This Programme seeks to increase awareness and understanding of the Stour Valley.
This Programme seeks to conserve the heritage assets of the Stour Valley, see our events for more.
Encouraging local community groups of all kinds to enjoy the Stour Valley’s heritage assets.
The hopper bus is running again for the Summer
The Hopper Bus operates Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday 14th July until Sunday 14th October 2012
This summer sees the welcome return of Dedham Vale ‘Hopper’ Bus which operates a regular service from Manningtree Railway station, stopping at various attractions and local facilities in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The service was originally launched by Managing a Masterpiece on Saturday 2nd July 2011 at Manningtree Station.
The service is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund through the ‘Managing a Masterpiece’ programme, the National Trust and the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project. Operated by Hadleigh Community Transport, the bus service runs four days per week from 14th July to the 14th October 2012 (on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays).
The bus follows an anticlockwise circular route from Manningtree Station via Flatford, East Bergholt, Stratford St Mary, Dedham, Lawford and Manningtree.
The aim of the service is to provide support through better public transport facilities for the local community and encourage visitors to the Dedham Vale to make use of the sustainable transport links. The service has been designed to connect with the rail services from Liverpool St Station to Manningtree and is also easily accessible from Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and Harwich.
Adrian Clarke of the National Trust said,
“We are delighted to be supporting the Hopper Bus service as we want to encourage people to visit this beautiful area in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.
Chris Burton, the ‘Managing a Masterpiece’ scheme manager said,
“It’s great that we have secure funding for the bus until 2012. The service was extremely successful during 2010 and the pilot in 2005. The Hopper has been very well received by the local community and we have had lots of enquiries and positive comments about the service. We do hope that everyone will take the opportunity to ride on the bus and make use of this greener transport option."
Events...