On a fine summer’s evening in June, Dereham Walkers are Welcome was pleased to host a tour of Dereham’s developing Country Park. The work was started many years ago, the plans being taken forward by Dereham Town Council with the very active involvement of Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

Dereham Walkers are Welcome arranged the event and was delighted to welcome 24 people interested in learning more about how the project came about, what had been done so far and what was in the plan over the coming years. In recognition of this, the tour was led by Helen Baczkowska (pictured), Senior Manager Nature Recovery for the Wildlife Trust and Tony Needham, Town Clerk for Dereham Town Council, joined by the town Mayor Ray O’Callaghan with some other Councillors.

To make the evening yet more enjoyable, the tour started at the new cemetery near Etling Green, enabling everyone to learn more about the grounds there and their connection with the Country Park.

Before making our way to the Country Park, Tony told us about the cemetery: it came as news to most of those present that the paths through the adjoining area were cut to show the shape of a leaf - the same shape being developed in the Country Park.

Leaving that area, we made our way towards The Neatherd. Helen said that both The Neatherd and Etling Green are fragments of the common land that once stretched right across Norfolk, so they are a little bit of history as well as fabulous areas for wildlife. She added, “On our visit we saw many wild flowers and heard birds like blackcap, skylark and robin, but I know, from previous visits and surveys, that there are also may great crested newts in the area too!

Greenspaces and a chance to be amongst nature score highly in surveys of what makes a town a good place to live - so Dereham is blessed indeed to have these fabulous places on its doorstep and it had been a pleasure to work with the town council over many years to restore ponds and meadows and create new areas for nature.”

The evening concluded with an optional drink/meal at 'The Coachmakers' on Norwich Road.

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