British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in Thetford.

On the morning of 12 June, I attended the second day of training organised by Civil Society at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in Thetford.

As part of BTO’s community engagement and its aim to involve people with nature, it has partnered with Civil Society and their ‘32 Steps to Togetherness’ programme. This initiative addresses social isolation its impact on individuals and communities and explores how to combat these issues through a collaborative approach with various existing local and regional organisations.

The session was full of productive brainstorming from a room of participants representing a wide range of groups and non-profits. Common themes quickly emerged, such as the lack of funding and challenges in sustaining projects due to limited public or volunteer engagement. There was also strong recognition of the need for a more cohesive strategy to unify these groups moving forward.

It was a valuable morning, full of insight and learning from people united by a shared vision: to improve residents’ well-being especially mental health through social prescribing and greater access to nature and the outdoors. Fortunately, Thetfordians are blessed with beautiful rivers, lakes, and green spaces all around them.