Green fingered residents in Thetford are being encouraged to attend free gardening workshops on Saturday Four drop-in sessions will be run at the Abbey Neighbourhood Centre, which aims to encourage local people to attract wildlife to their gardens.

Green fingered residents in Thetford are being encouraged to attend free gardening workshops on Saturday

Four drop-in sessions will be run at the Abbey Neighbourhood Centre, which aims to encourage local people to attract wildlife to their gardens.

The day is being organised by Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Natural Connections project and run in conjunction with Keystone Development Trust and the Thetford Area Voluntary Organisation.

The workshops will take place between 10am and 2.15pm at the centre on the Abbey Estate.

The 45 minute workshops will show how to help wildlife in your garden - from attracting birds and bugs to gardening on a budget or in a small space.

Each workshop will include a hands-on activity where people can make something to take back to their garden - a bird feeder, minibeast home or even some recycled paper flower pots.

Gemma Walker, wildlife and community officer for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: “This is a fantastic free way for local people to learn more about gardens and how we can all help wildlife in very easy ways. We'll be looking at how to take cuttings and collect seeds; provide nesting sites for birds; and how to turn a garden into a wildlife haven for butterflies, bees and bugs.”

The Natural Connections project received a grant of £207,000 from Heritage Lottery Fund to support the involvement of local communities in wildlife.