River Waveney could be one of the best wild swimming spots

Dedicated River Waveney Trust volunteers have been testing the water weekly for harmful bacteria at 10 locations around Bungay.

So far the results have been encouraging, and apart from after heavy rainfall, bacteria levels at the chosen site at Falcon Meadow have been found to be at a safe level for swimming.

Martha Meek, director at The River Waveney Trust, said: "We really hope our application to make Falcon Meadow a designated bathing water site will be successful.

"The water quality results so far are looking good, with the exception of after heavy rainfall. We have no reason to warn people not to swim in the river here."

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Children enjoying the water in the River Waveney (Image: River Waveney Trust)

50 people gathered to swim in the River Waveney - which was an icy 5.5°c - at the weekend, Feb 2022 (Image: Shaun Crowley)

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The information required by DEFRA for the bathing water application will be collected this summer.

People can help by scanning this barcode and using the form it opens to record the number of river users.

The River Waveney Trust are urging people who use the river to swim or canoe to scan the barcode (Image: Submitted)

The application will be submitted in October 2023.

If successful, Bathing Water Designation will be awarded around February next year, making Falcon Meadow the second site in Suffolk to be designated after the success at Waldringfield on the River Deben.

The project is supported by Anglian Water’s Get River Positive initiative, the Geoffrey Watling Charity, Postcode Places Trust and Bungay Town Council.

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Falcon Meadow, at The Staithe in Bungay by Andrew Atterwell (Image: Andrew Atterwell)

Jamie Dexter enjoying a swim in the River Waveney at Beccles Yacht Club with his dog Quigley (Image: Nick Butcher)

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On Sunday, July 16, the trust is hosting a celebration picnic, mass swim and music on the meadow to raise awareness of the plans.

The event will be a fun-filled day for local people to learn more about water quality in the River Waveney and raise awareness of the river and its designation.

It will also celebrate the Waveney as an extraordinary place for locals, and provide the opportunity to chat with trust experts on the river's current state.

The bathing spot in Beccles along the River Waveney which was converted into moorings for holiday craft after the opening of the lido taken in 1959. (Image: Archant Library)

Autumn sunshine on the river Waveney, Bungay (Image: Nick Butcher)