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.