Birds eye view of natural beauty

13/06/2006

Holidaymakers are to get a bird’s eye view of a unique wildlife habitat.

Volunteers will transform a derelict rush pasture into a habitat-rich wildlife garden at Northumbrian Water’s Leaplish Waterside Park, Kielder, over looked by holiday cabins.

The first stage of a three year project started this week.  The garden will encourage an abundance of wildlife to the site including butterflies, a variety of birds and small mammals.

Twenty British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) volunteers this week are building a dry-stone wall raised bed and lay a footpath providing easy access to the 100m by 70m garden.

Andy Pennington, of BTCV, said: “This project will provide visitors to Leaplish Waterside Park with a wildlife-rich area to visit where they can enjoy nature and take wildlife gardening ideas home.  School groups and community groups will be able to use the garden.”

The garden already boasts a willow-weaved hedge, a bird feeding area, a bog garden, a dead wood habitat, over 100 trees, which were planted in March, and the ground has been prepared. 

Kelly Hollings, of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “Without partnership working, this project could not have started.  Northumbrian Water have kindly donated cabins for the volunteers to stay in which has enabled this important conservation project to go-ahead.  The Forestry Commission have also donated the materials for the footpath.”

Future plans for the garden over the years involves the creation of different zones, including a dry water corner, a sensory section, planting of a native hedge, and the introduction of a water feature.

For further information please call Kelly Hollings, Wetlands Conservation Officer, on 01434 250 320.