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| 2007 news archive |
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Durham Wildlife Trust has joined the battle to stand up for our seas and coastline. The Trust will be collecting signatures this summer as part of the Wildlife Trusts' petition fish campaign, and the signatures will be sent to Westminster in the autumn as part of an ongoing national campaign for increased protection of the marine environment.
Fraser Kemp, MP for Houghton and Washington East, has lent his support to the campaign, attending the Wildlife Trusts' launch event at Westminster on 5th June following an invitation from DWT.
Look out for the petition fish at the County Show and other events throughout the summer. |
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June 2007 WILDLIFE SITE UNDER THREAT |
The Whitworth Park Grassland County Wildlife Site, near Spennymoor is facing an uncertain future. The ancient rigg and furrow grassland, which experts believe is of sufficient quality to be considered as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is to partly disappear under 100 houses. Other parts of the site are to be translocated to a site on arable land nearby.
Despite objections from DWT, Natural England and Durham County Council, and advice from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (the body that advises government on nature conservation) that '' The translocation of habitats is considered by the statutory conservation agencies not to be an acceptable alternative to in situ conservation'' , Sedgefield Borough Council granted planning permission and the scheme is to go ahead.
DWT will continue to stand up for wildlife, but we need the support of the people of County Durham. |
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Durham Wildlife Trust's 'From Coals to Voles' water vole conservation project has shown that action on the ground can make a real difference. The project, which targeted habitat improvements to boost water vole numbers, has found 33 new water vole sites across north and east Durham (Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Easington). The project showed that although there had been a decline in occupancy of previously known water vole sites this was only 26%, far below the 94% decline that had occurred before the project started.
Durham Wildlife Trust is seeking support to continue the project and apply the lessons learnt across the rest of the county. The Trust would like to thank Your Heritage and the Environment Agency for making this vital conservation work possible. |
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June 2007 RAINTON MEADOWS FAMILY DAY A FANTASTIC SUCCESS
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Crowds flocked to the Rainton Meadows Family day on 9th June. Over 2500 people attended the day, enjoying the fun activities and demonstrations of traditional conservation skills. the birds of prey and exotic animals were a great draw, and all the activities helped DWT get the nature conservation message across to a new audience, both young and old. Thanks to all those who attended and the volunteers who made it possible. |
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August 2007 40th BIRTHDAY FOR DERWENT RESERVOIR
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Derwent Reservoir is 40 years old this year, and thanks to a joint project between Northumbrian Water and Durham Wildlife Trust the reservoir provides a fantastic habitat for wildlife.
Derwent Officer, Andy McLay, will be hosting a free wader watch event at the Northumbrian Water Hide on 26th August from 8am to 1pm. Follow the signposts for the hide or ask at the lodge reception. |
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August 2007 1st SEPTEMBER EVENT MOVED TO WOLSINGHAM SHOW
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The DWT event at Low Barns on 1st of September has moved to Wolsingham Show. To avoid competing with the show and to show support for the farming community, and thanks to support from the River Wear Environment Trust, DWT will now have a stand at the show and will be running a build a bird box activity for families to enjoy.
The Trust will be in attendance on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September. Saturday is Agricultural Day and Sunday is Countryfair Day and for more details visit the show website www.wolsinghamshow.com |
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