Birkheads Wild

Birkheads Wild A charity in Gateshead. We help young people build better futures for themselves - using the outdoors We LOVE the outdoors.
(1)

A charity based in rural Gateshead, Birkheads Wild is a place for free range humans. We help young people build better futures for themselves - using the outdoors. Specifically we LOVE: wild camping, getting grubby, growing naturally, smelling of woodsmoke, 'leaving no trace', looking after wildlife, simple fun, learning more about nature, cycling, homemade stuff, going wild, being off-grid, and generally 'playing out'.

C planted out the carrots🥕 this week. They ve been keeping warm in the Cold Frame. He discussed with us a while back th...
06/06/2026

C planted out the carrots🥕 this week. They ve been keeping warm in the Cold Frame.

He discussed with us a while back that around his birthday time is the ideal time for them to go in the ground.💚

He focused for some time on this task, then chilled at the fire before heading out on a bike ride and putting the skills he learnt recently at school completing Bike Ability to good use. 💚

Now June is here our strawberries are ripening in the cold frame and C got to pick and taste a ripe one. 🍓

Its surprising how few young people have planted veg or picked fruit straight from the bush or tree and eaten it. 😪

Another benefit of long term Alternative Education Provision with us means young people are getting to plant, grow, look after and then harvest what they ve sown over spring and into summer. Hopefully memories like this make a nature connection strong enough to last into adulthood 💚

06/06/2026

Campfire cooking off the chart here these days 🔥🔥

Dani and M used home grown leeks with chicken risotto and peas this week 💪🔥

"M is growing in confidence each week cooking at the firepit. Alongside this he now able to express his opinions and wishes and it is great to hear them. Well done M!"

Our community Shelf? Mini Shop ? (What shall we call it ? ) is filling up nicely. 😍It's just outside our main gate - ...
05/06/2026

Our community Shelf? Mini Shop ? (What shall we call it ? ) is filling up nicely. 😍

It's just outside our main gate - if you are passing on the Tanfield Railway Path please take a peep inside it 🙏

Special thanks to our young people for the things they create, and thanks as well for the kind donations from our friendly supporters. 🙏

It brings our young people joy to see the products they ve made going to new homes and kind donations received in our honesty box. 🙏

This whole project is fuelled by the ideas and creativity of the young people at the heart of all we do. 💚

What else would you like to see there?

01/06/2026

Today was our final Team Development Day until September so we took the opportunity to slow down a little 🌱

The theme of the day was Rituals and Routines and we started with a celebration healthy Breakfast feast from which was an incredible treat 💚

Cath from helped us look much more closely at our session planning to focus on the importance of routine and rituals for the young people we work with. Focusing on the rhythm and predictability and taking a therapeutic approach to helping to co-regulate nervous systems🌱💚

We also considered our own routines and rituals at work to strengthen those which will have a positive impact on us. 💚

In the afternoon we took time to talk to each other with a "low demand" agenda which involved helping with little jobs on site and then a team walk 💚🌱

We are fortunate to work in such an incredible setting and we need to all ensure we slow down and make time to enjoy the outdoors ourselves, in order to be able to do our best work 🌱💚

What rituals and routines do you have in your work day that you can share below to help us do our best work ? 🙏

As part of our charity partnership with Cambridge University Press and Assessment we've been sharing our approach to Al...
28/05/2026

As part of our charity partnership with Cambridge University Press and Assessment we've been sharing our approach to Alternative Education with them and looking at ways we can collaborate for the benefit of the young people who attend our Alternative Education Provision 🌱

Last week Suzanne from came to talk to us in the Yurt about the Baseline and Wellbeing online assessments they offer. 🌱

We are keen to set these up on site for our young people who aren't currently attending school and are facing multiple barriers to accessing formal education.🌱

Completing these assessments in a calm, quiet environment, 1:1 with our team will take away the pressure of classroom-based assessments, will help build confidence and skills, show capabilities and potential, help them understand themselves better and give our young people something which will support them in their next steps in education and training.🌱

Building better futures - using the outdoors 🌱💚

21/05/2026

A great day on site with hardworking teens getting stuck in and taking real pride in their work in their sesparate sessions 💪🏼

✅ Mowing
✅ Watering
✅ Splitting wood
✅ Feeding the goats

Every job completed helps keep things running smoothly here, and just as importantly, gives them the chance to build confidence, responsibility, and self-worth through hands-on work.

Very appreciated by all of us. Lets keep building a community of belonging 💚 👏🏼

18/05/2026

We'd like to say a massive thankyou to Ryan for fundraising for Birkheads Wild.🙏

Ryan has completed an Ultramarathon on behalf Cambridge University Press & Assessments and decided to fundraise for us. 🙏

The Arc of Attrition is one of the UK’s most brutal ultra‑marathon challenges, set along the rugged Cornish coastline. Covering 100 miles of technical trail, steep climbs, exposed headlands and remote terrain, the race is designed to push runners to their physical and mental limits. 🦵🦵

Despite a storm and sustaining an injury, being forced to walk the final 40 miles, Ryan showed extraordinary resilience to complete the full 100‑mile course in 28 hours and 18 minutes.💪💪

What an amazing and mind blowing achievement in an incredible location - and in addition Ryan raised over £200 for Birkheads Wild which will be matched by Cambridge University Press and Assessment as we are their Charity of the Year 🙏

Thank you for thinking of us we areally appreciate it , and what an inspiration for more outdoor adventures 💚

Catching hailstones, making paracord key rings and bracelets (one for our Mick F and one for her brother) and wild garli...
13/05/2026

Catching hailstones, making paracord key rings and bracelets (one for our Mick F and one for her brother) and wild garlic pesto and pasta 💚🌱

Emma helped O to self regulate and stay calm today through creativity and activities she enjoys. This is a valuable skill during a period of change and uncertainty 💚

Another new starter at Alternative Education Provision today 😁 who spent the morning with Emma exploring the site and se...
11/05/2026

Another new starter at Alternative Education Provision today 😁 who spent the morning with Emma exploring the site and settling in to life at Birkheads Wild 🌱

We go at the pace of the young people here so its much slower, relaxed and informal with fewer demands than a school setting - helping re-regulate nervous systems and support trauma recovery.

This meant there was time for; games in the yurt, a bit of pond dipping, exploring the nearby woods, meeting and feeding the goats, picking and sniffing the herbs in our sensory garden, swinging on the slackline and planning for what he would like to cook next week. 🌱
Hopefully a Monday morning here will set A up to be able to manage the rest of the week in school 💚

Shelter building 💪- K with Joelene on an unexpectedly cold Monday in May 😬" On this task we have practiced safe use of...
11/05/2026

Shelter building 💪- K with Joelene on an unexpectedly cold Monday in May 😬

" On this task we have practiced safe use of an axe and pruning saw, had a go at some knots, used our problem solving skills along with plenty of critical thinking and creativity. 🪚

This young person always brings a great energy to his sessions and in turn I think he gains a lot from his Monday at Birkheads Wild. He also realised his den was the perfect spot to enjoy an end of the day pot noodle!"

Address

Birkheads
Gateshead
NE165EL

Telephone

07984688218

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Birkheads Wild posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Birkheads Wild:

Shortcuts

Share

Category