Linking Together people and wildlife

The Link Together project will connect people and wildlife across Sunderland’s Coalfields area. Activity is picking up pace, with events planned throughout the summer to help local people re-discover the wonderful greenspaces across the area, and help out with planning and delivering habitat improvements on project sites, including:

• Planting a new hedgerow at Copt Hill

• Creating wetland scrapes at Flint Mill

• Removing invasive Himalayan Balsam from Hetton Bogs

• Thinning woodland plantations at Hazard Railway to create glades and woodland-edge habitat

• Creating a wildflower area at Kier Hardie Park

• Creating leaky dams and small meanders in Herrington Burn

Making greenspaces feel more welcoming and accessible will encourage more people to enjoy them, so, new signage, improved footpaths, welcoming gateways and better information are all being considered.

Being out in nature makes people feel better. Just watching the birds, listening to the wind through the trees, or feeling the sun (or rain!) on your face is great for our well-being.

Link Together is encouraging everyone to get outside and enjoy seeing the wildlife close to home. Making the most of local woodlands or parks, and getting involved by taking action for wildlife, like planting a tree, picking up litter or recording the wildlife that is there.

Activity is already starting to happen.

By Anne Gladwin Link Together Project Manager

agladwin@durhamwt.co.uk 0191 584 3112

Activities so far include:

Local residents braved the rain to start to clear away the litter and fly tipping from the greenspace around Herrington Burn. Link Together has been working with the Clean It Green project to see how to address the litter that has built up around Herrington Burn.

Local carers’ group, HOPS (Healing Opportunities Sunderland) joined staff from Durham Wildlife Trust to explore the Old Rectory Park, listening to bird song and naming the trees. Using foraged leaves and foliage, they created beautiful artworks on linen squares, and crafted individual wooden frames. The group found being outside, and getting creative, really enjoyable and relaxing.

Get involved

For more information about the project: durhamwt.com/link-together, and to find out what’s coming up in our programme of events: durhamwt.com/events