River Deben facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deben |
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Woodbridge Tide Mill from the River Deben
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 Location of the river mouth within Suffolk
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| Country | England |
| Region | Suffolk |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Bedingfield 60 m (200 ft) 52°15′34″N 1°11′14″E / 52.2594°N 1.1873°E |
| 2nd source | Debenham 54 m (177 ft) 52°13′35″N 1°08′01″E / 52.2263°N 1.1336°E |
| River mouth | North Sea near Felixstowe 0 m (0 ft) 51°58′51″N 1°23′34″E / 51.9808°N 1.3927°E |
| Length | 54 km (34 mi) |
The River Deben is a river in Suffolk, England. It starts from two main places. One source is near Debenham, and another higher source is from Bedingfield. The river flows through the town of Woodbridge. After Woodbridge, it becomes a wide, tidal area called an estuary. Finally, it flows into the North Sea near Felixstowe Ferry. A small ferry crosses the mouth of the estuary. This ferry connects Felixstowe and Bawdsey.
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River Deben History
The name of the River Deben and the village of Debenham are a bit of a mystery. No one is completely sure where they came from. One idea is that the river's name, Dēope, meant 'the deep one'. However, the name "Deben" wasn't written down until 1735. This was in a book called Kirby's Suffolk Traveller.
Even though it's still a small river, the Deben is crossed twice in the village. One of these crossing points is said to be among the longest in England.
Woodbridge Tide Mill
For a very long time, people have used the river's tides to power mills. These are called tide mills. They have been working in Woodbridge since at least the year 1170. The mill you see there today was built in 1793. It still makes wholemeal flour using traditional methods.
River Deben Ecology
The Deben Estuary is a very important natural area. It is a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar Site. This means it is protected because of its special wildlife. It is also part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Wildlife and Plants
The estuary is especially important for avocets. These are birds that spend the winter there. You can often see their unique upturned beaks. The estuary also has shifting sandbanks. These are underwater hills of sand that move around.
The main plant you will see is the common reed. This tall plant grows in wet areas. The salt marsh and muddy areas of the estuary have many different types of salt marsh plants. In fact, they have the widest variety in all of Suffolk.
Fun Activities on the River Deben
The River Deben is a great place for many water sports. There are several clubs for boats and sailing.
Boating and Sailing
- Deben Rowing Club
- Deben Yacht Club
- Waldringfield Sailing Club
- Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club
- Woodbridge Cruising Club
There are also two places where boats can dock. One is the Tidemill Yacht Harbour, which is close to the Tide Mill. The other is the Granary Yacht Harbour, which is further upstream in Melton.
Other Water Sports
Many other fun activities happen on the River Deben. These include:
- Canoeing
- Wakeboarding
- Paddle boarding
- Windsurfing
The area where the River Deben meets the North Sea is popular for kitesurfing. Kitesurfers can often be seen when the tide is low and the wind is good. They usually surf when the wind blows from the northeast to the southwest.
