Amid the global spotlight on the UN biodiversity conference taking place in Colombia, a new short film has been released. It showcases the inspiring story of a grassroots nature recovery movement in the Norfolk market town of Harleston, with the local church at its centre.
Bishop Graham, who is leading the Anglican delegates at COP16, says “While I’m here in Colombia for the United Nations Biodiversity COP16 and looking at the crisis of global biodiversity loss, it’s heartening to see stories of local communities in the Diocese of Norwich making an impact in their own little patch of Eden.”
During 2022, The Revd Nigel Tufnell, vicar of St John’s in Harleston, Ian Carstairs OBE (conservationist and wildlife charity trustee), and the chair of the town council, Trevor Graham, formed a small group to encourage nature recovery in and around Harleston. This led to conversations with the schools, the town council and community groups in Harleston.
Local primary school students crafted a stunning kaleidoscope of 450 butterflies, which community volunteers hung from the beams of St. John’s, led by a large swan display. The town was adorned with colorful bunting, creating a festive atmosphere that drew attention and support.
The evening event launch at St John’s featured speakers from the town, district, and county councils, as well as representatives from Natural England, the founder of Swift Conservation, an ornithologist/conservationist, Ian, and Nigel. Their collective aim was to inspire individuals and community groups to take action. Importantly, their approach is permissive rather than directive, encouraging local autonomy in nature recovery efforts.
Nigel takes up the tale:
“The schools have worked on it in their own ways. Regular articles in the town magazine have helped keep the community informed and engaged. Although this initiative may seem to have changed little on the surface, it has significantly altered the local community’s attitude toward nature recovery. It is now widely accepted that it is a good thing to help wildlife to thrive in or all of your garden and to leave some verges and public spaces for the grass and wildflowers to grow etc. When I started, I got abuse. Now I get praise.
“The success of our efforts has given rise to what is now known as the “Harleston Model” of nature recovery. This approach has been officially adopted by our district council, with Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils also in the process of integrating it into their frameworks. The model is gaining momentum beyond Harleston, inspiring similar initiatives in Yorkshire. In collaboration with the Carstairs Countryside Trust and the Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley, the parish-based idea has been advancing across a wide area since the onset of COVID-19..
“Throughout this St. John’s has remained a focal point for events and displays. We have written regular articles and quietly changes areas of both our churchyards to enable wildlife to thrive and to improve biodiversity. Our partnership with council allies has further strengthened our community’s resolve to support nature recovery.“
The Nature Recovery – We Can! initiative stands as a testament to the power of community action and collaboration. It exemplifies how local efforts can lead to significant environmental change. By fostering a culture of conservation, they are hoping to inspire others to take similar steps in their own communities, proving that together, we can make a difference for our planet.
Find out more at: Our Nature Recovery or contact Revd Nigel Tufnell at rector.redenhallscole@hotmail.co.uk