Communities show reserves of strength

Dec 22 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

DERELICT nature reserves have been brought back to life by community volunteers.

Ponds at a Sunderland school and a nature reserve near Stanley are being created to benefit wildlife and the local community through the Living Waterways project of the Environment Agency.

Living Waterways is a partnership between the Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee, Durham Wildlife Trust and Northumberland Wildlife Trust which works with local communities to reduce flood risk and improve urban streams and nearby green spaces for people and wildlife.

Barbara Priestman School, which has pupils with special needs, contacted Living Waterways project officer Sarah Edwards for help restoring its nature reserve and create a pond for all to enjoy.

Volunteers cleared paths and unblocked an overgrown stream and this month work a pond is being dug. Jewson’s in Gateshead loaned Durham Wildlife Trust a mini digger.

Work is also under way at Harperley Wood, near Stanley, to revive derelict ponds and make them a welcoming home for great crested newts.

Tanfield Lea Countryside Group asked for help from Living Waterways to clean up Kyo Burn and restore the ponds, which are important for great crested newts. The volunteers have started removing rubbish and overgrown vegetation from the ponds this month and more conservation days are planned for next year.

Sarah said: “We’ve hope to make great progress on the site working volunteers over the winter months. Harperley wood and Kyo Burn are an important corridor for wildlife in the Tanfield area.”

Environment Agency project manager Rachael McFarlane said: “The support from the local communities, schools and Jewson’s has been a great help in delivering this work in both locations.”

:: To find out how you can get involved contact Sarah Edwards at Durham Wildlife Trust on 0191 512 8950 or email sedwards@durhamwt.co.uk