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Durham Wildlife Trust receives ‘Greener Communities’ funding boost
The quality of woodland and pond habitat at Brinkburn Pond and Meadows in Darlington is set to be transformed following Durham Wildlife Trust securing funding from local housebuilder, Homes by Esh.
The funding has been awarded via the Greener Communities programme, a grant-making initiative which was launched by the firm earlier this year in partnership with County Durham Community Foundation.
Durham Wildlife Trust will use the grant to support Darlington Borough Council to improve the quality of the woodland and pond habitat around Brinkburn Pond and Meadows. In consultation with local residents, the Trust will carry out a programme of tree management, including cutting and thinning over hanging vegetation and removing some small trees from around the woodland.
Homes by Esh is part of County Durham-headquartered Esh Group. Colin Willetts, deputy managing director at Homes by Esh, said: “When delivering homes, we want families to have space where they can explore nature and make the most of local area. With Homes by Esh delivering hundreds of new properties in Darlington it’s great to see the work that Durham Wildlife Trust is doing within Brinkburn Pond and Meadows.
“We are proud to pledge this funding to improve the communal green space as well as making improvements for wildlife in and around the pond, the very aim of the Greener Communities programme.”
Durham Wildlife Trust celebrates half-century by securing its 50th nature reserve
Durham Wildlife Trust has marked its half-century by unveiling its 50th nature reserve.
The Trust launched its ‘50@50’ campaign two years ago – aiming to grow its number of nature reserves from 42 to 50 by the end of its 50th anniversary year. And its latest acquisition, which will be known as Cuthbert’s Moor, a 300-acre site in Teesdale, means that the Trust can celebrate the success of its campaign.
The 50@50 initiative is part of The Wildlife Trusts’ wider objective to protect 30 per cent of land and sea for wildlife by 2030. The Trusts consider this essential to combat the decline of wildlife in the UK, considered one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth.
Durham Wildlife Trust director, Jim Cokill, said: “People now value wildlife more than ever, and there's growing understanding of just how important the natural world is to modern society. Nature will form part of any solution to the climate crisis; if we don’t take action to restore wildlife, we won’t stop climate change.
“That can only happen if people want it to happen, but the generosity of our supporters shows that people do indeed want to see nature restored. The success of the 50@50 campaign is proof that it’s not too late to take action.”
Cuthbert’s Moor, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is home to a variety of species, including curlew, snipe, meadow pipits, skylark, common lizard, and stoat. This upland moorland is also the first nature reserve of its kind that Durham Wildlife Trust has acquired. The Trust will spend the next year surveying the site and its wildlife to inform its long-term nature recovery plans.