I enjoyed meeting and chatting to the youngsters who tend to frequent the place. It took me back to when I was young.

I grew up in a place like Diss – it was a village turned suburb, as the development spread but it still had that sense of a small community.

My grandfather had been the village policeman and my grandmother had run a florist shop but they were both long gone by the time I was a teenager but I can remember having a sense of belonging – I also went through a short phase of hanging out in the local park with my mates – (drinking the usual cider I have to admit) but it didn't last long for me anyway - thank goodness.

In keeping with Cittaslow I think it's important to give our young people a sense of belonging and to get the facilities for youngsters in Diss sorted – because we all know it's currently abysmal.

The Diss Community Partnership (DCP) are now leading on developing the youth café project and if I can find the right premises in town we will submit a funding application to try to buy it so we can give youngsters a place of their own.

The Park and Mere are like a magnet to our young people – everyone agrees Diss' unique selling point is the Mere. It is quite unusual to have such a natural habitat teaming with wildlife nestled right in the centre of a busy town. So why not shout about it?

Diss will also soon have a Cittaslow Snail Trail, which will pinpoint the wildlife round the Mere and Park and also take you past historic landmarks and shops that sell natural products. Cittaslow is all about working with nature. It's no surprise then that the latest idea for a slogan is: "Cittaslow Diss... nature's town... gateway to the Waveney Valley."

Significant funding is being sought by South Norfolk Council to brand the Waveney Valley as a destination in its own right and to designate Diss as the official gateway to the Waveney Valley – exciting stuff! So what do readers think about the slogan? Of course it would help if we could open up access to the River Waveney in Diss a bit more – but will the developers listen?

Cynthia Schears is Diss' Cittaslow co-ordinator and can be contacted on 01379 642002.