Celebrating the past, present and future of the Brecks

This news was announced at a conference to recognise the success of the scheme in the Brecks, which took place on Thursday 30 January 2025 at The Carnegie and Guildhall in Thetford.

Over 100 attendees at the event celebrated the accomplishments of the project which began in 2020, following a five-year grant of £1.97 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Using the money raised by the National Lottery players, the scheme has been creating positive and lasting change for people and communities in and around the Brecks.

The project has over-delivered on many of its outcomes and due to underspend in the original funding, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has approved an application to extend the work into new outcomes.

At the conference, talks, exhibitions and film screenings highlighted the achievements of the Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme so far, including projects such as:

• Healing Waters - introduced over 700 people to outdoor swimming, including those with additional needs and their carers. Also trained 13 open water lifeguards and introduced 94 swimmers to basic lifesaving skills
• Lost Ponds - restored 15 ice age pingo ponds. A first-of-a-kind project attracting a lot of interest from researchers, ecologists and geologists
• Testing the Water - more than 100 volunteers tested water from 75 ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and ditches, measuring for pollutants and water quality, and detecting which species of fish, amphibians and aquatic mammals were living in, or visiting the water.

Some of the data to show the impact of the scheme, includes:

• 1,484 volunteers involved
• 4,522 students involved
• 2,750 people trained
• 83 kilometres of new/improved access
• 8 kilometres of river corridor unlocked

The event also looked ahead to what legacy the scheme may deliver across the Brecks.

Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality, said:

“This conference was to celebrate the people, projects and achievements of the last five years in the Brecks.

“It’s great news that the scheme will be able continue throughout the summer, and deliver even more for the area, the wildlife and the local community.

“Throughout the scheme, so many organisations, volunteers and experts have come together to run outdoor activity opportunities and conservation projects, protecting and enhancing the local environment in and around the Brecks.

“We continue to work closely with Norfolk County Council on plans to protect the future of the Brecks, following the end of the project later this year.”

Emma Fernandes-Lopes, Committee Member for England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“It’s been fantastic to see this project making a lasting difference in the Brecks over the past five years. Thanks to National Lottery players, our £2million in funding has made possible innovative partnerships to preserve rare natural heritage, and helped communities to connect with the landscapes and wildlife around them.”

The Brecks is an invaluable part of the UK’s landscape, covering nearly 400 square miles:

• Over 40% of the landscape is covered by conservation areas
• Nearly 13,000 species have been recorded in the area
• 28% of the UK’s rarest species are found there
• It contains Thetford Forest and Kings Forest, making the largest lowland forest in the UK
• It is home to eight registered parks and gardens, 157 scheduled monuments and over 1,000 listed buildings

A small partnership delivery team hosted by Suffolk County Council has facilitated successful management of the project, bringing together more than 60 local, regional and national groups, as well as many volunteers - all with a central vision and plan.