once the full designs for the path and flood‑management features are ready, they will be shared on the Get Talking Norwich platform for residents to review.
Cllr Mike Stonard, Chair of the Greater Norwich Growth Board, commented:
“This project is a brilliant example of how the Greater Norwich Growth Board is investing in sustainable infrastructure that benefits both people and the environment. By supporting schemes like this, we can improve everyday access for local communities while strengthening our natural spaces and increasing resilience to flooding. It’s exactly the kind of thoughtful, future‑focused investment we want to see across Greater Norwich.”
Councillor Emma Hampton, cabinet member for climate and environment at Norwich City Council, said:
“Lion Wood means a great deal to local people, and we want this project to support the long‑term health and enjoyment of the woodland. By using natural materials and thoughtful design, we can make the area more accessible while helping reduce flooding for residents.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their views so far. We’ll continue working closely with the community as the project develops and look forward to sharing the next stage of designs soon.”
For more information, visit: gettalking.norwich.gov.uk/lionwood
