Durham Wildlife Trust

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Durham Wildlife Trust looks after 25 nature reserves. To learn more about places to see wildlife around County Durham please click here

More about Durham Wildlife Trust

Education on our Reserves

At Rainton Meadows we offer an exciting programme of safe, hands on activities designed to bring learning to life.  The activities are designed to have strong links with core areas of the National Curriculum and sessions, adapted to your individual needs, are available for all Key Stages covering: habitats, invertebrates, adaptation, food chains, plants, sensory nature exploration and citizenship.

Rainton Meadows has been awarded the “Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge”.

Holiday Activities

We organise events during all the school holidays for children and their families.

Families on our Reserves

We host action-packed, fun-filled parties for children and young people from 3-13. Parties are tailor made to suit your requirements and can include pond dipping, mini beast hunts, bird watching, themed games and activities, party food, birthday cake, and goodie bags to take home.

Outreach visits

We offer the following to schools, higher education colleges and universities, Community groups and businesses throughout County Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland:

• KS1 and KS2 sessions delivered in school grounds or other sites.
• Sessions for other age groups tailored to the curriculum as required.
• Advice, support and delivery of wildlife gardening and school grounds enhancements.
• Support for colleges, communities and business to enhance green areas and grounds for wildlife
• Community allotment projects
• Inset training sessions for primary schools
• Interpretation schemes designed and implemented
• Environmental art projects planned and delivered

For details of cost and availability contact Annette Morris This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Our Watch Groups

Bowless meet at Bowlees Visitor Centre during the school holidays
For more information contact 0871 716 2709

Durham City meet at Durham University Botanic Gardens on the second Saturday of the month from 10.00 to 12.00. For theirr programme contact www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden/whatson/watchgroup/

East Hedleyhope meet in East Hedleyhope village hall. For information contact Clare Ross on  01388 731553

Lanchester group meet in Lanchester village hall. For information contact Noel Jackson on 01207 560684

West Boldon Wild Things meet at West Boldon Environmental Centre. For information contact Sarah Dinning on 0191 5364873

West Rainton meet during the school holidays on a Tuesday afternoon. Teen Rangers is for young people aged between 12 -18. Nature Rangers is for young people aged 8-11 years. Both are run by the West Rainton Green Group.

For more information about Watch please contact: Judy Summerson, 12 Sunnidale, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne NE16 5TT.  Tel. no. 07811 927 330,  e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne & Wear DH4 6PU  Tel. No. 0191 5843112

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