Link Together

By Anne Gladwin Link Together Project Manager

agladwin@durhamwt.co.uk

0191 584 3112

Link Together is an ambitious project to restore habitats and help wildlife recover across 13 greenspaces in Sunderland’s Coalfield area, but the project will deliver much more than nature recovery.

Being in the outdoors and experiencing nature is good for people, supporting better health and improved well-being. Link Together’s activity programme, which includes practical volunteering, wildlife surveys, and helping people discover the wild places on the doorstep, is being delivered in partnership with the local health sector and community groups. These activities will offer people the opportunity to access the benefits being in nature brings, while at the same time helping to restore and protect their local environment. Crucially, local health teams will be able to refer people to the project and support the Trust to gather the evidence that shows the health and well-being improvements generated.

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Sunderland City Council, Link Together is now well underway, developing the nature restoration programme and building new connections with residents across the Coalfield.

So far, each greenspace has been surveyed to identify its different habitats, their condition and the species present. This baseline information is now being used to devise restoration proposals and, over the next ten months, detailed plans for each greenspace will be created. The initial ideas for each site will be in place by the end of March, and between April and June the Trust will be sharing these with communities across in the Coalfield. This will be an opportunity to discuss our ideas, find out what people think, draw in local knowledge and inspire residents to get involved in the next stage – making these ideas come alive.

The sites included in Link Together are: Copt Hill, Elemore Park (former Elemore Golf Course), Elemore Vale, Flint Mill, Hazard Railway and Woodland, Herrington Country Park, Herrington Burn at Shiney Row, Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton Park, Hetton Bogs, Kier Hardie Park, Redburn – adjacent to Rainton Meadows and Success Railway.

Case Study: Success Railway

Success Railway is a 1km walkway running along the old railway line from Blind Lane to the A182, south of Philadelphia. Habitats along this route include woodland, grassland and wet flushes. The footpath has a stone surface, but is eroded and waterlogged in places. This forces people to leave the path, which is damaging the grassland habitat. There is no signage or information along the route about its wildlife or history of the site.

Potential Project Ideas:

• Footpath repairs and new drainage to improve the route for walkers so they stay on the path.

• Create a series of ponds or small scrapes alongside the path to further improve drainage and provide habitats for amphibians and dragonflies.

• Thin the woodland and enhance with wildflower planting to create corridors for butterflies and bumble bees.

• Directional signage to link Success Railway with other greenspaces and promote new green routes and longer circular walks.

Get involved

The plan for Success Railway gives an indication of what Link Together can achieve for wildlife across the Coalfield, helping to transform habitats and bring nature back.

Link Together wants local people to shape the course of the project and get actively involved. If you live near to any of the locations listed on this page, or are part of a local group and want to know more, please get in touch.

Activities across the different sites will take place during the spring and summer. Information will be available on the Link Together web page.

durhamwt.com/link-together

The Second stage application will be submitted in November 2023 with work taking place from April 2024 until March 2026.