Durham Wildlife Trust
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Durham Wildlife Trust
@durhamwildlife.bsky.social
1.9K followers 38 following 470 posts
Protecting wildlife and promoting nature conservation in County Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside & Darlington. Please support our work & become a member today: www.durhamwt.com
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Durham Wildlife Trust @durhamwildlife.bsky.social · Nov 19
A warm welcome to all our new followers! We are Durham Wildlife Trust, a nature restoration charity committed to protecting and enhancing the natural environment across County Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, Sunderland, and South Tyneside. Find out more: www.durhamwt.com

Photo: Hannah's Meadow
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
What do you think of when you hear the word “nature”? 🌳🌊🏞️

👉 amazing?
👉 vital?
👉 calming?

Whatever your answer, we want your opinion! Take The Great Big Nature Survey today 👉 wildlifetrusts.org/great-big-nature-survey
A red squirrel holds and nibbles on food with its front paws, set against a blurred purple and green natural background. A purple speech bubble reads, "How important is nature to you?" with photo credit to Peter Cairns/2020VISION.
November 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Unwrap a WILD winter ✨🦌❄️

#12DaysWild is back and we’re challenging you to connect and experience the magic of nature every day from 25 Dec to 5 Jan.

Join us and make this winter wonderfully whimsical 👉 www.durhamwt.com/12-days-wild-2025
November 26, 2025 at 3:54 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Find out why decaying trunks, rotting stumps and fallen trees are all vital to nature’s recovery. 🪵🏠🪲
👉 www.durhamwt.com/blog/thewildlifetrusts/living-dead
November 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
We're making the most of cosy corners and crunchy leaves this autumn, spending time in nature and noticing more. 🍂🍁🍄

Which are your favourite signs of autumn? Tell us in the comments. 👇
Cluster of ripe red hawthorn berries hanging from a branch with green and yellow lobed leaves. A hand holds three horse chestnut seeds (conkers); two are shiny brown, one is partly in a green spiky shell. Fallen leaves and twigs cover the woodland floor in the background, suggesting autumn. A starling with iridescent green and purple plumage, speckled with white, perches on a lichen-covered branch amid dense twigs. An arrow labelled "Starling" points to the bird. Photo credit Hamish Paterson. Tree-lined path in autumn with golden foliage and ground covered in orange and brown leaves; distant clearing visible.
November 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
We all have favourite trees, right? Here are a few of ours, to celebrate #NationalTreeWeek 🌳💚
A large oak tree with wide branches stands in a woodland clearing, surrounded by bluebells under a clear blue sky. A sign identifies it as Bishop's Oak at Baal Hill Wood Nature Reserve, part of Durham Wildlife Trust. Man in red jacket stands beside a pram in front of a large, twisted oak tree with sprawling branches; residential houses and a wooden fence in the background. Leafless oak tree with thick trunk and wide branches, standing alone in dry winter vegetation at Baal Hill Wood Nature Reserve, under a clear sky during golden hour. Silhouetted group of seven trees known as the "Seven Sisters" atop Copt Hill at sunset, with a warm orange sky and low sun casting a glow across the landscape.
November 22, 2025 at 9:15 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Flying into the weekend.
📷Sandra Neely (Rainton Meadows Wildlife Photography Group)
A bird glides over still water with wings spread, its beak touching the surface and reflection mirrored below.
November 21, 2025 at 4:30 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Unwrap a WILD winter! ✨🦌❄️

#12DaysWild is back and sign-up is now open. From 25 December to 5 January, we’re inviting you to discover the magic of nature every day.

From winter walks to watching wildlife, every moment counts. Join in 👉 www.durhamwt.com/12-days-wild-2025
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
❌ The UK Government has rejected Amendment 130 (now 40) & the chalk-stream protection amendment.

This weakens safeguards for water, air and our most vulnerable wildlife.

We won’t stop fighting for nature.

Please email your MP to make your voice heard 👉 action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/180301
November 20, 2025 at 8:53 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
A beautiful barn owl.😍
📷 Sandra Neely
November 19, 2025 at 10:04 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Leaf your thoughts with us 🍂

The Great Big Nature Survey helps The Wildlife Trusts understand how people across the UK view nature and its challenges.

Your answers help shape our work and advocacy for wildlife 👉 www.wildlifetrusts.org/great-big-nature-survey
November 17, 2025 at 1:08 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Will this year be a waxwing winter?
👉 www.durhamwt.com/waxwing-winters

📷 Hamish Paterson
November 15, 2025 at 9:45 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
📣 MPs vote TOMORROW on Amendment 130.

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill could be disastrous for wildlife without key protections. Nature needs your voice! Amendment 130 is a vital fix.

🗳️ MPs must back it & they vote tomorrow.

