October 1, 2025

One Year of Wildlife Engagement Along the Ouse Burn Way

It’s been a year since Ellie, our Urban Naturalist at the Natural History Society of Northumbria, began leading wildlife engagement along the Ouse Burn Way – and what a year it has been!

Over the past twelve months, Ellie has created hundreds of opportunities for local people to experience, enjoy and connect with the nature on their doorstep. From bat walks to bioBlitzes, owl pellet dissections to yoga in the woods, her work has inspired thousands to take part in citizen science, learn new skills and take small steps to help wildlife thrive.

“It’s such an honour to help people connect with nature. Over the year, there have been so many special moments – like spotting two Roe Deer in a nearby field during a walk. It’s a lovely reminder that wildlife isn’t just in reserves or woodlands – it’s all around us, in suburbs, farmland edges, and green corridors like the Ouse Burn Way,” said Ellie.

The numbers speak for themselves:
👣 Over 6.3 million steps for nature recorded along the Ouse Burn Way
☑️ 245 activities delivered – from guided walks to creative workshops
✅ 2,621 participants engaged across Newcastle and North Tyneside

Highlights from the year included:
✨ Bat walks, moth nights & swift spotting
✨ BioBlitzes, pond dipping & dragonfly hunts
✨ Roots to shoots yoga & a nature embroidery workshop
✨ Foraging walks, field skills sessions & community litter picks
✨ Wildlife Detectives, Owl Pellet Dissection & Spring Clean events

Ellie also launched a Field Skills Programme, helping 27 people graduate with practical ecological skills – supporting the next generation of naturalists.

Anne Reece, Chair of the Reece Foundation, said:
“This past year has been inspiring, seeing the Ouse Burn Way begin to connect communities with nature. Supporting the Urban Naturalist role has brought local people closer to nature and helped restore our urban environment. We’re proud our funding has driven key projects forward and attracted additional support to grow the Ouse Burn Way.”

From just 11 activities last winter, to more than 200 this summer alone, interest in the Ouse Burn Way has flourished. Families, students, community groups, and businesses have all taken part, making the project a shared journey towards a greener, healthier, wilder city.

Clare Freeman, Director of NHSN, added:
“The momentum over the last year has been remarkable. Through partnerships with local organisations together we’ve made some wonderful discoveries about local wildlife. With the support of funders and communities, we’ve shown that working together achieves far more than working alone.”

Ellie’s post continues to be funded as part of our ambitious project to create a seven-mile urban wildlife corridor from the River Tyne at Ouseburn to Weetslade Country Park. With every step for nature, we are one step closer to connecting people and wildlife across Newcastle and North Tyneside.