You don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to help wildlife. Here are our suggestions as to how you can help nature in Gateshead.
1) Be inspired … by Gateshead’s Greenspaces
Gateshead Council cares for over 30 Country Parks, Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Nature Conservation Importance. These woodlands, wetlands and wildflower meadows are packed with wildlife and most are just a bus ride away.
For more information download ‘Gateshead’s Countryside’ leaflet
2) Join one of our Events
Whether going on a Bat Walk, a Fungus Foray or a Mini-beast Safari you can always learn something new about wildlife. The Council runs a programme of over 100 wildlife events throughout the year and most are free or cost just £1. At our events Countryside Rangers and Officers are always willing to answer your wildlife questions. For more information on Countryside Events check the Council Events page – or look at the Countryside Events leaflet on the top right hand corner of the Countryside Home Page|.
3) Look up to the Red Kites
4) Spot the first signs of Spring … and Autumn
And send your records to the Woodland Trust's - Nature's Calendar.
When people first started recording the signs of ‘nature’s calendar’ or phenology, no one knew just how useful this information was going to be, that was until climate change!
5) Survey your patch
Choose a favourite spot in your local area and try to identify all the plants and animals you see there. Record your findings at the Hancock Museum’s Exploring Your Environment web site at
You can get help with identifying anything in nature on the Open University’s ispot site.
6) Join a Wildlife Charity
This could be your local Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. In Gateshead this is the Durham Wildlife Trust which advises the Council on conservation matters and manages several wildlife reserves in the area.
Depending on your interest you could also join one of the UK’s many specialist conservation charities such as Plantlife, Butterfly Conservation, the Bat Conservation Trust … the list is endless.
Or think globally and support one of the conservation bodies which acts internationally.
7) Become a Gateshead Countryside Volunteer
If you are over 18 and would like to get stuck into really making a difference for wildlife in Gateshead, while learning new skills, meeting new people and having a really worthwhile and enjoyable time. Join our Volunteers.
Or ring Jayne Calvert on 0191 433 3524
8) Join a Community Nature Conservation Group
Join your local conservation group like the Clara Vale Conservation Trust or if there is not one in your area …
9) Form your own practical conservation group
For information on funding and other advice on starting or running a community group contact Gateshead Voluntary Organisations Council at
For technical information on nature conservation contact Clare Ross on 0191 433 3443.
10) Pass it on….to the Next Generation
Inspire a life long appreciation in your children and grandchildren in wildlife by;
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Booking your children one of our family events
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Bring your school to our Education programme at Thornley Woodlands Centre
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Joining national schemes like Wildlife Watch www.wildlifewatch.org.uk or Nature detectives http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/
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Lobbying your school, playgroup, youth club, Scouts etc to get involved in and learning about wildlife and nature conservation both inside and outside the classroom.
11) Biodiversity is good for business
Encourage your employer to develop more wildlife friendly practices. For more information see
http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/business.htm|
12) Be an ethical consumer
When buying anything sourced from the natural world check it is from a sustainable source. This is particularly the case with anything sourced from the marine environment such as shells and coral. With most of the world’s fisheries seriously over-fished and Atlantic Cod an endangered species check you fish dinner is from a sustainable source before buying!
www.msc.org|
13) Ban Peat!
Commercial peat extraction has damaged fragile, wild habitats so buy peat free compost, or make your own!
14) Save the Rainforests!
Avoid tropical hardwoods and look out instead for salvaged wood were possible. For any furniture and timber used in the home insure that it is sourced from well managed forests by looking for the Forest Stewardship Council logo.
15) More about Wildlife Gardening …
Natural England has produced some brilliant free guides which can be downloaded at
16) Plant a Tree…. or a shrub, or a climber in a tub.
Trees in gardens help wildlife by providing food and shelter. But anything you can do, in your back yard or local area, to increase the number of different habitats found eg longer grass, boggy areas, wetlands or to improve the different heights or structures of plants in your garden, ie mature trees, shrubs, climbers, tall and shorter plants, will help wildlife.
Bare rooted native trees, as small whips, can be bought very cheaply from northeast tree wholesale nurseries for planting in winter. Good suitable smaller native trees include species like hawthorn, crab apple and hazel.
17) Feed (and water) the Birds….
Grow trees, shrubs and flowers which provide seeds and berries for birds to feed on. In winter dig over an area of bare ground to help birds like robins look for insects.
When it comes to putting food out for the birds – this is now encouraged all year around. Birds certainly need a lot of energy when they are caring for their young. Once you start feeding the birds, don’t stop as they will come to depend on you! To get as many different species of birds into your garden see
Birds also need water for drinking and bathing, especially in winter if ponds are frozen – an old bin lid (if you can find one) makes an ideal bird bath!
Nut Allergies!
If feeding peanuts ensure they are behind a mesh otherwise the peanuts can choke baby birds. Peanuts should also be from a reputable source as the fungus found on some is poisonous to birds. Mesh bags should not be used because they may damage bird’s feet!
18) …. And the Butterflies
Help insects by providing food - nectar and pollen (ie flowers) for as long as possible in the year. This means growing flowers like crocus and aubrieta in early spring right through to plants like sedums flowering in late autumn. Simple, old cottage garden plants which are easy for insect to get into are better sources of nectar then more complex highly bred flowers.
19) Build a Bird Box
See www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/nestboxes| or join one of our events in February and March
20) Build a Bug Hotel
Leave a pile of rotting logs for insects to live on. Put piles of leaves and stones under your hedge and leave an area of grass a little longer. This does not just help insects to live and survive winter but other animals like voles and possibly hedgehogs and amphibians. At last a perfect excuse for not being so tidy minded in the garden – tell your neighbors you are helping wildlife!
21) Go organic …. In the garden
Pesticides or Biocides do what they say on the tin, they kill things. What do you think happens to a song thrush or a hedgehog that eats a slug pellet?
Can your cabbages and hosta’s not stand a bit of munching for the sake of wildlife? Consider biological control first by building a habitat for animals that like to eat slugs by ...
22) Building a Pond
One of the most significant things you can do to encourage wildlife into your garden is to build a pond. Make sure you have a shallow end where frogs can easily exit and leave an area of long grass for them to live. And don’t add ornamental fish (or ducks) or they will eat your mini-beasts!
23) Enjoy your handiwork!
Record what you see in your garden and report anything of interest to the Countryside and Natural Environment Teams - details on the contacts page|!