February 2026 – Wear Rivers Trust | North East Charity

Celebrating Success at the Durham County Council Environment Awards

We were honoured to attend the Durham County Council Environment Awards, an inspiring celebration of the individuals, volunteers and organisations working to protect and enhance local environments across the county.

We are immensely proud to share that our Education Team was named winner of the Schools and Colleges category for our Wear Warriors educational programme. Supported by multiple funding streams, Wear Warriors enables children to complete a four day award that combines local exploration with two engaging field visits. The programme broadens pupils’ understanding of the landscapes and communities around them while developing essential skills and confidence through structured outdoor learning.

Through hands on activities, children build teamwork and navigation skills, strengthen their resilience in new environments, and gain a deeper appreciation of their local surroundings. As they progress, pupils earn achievement badges, including recognition for mapwork skills, celebrating their accomplishments and encouraging curiosity and meaningful learning beyond the classroom.

This award recognises the dedication and commitment of our staff, who consistently go above and beyond to ensure young people across the catchment can access high quality environmental education and enriching outdoor experiences.

We are also delighted to announce that our valued volunteer, Martin Evans, received a Highly Commended Certificate of Recognition for his exceptional contribution. Martin’s commitment extends beyond his local area and across the wider catchment, and his continued support makes a lasting difference to the communities we serve.

The evening was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through partnership, passion and shared commitment to safeguarding our environment. We extend our congratulations to all nominees and winners who are helping to create a greener and more sustainable future for County Durham.

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Bluespaces Project Launch: Gaunless

Major Restoration Effort Begins on River Gaunless

Wear Rivers Trust and Northumbrian Water Launch River Gaunless Restoration Project

Bluespaces Project, funded by Northumbrian Water, is now underway to improve public access to, and enjoyment of, the River Wear and River Gaunless over the next three years.

Work focuses on three key sections where public footpaths run close to the rivers:

Butterknowle to St Helen’s Auckland
Broom Mill Farm to Fylands Bridge
King James’ School through Auckland Park to the confluence

The Gaunless catchment faces challenges such as livestock pressures, limited riparian buffers, pollution from agricultural runoff, and fly tipping. This project represents a collaborative, multi-faceted effort to enhance water quality, restore habitats, and strengthen community stewardship of one of the Wear’s most intensively farmed sub-catchments.

We will be carrying out farm engagement, green engineering, woodland creation, the creation of fish passes, and public-space improvements including nature trails and interpretation boards throughout this project to improve the riparian habitat. Volunteers will help assist with much of this work, as well as carrying out Riverfly monitoring, water quality testing, electrofishing, litter picks, and invasive species management.

Education is also a key focus of the project, with schools and young people actively involved in learning about the history, ecology, and cultural heritage of the Gaunless.

We will be delivering the Wear Warrior Award to 12 primary schools and working closely with King James Academy to carry out a number of activities including riparian woodland creation.

By combining practical river restoration with education and community involvement, the project will create lasting environmental benefits while inspiring the next generation to become stewards of the River Gaunless.

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Bluespaces Project Launch: Deerness

Major Restoration Effort Begins on the River Deerness

Wear Rivers Trust and Northumbrian Water launch partnership to improve 10km of bluespaces along the River Deerness

This project encompasses the Deerness from Waterhouses downstream past the villages of Esh Winning and Ushaw Moor to its confluence with the Browney just north of Langley Moor.

Wear Rivers Trust will carry out a series of interventions along this stretch to enhance wildlife and biodiversity, improve water quality and augment access to recreational facilities.

At the heart of this Bluespaces project are the communities who live and work alongside the River Deerness. Wear Rivers Trust will collaborate with local groups, landowners and organisations who act as longstanding custodians of the Deerness, alongside the Trust’s volunteers, to deliver a range of practical restoration and engagement activities. These will include:

Monitoring and maintenance of fish passes to safeguard up and downstream migration, for all species
Tree planting and wetland creation to provide riparian shading and establish new wildlife habitats
Green engineering and riverbank repairs to protect footpaths, reduce sediment runoff and enhance biodiversity
Mapping and management of invasive non-native species to support the recovery of native flora and fauna
Citizen science opportunities, including Riverfly monitoring and ecological surveys, to improve understanding of the river environment
Installation of interpretation boards and waymarkers, including the creation of a new circular walking route

Together, these activities will help restore the River Deerness, strengthen local stewardship and ensure the river can be enjoyed for generations to come.

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Bluespaces Project Launch: Lumley Park Burn

Major Restoration Effort Begins on Lumley Park Burn and Riverside

Wear Rivers Trust and Northumbrian Water Launch Lumley Park Burn & Riverside Restoration Project

Wear Rivers Trust announce Bluespaces project to revitalise 8.8 km of bluespace along Lumley Park Burn and the Riverside Peninsula of the River Wear near Chester-Le-Street.

The area currently faces challenges including elevated rates of riverbank erosion, invasive species such as Giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam, and worn footpaths that limit safe access. This transformative project will tackle these issues head-on through upgraded footpaths and drainage, green-engineering techniques to stabilise riverbanks, and targeted invasive species control to protect both biodiversity and public health.

Community involvement will sit at the heart of the initiative, with volunteer-led conservation, water-quality testing, and citizen-science activities helping to build long-term local stewardship.

“We’re excited to work together on meaningful improvements that will make Lumley Park Burn and the Riverside a safer, more resilient and more inspiring place for people and wildlife,” Wear Rivers Trust said. “This project will open up access, restore natural habitats, and support wellbeing for everyone who enjoys this much-loved stretch of the Wear.”

The result will be a healthier river corridor with thriving native species, improved year-round paths, and a strengthened community connection to the landscape, benefits that will be felt for generations.

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