New TweedWATCH Education Pack Brings the River Tweed to Life for Schools
A brand-new Education Pack turns the River Tweed and its landscapes into an inspiring outdoor classroom for KS2 and Second Level learners.
Completely free and open to all, a wide range of expert-led sessions will offer the chance to experience the extraordinary wildlife in this incredible corner of the North East, 10-14 April 2023.
Shorebird safaris, nature trails, games, crafts, hands-on family activities and fact-filled workshops, all led by Lindisfarne’s expert wildlife team, will take place across the Nature Reserve during the second week of the Easter holidays. Adults and children of all ages will have the opportunity to learn about the breeding Little Terns and Ringed Plovers, their incredible journey to get here and what to expect in the coming months. Visitors can get techy with binoculars and take a deep dive into local nature on a wild Shorebird Safari.
Shorebird Awareness Week is a keystone event in North East England, putting the spotlight on the incredible diversity of wildlife on our doorstep, and the vital work of the Reserve team.
Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, together with a number of other sites along the Northumberland Coast, is home to some of the rarest shorebirds in the UK. Shorebirds are birds that use the beaches, saltmarshes and rocky shores to nest, rest and feed, but are often overlooked and have suffered steep declines in the last 30 years. In the North East alone, habitat loss, increased coastal recreation and climate change have all taken a significant toll.
The wildlife team on the Reserve work hard throughout the year to support and raise awareness of these fascinating but highly endangered birds – creating refuges, supporting nesting, monitoring numbers and managing disturbance.
Senior Reserve Manager Andrew Craggs said: “This is a wonderful time to explore the National Nature Reserve as the coast bursts into life – dunelands come alive with flowers, and birds start feeding, displaying, becoming territorial and pairing up to breed. We also welcome back birds from their long migration, some having travelled thousands of miles to get here.
“Shorebird Week offers lots of fun hands-on activities full of nature encounters to fascinate young and old alike! We can’t wait to welcome visitors and show them the Reserve in all its springtime glory.”
Over the next four years, Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, which is managed by Natural England, will receive additional support from the LIFE WADER project. WADER is a major new £5.8m nature recovery project, co-funded by the European Union. WADER (Water and Disturbance Environmental Restoration on the Northumberland coast) is led by Natural England and brings together a range of experts to improve the ecological condition of more than 49,000 hectares of river, coastal and marine habitat and improve water quality within the river Tweed catchment and along the Northumberland Coast.
WADER Project Manager, Liz Humphreys, said: “The Northumberland Coast is an area of great beauty but also huge ecological importance – it is a wonderful asset to be enjoyed, respected and protected. With Shorebirds Week we hope to connect people to the wildlife of this exceptional place, educate and inspire them to do what they can to nurture it and ensure its survival. Plus – we know they will have great fun doing so!”
The Government’s 25-Year Environment plan sets out the ambition for a growing and resilient network of land, water and sea that is richer in plants and wildlife. Such a network is the keystone for health, wealth and prosperity in society, and a major defence against the perils of climate change.
The government has committed to restoring 75% of our one million hectares of protected sites to favorable condition, securing their wildlife value for the long term.
All Shorebird Week events are free (donations welcome), no booking required. For more information please visit www.lindisfarnennr.blogspot.com, call the Reserve office on 01289381470 or email [email protected].
A brand-new Education Pack turns the River Tweed and its landscapes into an inspiring outdoor classroom for KS2 and Second Level learners.
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