Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera's shared love of birds and nature birthed their birdwatching initiative Flock Together. Through nature, the cofounders were able to find healing during their darkest times. "We were in a global lockdown and we saw our community struggling," says Olanipekun. "Mental health in the black community is still slightly taboo. So, we had the idea that if we've received these benefits, then how about we share them with our community."
Flock Together is the first birdwatching collective for people of colour and hosts monthly walks in remote forests and local city parks. Around 80 percent of these walks are attended by women, a statistic that hasn't gone unnoticed. The cofounders cherish the responsibility of being a safe haven in an age where women crave safety and comfort while being outdoors.
The community known as #birdgang is made up of experienced birders and first timers united by their curiosity of exploring the outdoors and finding healing in nature. The three hour walks take place in London and other areas across the UK, with walks planned for Derby and Scotland this year. "We want to explore further and further, and the confidence to do this is sometimes an issue when you're on your own in cities outside of London where you see less people that look like you," says Olanipekun.
Flock Together's sessions are free, which ties into Olanipekun's belief that everyone should have access to the outdoors. "The barrier to entry has to be on the floor so all we ask is you bring your lunch, and cover your own travel," says Olanipekun. "We don't ever charge our people, our community for the experience." The plan is to continue growing the collective which now has groups in Tokyo and Toronto and working on reactivating its New York chapter.
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