Links with Nature

Links with Nature Links with Nature
Restoring nature can make you feel good. Connecting people and wildlife in the Coalfields across 12 Greenspaces.

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Interested in honing your fungi identification skills ahead of the Autumn season? 🍄The North East Fungus Study Group are...
02/09/2026

Interested in honing your fungi identification skills ahead of the Autumn season? 🍄

The North East Fungus Study Group are hosting two Fungus Forays this September across Links with Nature sites, where we will be searching the habitats and recording every fungi species we find 🔎 These sessions are aimed for anyone interested in fungi - from beginners to enthusiasts to experts - and support will be provided throughout to help attendees build confidence with their fungi ID ✅

🍄 Sunday 6th September - Flint Mill
🍄 Sunday 18th October - Elemore Vale

If you would like to find out more or book your place, visit volunteer.durhamwt.com/volunteers/opportunity/10303835 or contact Mary-Anne, Engagement Officer, on [email protected] 🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance

There's still plenty of spaces left to join us as we celebrate the ending of the summer season with some wild crafts thi...
01/09/2026

There's still plenty of spaces left to join us as we celebrate the ending of the summer season with some wild crafts this Friday and Saturday 👀🌿

Join Links with Nature and make your own nature collage at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve🍃 Using locally foraged materials such as berries, leaves, flowers and twigs, we will be taking inspiration from a guided walk of the nature reserve to create some truly wild designs 🍁🌸🍂 No previous art experience required - just join in, have some fun, and see what you make! 🎨

This event is being delivered as part of the wider , which celebrates all things environment and sustainability in our local patch ✅🌱

Find out more and book your FREE space, now 👇
🐞 Friday 4th September - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994565225281
🐞 Saturday 5th September - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994567903291

For more engagement opportunities contact Mary-Anne, Engagement Officer: [email protected] 🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Just one week left to book your FREE space on our upcoming Wild Yoga session at Elemore Park 🧘‍♀️🌱In view of the grassla...
27/08/2026

Just one week left to book your FREE space on our upcoming Wild Yoga session at Elemore Park 🧘‍♀️🌱

In view of the grasslands and all of the wildlife these support, experienced Yoga instructor, Roy Moor, will lead the group in beginner-friendly, guided movements of Dru yoga 🍃 Not only is yoga fantastic for physical fitness but for mental wellbeing too. Its low-impact nature and varying levels of difficulty make it highly accessible and adaptable to everyone 😌🧘‍♂️

This will be the first session of our 4-week nature-based Wellbeing Programme, with future sessions consisting of:

🌱Thursday 10th September, 1-3pm - Mindfulness Walk with The Little Company of Calm
🌱Thursday 17th September, 1-3pm - Willow Woven Crafts
🌱Thursday 24th September, 1-3pm - Nature Collages

For more details and to book your place, go to: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1992925646256 👀

For more engagement opportunities contact Mary-Anne, Engagement Officer: [email protected]🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance WWIN Specialist Domestic Abuse Services HOPS - Healing Opportunities Wellbeing Service ARCH Recovery College Elemore Park

Fancy taking a bit of time for creativity in nature this September? 🌿🦔Join Links with Nature and make your own nature co...
22/08/2026

Fancy taking a bit of time for creativity in nature this September? 🌿🦔

Join Links with Nature and make your own nature collage at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve 🍃 Using locally foraged materials such as berries, leaves, flowers and twigs, we will be taking inspiration from a guided walk of the nature reserve to create some truly wild designs 🍁🌸🍂 No previous art experience required - all local community members welcome and encouraged!

This event is being delivered as part of the wider , which celebrates all things environment and sustainability in our local patch ✅🌱

Find out more and book your FREE space, now 👇

🐞 Friday 4th September - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994565225281
🐞 Saturday 5th September - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994567903291

For more engagement opportunities contact Mary-Anne, Engagement Officer: [email protected] 🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Our Engagement Officer, Mary-Anne, recently led a walk for members of The Box Youth & Community Project at Herrington Co...
21/08/2026

Our Engagement Officer, Mary-Anne, recently led a walk for members of The Box Youth & Community Project at Herrington Country Park 🪿

The group took a walk around the park, stopping occasionally to admire the wildlife of the ponds, share the history and meaning of the various sculptures and installations and discuss the importance of the greenspace to the wider community 🌿💚

Thank you to all who attended for such an enjoyable wander around the park 🚶🏻‍♀️

Did you know there are four themed benches dotted around the park, dedicated to wind, rain, snow and sun? Have you seen all four? 👀

If you would like to join the Links with Nature team on a free guided walk of our greenspaces, check out our upcoming Wild Wanders! 👇

🌊 River Watch at Hetton Park and Bogs: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1996609448608
🦋 Things with Wings at Elemore Park: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1996462819035

For more engagement opportunities contact Mary-Anne, Engagement Officer: [email protected] 🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance

Just two weeks to go until the first session of our FREE, 4-week wellbeing programme at Elemore Park ! 🌱⏰Come join us fo...
20/08/2026

