Residents have been thanked by the city council for sharing their thoughts about how biodiversity can be protected and enhanced within the city.
The council has been ramping up its community engagement activities around biodiversity in recent months, recognising its vital importance both for physical and mental wellbeing, and environmental concerns around sustainability.
With the council’s new biodiversity strategy due to be published later this year, work has been ongoing to give people the opportunity to share their thoughts and influence the new document.
A fully-booked ‘Big Biodiversity Conversation’ took place at The Halls in late 2021, with a diverse group of 90 people in attendance – and more on the waiting list. The event was created to give people and community groups a voice around how they think the city’s biodiversity can be improved.
A range of ideas were discussed – from more general initiatives like supporting urban rewilding, to plans for specific locations to become biodiversity hubs.
Following up on this successful session, a new online engagement tool, Get Talking Norwich, was launched to stimulate conversations – with ‘The big biodiversity conversation’ proving a popular and engaging platform.
Hundreds have already ‘got talking’, with numbers rising every day – but there is still lots of time for people to join the conversation and have their say!
Councillor Matthew Packer, cabinet member for biodiversity, said: “This is an important continuation of our work to protect and enhance the city’s biodiversity in recent years.
“We know that there are some extremely passionate and informed people across the city, with strong views about how biodiversity in the city can be developed and stimulated.
“It is vital to give these people a platform and let us know what we can do to support this, and I thank all of those who have already taken up this opportunity.
“Your feedback is valuable, and we will take all of it on board.”
Information gained is being used to plan the ‘100 Day Challenge’, a series of workshops designed to allow people to make better use of their local green spaces. These sessions will take place across several neighbourhoods in the city over the next few months, and more information is available on LUMi.
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