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Pictures taken on the Polartec | 66 North Lake District event (c)Danikm
Nadeem Perera is an interesting individual with a passion for nature, community, and activism. Growing up in London's East End, Nadeem discovered bird watching at the tender age of thirteen. This early fascination with birds grew into a lifelong passion that he now uses to make a positive impact.
Nadeem co-founded Flock Together, an innovative community organisation aimed at encouraging people of colour to engage with nature. Flock Together organises bird-watching events and nature walks, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for people who might not traditionally feel represented in these spaces. The group not only promotes the enjoyment of nature but also fosters a sense of community and belonging.
Beyond his work with Flock Together, Nadeem is also an author, TV presenter, sports coach, and activist. His diverse roles allow him to reach and inspire a wide audience. Through his books, he shares his knowledge and passion for bird watching and the natural world. On television, he brings his enthusiasm and expertise to a broader audience, making nature more accessible and engaging.
As a sports coach, Nadeem mentors young athletes, helping them develop their skills and confidence. His activism spans various causes, including environmental conservation and social justice, reflecting his commitment to making the world a better place. Nadeem's journey is a testament to the power of pursuing your passion and using it to create positive change. His work with Flock Together and his broader efforts in writing, television, sports, and activism exemplify his dedication to fostering a more inclusive and connected world. We caught up with the lovely Nadeem on a recent Polartec | 66 North outdoor event. We were in the Lake District promoting Polartec’s new plant-based waterproof fabric, Polartec Power Shield Pro used in 66 North’s popular SnæfellJacket. This is what he had to say …
A little bird told us you were brought up in East London just like David Beckham and Charlie Chaplin, how was that for you?
“I was born in Newham. Growing up around there was bumpy as hell but it’s a fascinating, tough base to start from. There are challenges from day one”.
And the interest in birds, were they the antidote to the bumps and challenges?
“Now you mention it, yes, they were. I stopped going into school because I wasn’t getting on with it. For me school was about loads of systems asking me to be someone I wasn’t and demanding I produce something all the time. I had a problem with that, I just wanted to be. I got into birds properly when I was 15. Like I said, I wanted to be and I found I could just be in the forest. I spent time there and noticed the birds. The green woodpecker was the first one that broke me”.
Wow, the woodpecker broke you, that’s a sentence we never thought we'd hear. Who taught you all about birds then?
“Everything I know about birds and nature I taught myself. At the beginning my friends thought it was very strange and I tried for years to get them to come along because I couldn’t get my head around why they weren’t as fascinated as me. I was watching real green parrots flying across the sky. Green parakeets in London is a thing, they come from southeast Asia and now they’re here. That was, and still is, fascinating to me. I couldn’t get over it and tried to get friends into it”.
Did you break them, your friends that is?
“Yes, I did. Over the years they have come along with me and they are now just happy that I am so happy with it”.
They sound like nice friends, we all need friends like that, to talk to when you’re feeling, well, a bit like talking.
“Always good to talk. However, I believe therapy comes from yourself and it will always come from you but it’s very hard to discern problems and solutions in your head when you don’t have time to think. When you have someone telling you, asking you, your mind is taken up with these things. When you’re in the forest no one is asking you for anything and you have this golden platform of silence. You just exist and suddenly you hear rasping grass, chirping grasshoppers and all the sounds fit within each other. It’s more a gentle coming together of sounds and your inner monologue is one of them, it fits in with this orchestra, like a backing track. Being in nature allowed me to think and systematically work through problems”.
You make a good point. Here at Spring we’re walkers too (and talkers!) and a bit prone to plugging ourselves in to a disco tune or two. We’re guessing that’s not something you do?
“I have a story about that. I was in Richmond Park – my favourite place – and was walking with my head phones on. There was stag in the grass but I hadn’t heard it or seen it. But at the last minute I saw this big shape moving and it caught my eye. Its antlers were massive and were literally harpooning distance away! Thankfully he ran but he was inches away from impaling me. I was lucky but from that day I realised there’s no way you should ever wear any form of headphones when you’re out in nature. You need to be alert. Aside from the bears and cougars you may encounter (not in Richmond Park you understand) you would also be missing out on beautiful birdsong and the wind against the trees. It’s clinically proven to reduce stress and improve mood – why would you block it out?”
We hear you (especially now that we’ve taken our headphones off). Now, Flock Together, you co-founded that, right?
“It all started with Flock Together. Flock Together “rules the world”. We are four years in now and it’s amazing. Flock Together is flying as high as ever with 300 people regularly signed up on the walks”.
Did you imagine it would become the phenomenon that it is today?
“We didn’t really stop to think about it but we are getting great responses on social media and are regularly invited to talk and collaborate with various institutions because of our ability to cross connect nature and different cultures. We have a bunch of people that align with our story who want to fly the flag too. We have branches in Tokyo, Toronto, and New York. Toronto is the most active and Olli (Olanipekin, co-founder) has just come back from seeing them. Flock Together is in a very good place”.
And for the little guys we hear there’s a Flock Together Academy.
“Yeah, it’s supported by the London Wildlife Trust, and is something very important to me. It was created to connect younger, under supported inner-city kids with nature and give them a foothold in that world. Whether they want to be involved as an artist, conservationist, or something else related to nature they should feel comfortable in that space. Working with the next generation is something that I am very passionate about”.
You have roused an interest in birds that we never knew we had! Although we did have a friendly office Jackdaw who would sit on Abbie’s hand and wait to be fed at precisely 1 pm every day. Now you’ve hooked us in, what tips do you have for us on our first foray?
- Go it alone: don’t be afraid to go by yourself. If you wait for anyone you will wait forever. Be brave.
- Look up: whether you’re in a national or local park or built-up city environment. Ifnyou look up, you will see birds. I am in awe of birds surviving in a hard environment, we struggle as humans, how on earth are they thriving up there.
- No headphones: Immerse yourself in the sounds of nature. It reduces stress and anxiety, and you will keep yourself safe.
- Good footwear: It doesn’t have to be expensive but something that supports your ankles.
- Bring water: People underestimate how much water they will need for a 4–6-hour walk. It’s easy to think you can get by without, but it will help you keep going longer than you realise. Take a refillable bottle and top up at cafes. They are obliged to give you water free of charge.
- Don’t be too quick to s**t on the bad guys: Crows, pigeons, seagulls are intelligent species and have amazing behaviours. We have more in common with them than we realise; that’s why they get on our nerves so much!
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For more information visit Flocktogether.world
Images: @danikm