Just two weeks to go until the first session of our FREE, 4-week wellbeing programme at Elemore Park ! 🌱⏰

Come join us for a series of beginner-friendly, nature-based activities - all set against the beautiful backdrop of Elemore Park 🌳 Whether you have attended one of our Wellbeing Programmes before, volunteer with us or are completely new to the project - all local community members are welcome! 🌱

🌱Thursday 3rd September, 1-3pm - Wild Yoga with Roy Moor
🌱Thursday 10th September, 1-3pm - Mindfulness Walk with The Little Company of Calm
🌱Thursday 17th September, 1-3pm - Willow Woven Crafts
🌱Thursday 24th September, 1-3pm - Nature Collages

For more details and to book your place, go to: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1992925646256 👀

For more engagement opportunities contact Mary-Anne, Engagement Officer: [email protected]🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance WWIN Specialist Domestic Abuse Services HOPS - Healing Opportunities Wellbeing ServiceARCH Recovery College Elemore Park

Last Wednesday, Greenspaces Officer, Hayley, and Engagement Officer, Mary-Anne, headed to Hazard Railway with the Links ...
19/08/2026

Last Wednesday, Greenspaces Officer, Hayley, and Engagement Officer, Mary-Anne, headed to Hazard Railway with the Links with Nature volunteers for another of our Species Survey days 🔎🐞

From towering oaks to the birds that nest within their crowns and the rust fungi that live on their leaves - the team identified and counted as many different species as they could possibly find 🌿🍄🪺 We finished the day with a fantastic total of 140 species, records of which will now be sent to ERIC North East to add to their data collection for the local area ✅

Do you recognise any of the species we found? 👀

For more volunteering opportunities contact Hayley, Greenspaces Officer: [email protected] 🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance

Last Thursday, the Links with Nature team were joined by local community members to practise mindfulness at Elemore Par...
18/08/2026

Last Thursday, the Links with Nature team were joined by local community members to practise mindfulness at Elemore Park 🍃

Led by the lovely Liz from The Little Company of Calm, the group were guided around the park, stopping occasionally to practise mindfulness and take in the beautiful scenery of the greenspace 🌱 Liz demonstrated how we can take inspiration from nature to help us stay grounded and reduce stress, and many examples were shared between group members about how nature has helped to improve their mental and physical wellbeing 💚 We finished the session with some mindful xi-gong movements and gratitude work, and were grateful for the cool breeze flowing past us 🌬️

Thank you to all of our attendees for braving the sun and joining us for this walk - we hope you have picked up some tips about how to incorporate mindfulness into the everyday 🧘😊 Thank you also to Liz for leading such a positive and restorative session 🫶

If you would like to join us for some mindfulness and other relaxing, nature-based sessions this September, check out our free 4-week 'Feel Good Thursdays' Wellbeing programme! 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1992925646256

For more engagement opportunities contact Mary-Anne, Engagement Officer: [email protected]🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance

Greenspaces Officer, Hayley, and Links with Nature's fantastic team of volunteers headed to Success Railway last Monday ...
17/08/2026

Greenspaces Officer, Hayley, and Links with Nature's fantastic team of volunteers headed to Success Railway last Monday for a bit of grassland management 🌿

The team continued cutting back a large area of grassland, raking and removing the cut grass as they went 🌾'Cut and rakes' are a well used method in grassland management - by removing cut vegetation from an area, this prevents nutrients from returning to the soil when the grass would otherwise eventually break down and decay over autumn and winter 🍂 Lower nutrient soils often give rise to more biodiverse wildflower meadows as there is not the abundance of nutrients for coarser, light-blocking species to 'sn**ch' up before the more delicate wildflowers get a chance to establish 🌸

For more volunteering opportunities contact Hayley, Greenspaces Officer: [email protected] 🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance

In the run up to , Links with Nature are delighted to be welcoming local community members to Rainton Meadows Nature Re...
15/08/2026

In the run up to , Links with Nature are delighted to be welcoming local community members to Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve this September for some wellbeing taster sessions 🌱💚

We will be taking a short guided walk of the Red Burn and wider Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, looking at the flora and fauna and gathering inspiration for the second half of our session - wild crafts 🎨 Here, we will be using natural materials such as leaves, berries, seeds and twigs to create natural collages depicting wildlife seen on our walk 🦋🌿

Take some intentional time for creativity in nature and book your FREE space, now! 👇

🐞 Friday 4th September - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994565225281
🐞 Saturday 5th September - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994567903291

For more engagement opportunities contact Mary-Anne, Engagement Officer: [email protected] 🌿

Keep an eye out for upcoming events and project updates or register to volunteer (18+): https://tinyurl.com/LWNVolunteer 💚 Book onto events and find out more about Links with Nature 👉https://linktr.ee/linkswithnature

Links with Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.

Coalfield Sunderland Community Let’s Talk HALO- Hetton Sunderland, UK Sunderland Volunteering Sunderland GP Alliance Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

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Durham Wildlife Trust, Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve
Houghton Le Spring
DH46PU

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