📨 Please email your MP today 👉 action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/180301
November 12, 2025 at 9:29 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
🐬 Join us at the coast this weekend to help look for cetaceans, such as dolphins and harbour porpoises, and learn about the marine mammals that can be seen locally from our shores!
📅 Sunday 16 November, 10am-12pm
📍 Sunderland
🎫 www.durhamwt.com/events/2025-11-16-cetacean-watch-sunderland
Cetacean Watch Sunderland | Durham
Join us to look for dolphins, porpoises, and other marine mammals.
www.durhamwt.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
💔 Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Many species and habitats can’t bounce back once they’re destroyed. Without #Amendment130, they could vanish forever.

📢 Please tell your MP to keep this Amendment 👇
action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/180301
November 10, 2025 at 12:40 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
The mistle thrush is a large songbird, commonly found in parks, gardens, woodland and scrub. It probably gets its common name from its love of mistletoe.
📷 Hamish Paterson
A speckled thrush perches on a tree branch surrounded by clusters of bright red berries, set against a clear blue sky.
November 9, 2025 at 3:17 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Muddy Wellies, run in collaboration with Active Sunderland and British Triathlon, is designed to get little legs moving by engaging with their local environments 🦋

To find out more or reserve a spot at next week's session, please visit www.durhamwt.com/events/2025-...
November 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
⛅ 🐞🔎🌳Exploring wild places is a great way for little learners to understand our wonderful natural world. Find out more about our school trip packages. 👇
durhamwt.com/adventure-schools
#OutdoorClassroomDay
A group of children and adults walk along a paved path in a grassy, wooded area during a nature outing. Large white swans stand on the path in the foreground, drawing attention from the group. The scene is set in lush greenery, suggesting spring or summer.
November 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
What’s Amendment 130 and why does it matter?
It ensures the new planning system works with nature, not against. It will:
🌳 Protect wildlife - without it, nature & development both lose out.
✅ Provide certainty in planning.

💚 Please stand with nature 👉 action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/180301
November 5, 2025 at 12:15 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Otterly fabulous trail cam footage. 🦦

🎥 David Thompson
November 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
🔔 Nature is at risk, but your voice can help.
The Planning Bill is nearly law.
An amendment passed by the Lords offers vital protection - but it needs MP support to stay in.
📢 Please tell your MP to back Amendment 130 👉 action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/180301
November 3, 2025 at 7:22 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Our most common native goose, the greylag, can be spotted around parks, lakes and river valleys.
📷 Colin Murphy
A goose in mid-flight over calm blue water, wings fully extended and legs trailing behind; leafless branches frame the foreground, suggesting a cold season.
November 2, 2025 at 9:15 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
🏖️🍄 Fungi can be found in the most unexpected places. This montage features dune cavalier and dune brittlestem, all spotted at Crimdon beach during one of our recent beach clean events.
📷 Caitlin Elwin
Collage of five photos showing two mushroom species—Dune brittlestem and Dune cavalier—growing in sandy dunes. Dune brittlestem has a slender stem and textured cap; Dune cavalier has a thicker stem and broad cap with visible gills.
October 30, 2025 at 9:30 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Want to take action for nature but don’t know where to start? 🌿 Our Community Hub is here to help! It’s a space to share guides, knowledge and practical advice on how communities can make a real impact. Learn, connect and take action! Thanks to Heritage Fund UK.
💻 durhamwt.com/community-hub
Screenshot of Durham Wildlife Trust's "Community Hub" webpage, showing a navigation bar and hands carrying metal gardening equipment.
October 29, 2025 at 9:02 AM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in our 2025 Hedgehog Survey!

We have had a wonderful response to the survey so far and it has been lovely to see so many photographs of healthy hedgehogs across our patch 🦔

To take part please visit www.durhamwt.com/hedgehog-sur...
October 28, 2025 at 2:06 PM
durhamwildlife.bsky.social
Some fabulous fungi to start off the week.
📷 Jonathan Phillips
🍄 1/3
Close-up of a mossy forest log with a jelly wood ear fungus attached; the fungus is light brown, ear-shaped, and gelatinous. Leaves rest nearby. Label reads "Jelly wood ear"; Durham Wildlife Trust logo appears in corner. Cluster of Dryad's saddle mushrooms with scaly brown caps growing on a tree trunk, surrounded by leaves and woodland foliage. Two pleated parasol ink cap mushrooms on a woodland floor—one tall with a dark pleated cap and white edge, the other smaller with a rounded cap—surrounded by green foliage and dappled sunlight. Cluster of orange-capped mushrooms with white gills and yellow stems growing on decomposing wood, labelled “Fire shield” in top right corner.
October 27, 2025 at 9:20 AM