Embracing Autumn in the Brecks
Our quick guide for enjoying autumn to the fullest in the Norfolk and Suffolk Brecks. More
The BFER Watery Wildlife project has always been about Norfolk and Suffolk Wildlife Trusts working together towards a shared aim, but 2024 has seen the Trusts work even closer together than ever. In setting up site open days in June, they decided to work together, in the planning and promotion. The events were hosted on a joint poster and a single events page for extra coherency.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust said, “It has been great to get to know the SWT West Learning team, and come up with solutions together. This has had positive repercussions in other areas of our work, such as SWT helping us source hedgehog kits for our Wilder Schools project, and both Trusts have shared ideas around best practice and how to overcome challenges. I very much hope this relationship will continue to strengthen in the future.”
On the day, Knettishall Heath’s Open Day on Sunday 14th July engaged over 180 people with family activities, including river dipping, invertebrate hunting and wildflower seed planting, were fully-booked in advance. A guided walk led by the Warden and Assistant Warden was 50% fully-booked in advance with additional participants turning up on the day.
As a result of the success of this way of working, the Trusts decided to coordinate the Open Days running as part of the first Brecks Outdoor Festival 2024 in September. Both sites offered family drop-in activities like pond dipping and hedgehog-house building, but also guided walks looking at birds, wildflowers and bats.
One parent attending an open day said, “we really enjoyed both the pond dipping and the minibeast hunting. My daughter especially enjoyed the pond dipping and looking at what she found in the magnifying tubs. We will definitely both come again.”
