Boardwalk is a platform for outdoor education
A new boardwalk at Shotley Grove will provide a platform for schoolchildren to discover the importance of wetland habitats.
The wooden walkway built by Tyne Rivers Trust and its volunteers and funded by the Land of Oak & Iron will be a hub for outdoor education with pond dipping sessions and wetland focused science-lessons delivered by the Trust.
Simone Price, Project Officer at Tyne Rivers Trust, says: “Wetlands are an important habitat for wildlife including newts, dragonflies and wading birds. They are also vital in helping to reduce the effects of climate change as wetlands provide good water storage during times of heavy rainfall.
“The boardwalk will support our River School project which offers outdoor science-based lessons to schoolchildren focusing on the river and the lifecycles of the wildlife it supports.”
Karen Daglish, Partnership Manager at Land of Oak & Iron says: “The boardwalk is a fantastic resource and a lasting legacy of the Land of Oak & Iron project which will benefit local people for years to come. The project has worked to restore the natural heritage of the area and bring to life all it has to offer, and I think this illustrates that perfectly.”
The Trust is now seeking further funding to carry out these lessons. Any businesses interested in supporting the project should get in touch.
The boardwalk is just upstream of Shotley Grove Fish Pass, built by the Trust in 2019 to open-up more than 20km of spawning ground to improve fish populations in the Derwent.
