Thetford’s Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve finds friends

01 Oct 2012 | No. 2012-36

One of Thetford's best kept wildlife secrets is to get a helping hand from some new friends. Over thirty local people signed up to be a friend of the Nunnery Lakes reserve, at an open evening held by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) at its headquarters in Thetford last week.

The friends will volunteer for conservation tasks and activities on the reserve, from scrub clearance, footpath maintenance and wildlife recording, to helping to look after flood meadow and reed bed.

With support from Thetford Garden Centre, the BTO’s newest Corporate Member, the friends will have all the tools they need to help them in their task of improving habitats for some of the impressive wildlife found on the reserve. Otters and Kingfishers are regularly seen, sharing the reserve with Tawny and Barn Owls, Grass Snakes and Slow Worms, as well as several scarce Breckland plants, such as Tower Mustard and Mossy Stonecrop.

Gary Conway, Head of Fundraising at the BTO, was delighted by the enthusiastic response; “Sixty species of bird breed on the Thetford reserve with many more passing through or over-wintering, so it is great that so many local people have come forward to volunteer. Thanks to this new group of friends, we can make sure that the lakes and surrounding habitats are kept in good condition.”

He added, “It is fantastic that Thetford Garden Centre have come on board. The additional tools they have provided mean that the volunteers will have everything they need to start work at the reserve, a valuable coming together of local volunteers and local business.”

The friends will meet twice a month, on the first Wednesday and third Sunday.

If you would like to get involved please contact, the BTO on 01842 750050 or info [at] bto.org

Notes for Editors

  1. The BTO is the UK's leading bird research organisation. Over thirty thousand birdwatchers contribute to the BTO's surveys. They collect information that forms the basis of conservation action in the UK. The BTO maintains a staff of 100 at its offices in Norfolk,  Stirling and Bangor, who analyse and publicise the results of project work. The BTO's investigations are funded by government, industry and conservation organisations.

Contact Details

Paul Stancliffe
(BTO Media Manager)

Office: 01842 750050
(9am to 5.30pm)
Mobile: 07585 440910 (anytime)
Email: press [at] bto.org

Images are available for use alongside this News Release
Please contact images [at] bto.org quoting reference 2012-36

The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews
Please contact us to book an interview
Office: 01842 750050


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