Summer Events Guide

• Interested in the world around you?
• Not afraid of a bit of hard work?
• Not shy in front of the camera?

This life changing experience could be just for you. The application deadline is the 9^th May, so if you would like to apply, follow this link to find out more information:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/help/tvhelp/deadly-mission-madagascar.shtml

The Durham Wildlife Trust project has seen more than 800 metres of crab apple, hazel and holly been planted with the final 200 metres to be completed on the 10^th May.

The project has been funded by Northern Green Networks, Hadrian Trust and the Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank.  Dobbies Garden Centre also kindly donated spring flowering bulbs and tree guards to support the project.

Schools involved to date are: RedHouse Academy, Broadway Junior School, Redby Primary School, Grange Park Primary School, Seaburn Dene Primary School, Farrington Primary School, Ryhope Junior School, Castletown Primary School, Bishop Hartland C of E Primary School, New Silkworth Infant School, Hylton Red House Primary School, Richard Avenue Primary School, Thornhill Primary School, Southwick Primary School and St Benet’s RC Primary School.

Jim Cokill, Trust Director, said: “Native hedges support a huge variety of wildlife and the proximity of these hedges to one another will act as a corridor for species across the urban landscape. We are delighted at the success of the project.”

The project will work with fifteen schools and other community groups in the area, raising awareness of the importance of bees and planting nectar rich plants in school grounds and community green spaces.

Community events will be arranged to provide fun activities and encourage local people to plant wildflowers in their gardens or in a pot, planter or old welly boot by their front door.

Volunteers from Cummins will be involved right through this project and Trust Director Jim Cokill said: “This is an important project because bees are a crucial part of the chain of life. They are under great pressure due to loss of habitats and the use of pesticides so anything which helps them survive and thrive has to be welcomed.”

Events will start in May and more information is available from Kirsty Pollard at kpollard@durhamwt.co.uk

Ospreys are now successfully rearing young in the North East, so hopefully these magnificent birds will become a more common site when they return from Africa every spring.

Local ornithologist Andrew Kinghorn managed to get photographic evidence – see below.

The Action for Raisby Fens Project, managed by the Durham Wildlife Trust and funded by a £4900 grant from The Banks Group, via its Banks Community Fund, focuses on the restoration of neglected fen habitat along the Kelloe Beck Valley.

The latest work restored 0.5 hectares of fen and 0.2 hectares of important grassland, which contains the rare adder’s-tongue fern.

This land forms part of the Raisby Hill Grassland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is also managed by Durham Wildlife Trust, and the work rolls the clock back to a time before they were devastated by human activity.

The project not only provides the means for management of these rare habitats, but also includes provision for public access, allowing people the opportunity to view these rare habitats and the species they support.

The majority of the work has been completed by groups of local volunteers who devoted their time to clearing scrub from the fen, which, if left, unchecked would have eventually replaced the fen flora.

Mark Dinning, Reserves Officer with Durham Wildlife Trust, says: “The Kelloe Valley once  supported a large area of fen and species-rich grassland. These habitats along the Kelloe Beck valley are now fragmented as a result of the action of industry and agricultural intensification, and are desperately in need of restoration.”

The restoration of the Kelloe Beck fens form an integral part of the restoration of the wider Kelloe Valley, identified within a target area by Durham Wildlife Trusts in their Living Landscapes vision. More work will take place in the future to restore further fen and rare grassland habitats along the Kelloe Beck.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at The Banks Group, adds: “As a Durham-based business with a clear focus on the importance of operating in an environmentally-conscious manner, we’ve maintained a long and positive relationship with the Durham Wildlife Trust and are very pleased to be supporting their immensely-valuable work.

“The positive impact that this restoration work has had on an important part of our local environment is clear for all to see on site, and we hope that local people take full advantage of the wider access it provides to the area.”

Please note there are no toilets or indoor facilities at this site but staff will be happy to point you in the direction of the nearest pub!

This course costs £5 for DWT members, £10 for non-members. To book a place or for more information please call Durham Wildlife Trust  0191 584 3112

Investigate the castle and talk to members from Castle in the Community about the history of the castle and the Hylton family. Call 0191 5843112 to book a place.