Outdoor Activities

a flotilla of 25 historic vessels will sail out of the harbour for a race not held in the town for decades. Explore the Vessels Festival on the quayside, too, with live music, food and art stalls. 

This will be the 25th anniversary race, organised by Waveney Valley Athletic Club, taking in the historic scores in Lowestoft. Starting and finishing in the upper high street, competitors can be assured of a great atmosphere and plenty of spectators.

Lowestoft's Vessel Festival got under way this morning. A multitude of old sailing vessels raced each other just off the harbour mouth. There were stalls and music and a bar! A wonderful event we should be proud of, and thank all those who worked so hard to make it happen - in particular John Wilson of the Excelsior Trust - and the many volunteers who participated. A big up to all of you from Lowestoft Old and Now. 

I was luck enough to get a place on a RIB and we drove round many of the boats as they sailed the tricky roads just off Lowestoft.  

John E

This outdoor fitness area for adults is now open also one at Fen Park

North Lowestoft Men's Shed has finally begun turning a dream into reality. Not quite the reality we expected, but nevertheless a huge stride towards our final goal.

Within a couple of months, we hope to be staring out from the door of a container at a piece of land we can transform into a community garden or wildlife garden, wondering how we're going to do it!

The area is the piece of scrubland betwixt Lowestoft Station car park and our ultimate goal, the building next to the signal box in Denmark Road.

[First published around January 2023, edited for historical accuracy of photo 12/11/2023]

We're still in mid-stride!

The three surveys of the building in Denmark Road that we have been waiting for have been given the OK to go ahead. So let's hope they are done nice and quickly, as the results – asbestos, electrical, structural – will decide whether we will be able to continue our journey.

Finally. We have a base of operations!

North Lowestoft Men's Shed has become 'custodians' of a piece of land just to the east of the signal box next to Denmark Road.

We're officially 'Station Adopters' and we have a free hand with the land, though of course we can't build on it. Current thinking is wildlife area, a few fruit trees, and area to sit and contemplate...

We're hoping to get a container – our first Shed' - within the next few months.

A few things have to happen first, though.

Shovel-It-Yourself – Waterlane Leisure Centre, Lowestoft, Friday 12 May 10:00-15:00

A free event at which compost, processed from the material that residents separate into their garden waste bins in east Suffolk, will be given away free as a thank you to residents for recycling and closing the loop between the garden waste we generate and the compost we add to the soil and grow with. This event will help mark International Compost Awareness Week to help celebrate composting as the most sustainable way of dealing with our garden waste.

North Lowestoft Men's Shed has taken up residence in Denmark Road!

Shed members have been working on the land – courtesy of Greater Anglia – just west of Lowestoft Railway Station.

We've removed some bramble bushes, started to level where the temporary shed will go, got a load of pallets, and crocked at least one back.

We hope to have a shed of sorts on the land within six weeks – probably a bit optimistic, but you never know.

North Lowestoft Men's Shed is gradually transforming the bit of land to the west of Lowestoft Central Station.

Our steel garden shed is due to arrive on 5th July. Then we've got to construct it.

We're creating the foundations next week.

We've cleared some brambles, excavated industrial archaeology, sourced some pallets, and generally made progress. 

The land was originally – 1900 to 1950's – a siding, dedicated to loading and unloading livestock – cattle and pigs.