SEABIRD guardian Trevor Stephenson had yet another cause for celebration last night after a bumper year for a nesting colony.
The Journal reported on Saturday how 84 nesting little terns at Crimdon Denemouth beach in County Durham raised 147 chicks this year, making it one of the most productive colonies in Britain.
The colony is protected by Trevor and other volunteers, and last night he received an accolade for his efforts at the County Durham Environment Awards presentation evening at the Radisson Hotel in Durham City.
Trevor, who worked as a fitter at the former Horden and Blackhall collieries on the Durham coast, was one of the awards winners honoured for their contribution to the county’s environment.
Trevor began caring for the colony 10 years ago and now for three months every year he and a band of volunteers erect a fence to protect the colony from predators, dogs and users of the busy beach.
They also man a hut on site on a daily basis and talk to beach visitors about the nesting birds.
“At the start it was a big learning curve and could be very stressful, as when a shortage of sand eels meant that for two years the chicks starved and there was nothing we could do about it,” said Trevor, now retired and living in Blackhall.
“It is a very busy beach used by everyone from dog walkers to wind surfers and kite flyers and it’s amazing how the birds survive the disturbance.
“But people know the colony is being looked after and they take it on board. If it wasn’t being protected, there would be no colony there.”
Niall Benson, Durham Heritage Coast officer, said: “Trevor makes a tremendous contribution and is a passionate and eloquent ambassador for the Durham coast and its wildlife.”
Awards also went to:
UK Coal for its restoration of the Stony Heap opencast mine site between Leadgate and Stanley.
The mining destroyed a county wildlife site but this was recreated by the company skimming off the top layer of seed-bearing soil and returning it the site as it was being restored. The site now includes heathland, ponds, woodland and wetland, plus a lizard trail of large stones saved from the opencast operation which are now used on a southern slope to allow the reptiles to bask.
Wheatley Hill Angling Club for its all Walks of Life project, which has seen the clean up of the pond on the former Thornley Colliery site, plus habitat creation and the provision of pathways to open up the area for the local community and anglers.
North Pennines AONB Partnership’s Hay Time project, which involved collecting the memories and photographs of older Durham dales farmers when traditional hay making was a way of life.
Other award winners were built environment: Barnard Castle children’s centre; business: Green Lane garden centre, Trimdon Station for its community work; community partnership: Trimdon community garden; waste management: Durham University Green Move Out scheme; volunteer under 18: Luke Birt, Cotsford Primary School, Horden; schools: Frosterley Primary, St Joseph’s Primary, Eco Warriors Durham Federation.
