Durham Biodiversity Partnership : Practical Help : Gateshead Area

Practical Help : Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland & Durham Coast

Volunteering Opportunities in South Tyneside

Countryside Volunteers South Tyneside (CVST) are a community group who work to improve countryside sites across the Borough. They undertake a wide range of tasks throughout the year from pond management and tree coppicing to litter picks and willow weaving. The group, supported by South Tyneside Council's Countryside Team, also access training for new skills such as wildflower identification, bat detector workshops and traditional hedge-laying techniques.
To find out more contact CVST Secretary Katrina Ghent on 0191 536 3894.

Focus onï¿½ Bats

CVST have become champions for bats in South Tyneside. Of over 400 bat roost records held by Durham Bat Group, none were in South Tyneside. An evening stroll in the Borough's green spaces quickly reveals that there are bats in the Borough - but their roost sites remain a mystery. CVST are working hard to help solve this mystery. They obtained funding through Cleadon & District Rotary Club and the Great North Forest to buy bat detectors and have been lurking around at night collecting bat field records. They have also been staking out buildings suspected of being used by this protected mammal. So far they have turned up one new roost - a first for the Borough and have taken part in training to improve their bat detector skills. They have also been involved in a bat box project across the Borough cemeteries.

Gateshead Countryside Volunteers

Over half of Gateshead Borough is countryside! So why not come along and take care of it. Practical tasks run every Tuesday & Thursday and alternate Saturdays - meet at Swalwell Visitor Centre.
You can also help with public events such as walks and fun days, and there is a series of regular training and social events including trips and BBQs held on Thursday evenings and weekends.
Find out more from the Countryside Teams at Thornley Woodlands Centre 01207 545 212 and the Civic Centre, Gateshead 0191 433 3524/3443

Durham Wildlife Trust - Volunteer Reserve Wardens

If you live near or regularly visit a Durham Wildlife Trust nature reserve you could help the Trust as a Volunteer Reserve Warden (VRW). VRW's are the eyes and ears of the Trust's reserves team and provide information on maintenance issues such as branches fallen across paths or motorbikes using a site. Induction and brief training is given.
Contact:
Kerry Watson
t: 0191 584 3112
e: [email protected]
w: www.wildlife.org.uk/durham/volunteers

Durham Wildlife Trust - Volunteer Task Force

Help implement essential practical conservation tasks such as hedge planting, tree felling, grass cutting, footpath construction and surveying on the Trust's 24 Nature Reserves. Tasks run on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of every week. No experience required - everyone welcome.
Contact: Kerry Watson
t: 0191 584 3112
e: [email protected]
w: www.wildlife.org.uk/durham/volunteers

Durham Wildlife Trust - Survey and Monitoring Volunteers

If you would like to assist the Trust in undertaking its annual breeding bird, butterfly, lichen, fungi and bryophyte survey and monitoring programme then please contact:
Mark Richardson
t: 0191 584 3112
e: [email protected]
w: www.wildlife.org.uk/durham/volunteers

Sunderland Countryside Volunteer Rangers

Sunderland Voluntary Countryside Rangers (SVCR) carry out a variety of practical tasks throughout Sunderland and the north east. They offer you the opportunity to get out in to the countryside and work on projects such as tree planting, hedgerow management, waymarking and leading guided walks. Task days are usually at weekends, with some expenses paid and training given.

Contact: Kevin Langthorne
Tel. 0191 487 4635
Email: [email protected]

Sunderland Wildspace Volunteers

We do activities on Local Nature Reserves: Fulwell Quarry, Hylton Dene and Tunstall Hills in Sunderland, Barmston Pond in Washington and Hetton Bogs in Hetton-le-Hole.

Volunteers can take part in events (walks, fundays) and conservation tasks (wildflower surveys, tree planting). The emphasis is on enjoyment, no one will be asked to work outside their capabilities.

Contact: Sandra Dobigny, Community Wildspace Officer on 0191 553 8774 or email: [email protected]