There is no doubt that we live in one of the bonniest parts of our country. Anyone who has the good fortune to use the Derwent Walk, drive up Silver Hills or wander along the Tyne at Ryton Willows will know that we live in a special place. And there are many other great areas to explore and develop.
I have recently had the great fortune to visit two such places. One is the Gibside National Trust site which is going from strength to strength, although a proposed Green Festival didn't get off the ground this year. However, a green campsite is being developed and there are plans to massively increase activity at the walled garden and make even better use of this great facility which can only be good news.
A much newer project has been recently obtained for public use at Milkwellburn Woods near Blackhall Mill, thanks to Biffa and the County Durham Environment Trust. The large 200 acres wood has been continuously wooded since at least 1600. Various phases of mining activity such as old workings and track ways can still be seen.
In the 1920s much of the ancient broadleaved woodland was felled and replanted with conifers to meet demand for timber, which created a very different type of woodland.
On a walk around during a recent site visit those differences became clear. The remaining broadleaved woodland is a light and welcoming place, whilst the conifer plantation is darker and less inviting. The broadleaved areas are richer in wildlife, from plants to insects and birds, and Durham Wildlife Trust will expand the area of broadleaved trees. This is done by slowly thinning the conifers over several decades to allow the oak, ash and birch to naturally regenerate and the biodiversity of the whole area to increase.
Trust staff told me about their national campaign called Living Landscapes, which aims to create large corridors and stepping stones for wildlife in our landscape. And Milkwellburn Wood is part of the Derwent Valley Living Landscape area proposed by the Trust. These big schemes will safeguard our region's fantastic wildlife and provide more places for people to enjoy.
If that sounds like a good idea to you, why not support the work of the Trust - go to http://durhamwt.myzen.co.uk/wp/
Our natural environment is one of our greatest assets and needs nurturing and protecting.
Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
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