See nature and watch the wildlife
Apr 8 2009 by Sheila Sharp, The Journal
AS part of its campaign to get people out and about enjoying nature, Northumberland Wildlife Trust is keen to remind everybody that access to its reserves is free.
The Trust has more than 60 sites within Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside. There is a diverse range of reserve habitats: coastal, wetland, upland, river, stream and urban, all of which host species unique to those areas.
Northumberland has some wonderfully varied reserves. Hauxley, East Chevington and Druridge Pools on the coast are fabulous places to find butterflies, dragonflies and, of course, wildfowl. Combine watching wildlife with a walk over the dunes along the seashore, rock-pooling, or building sand castles.
Bakethin in the Kielder Water & Forest Park offers a host of opportunities to observe ducks, swans and geese, and birds of prey such as osprey, merlin and hen harrier. Otter too can be seen hunting along the lake margins.
The peat bogs of Ford and Holburn Moss near Berwick contain a wide range of mosses, lichens and insect-eating sun dew plants. The upland oak and juniper woods of the Holystone Valley near Rothbury are home to a variety of wonderful birds, including pied flycatchers and goshawks. The wood links into a marked circular Forestry Commission walk with picnic sites.
Sheila Sharp is head of marketing and fundraising, Northumberland Wildlife Trust
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Page 2: Upcoming events from Northumberland Wildlife Trust
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