Industry News

A project to restore coastal grasslands along the Durham Heritage Coast has been successfully completed.

Led by Durham County Council and the Heritage Coast Partnership in collaboration with the National Trust and Durham Wildlife Trust, the £1 million project was funded by the government’s Species Survival Fund.

It has helped restore vital magnesian limestone coastal grasslands from Nose’s Point near Seaham to Blackhall Rocks, supporting distinctive plant communities, insects, birds and other wildlife.

The Durham grasslands are globally unique, being the only place in the world where magnesian limestone is exposed at the coast.

It is one of 20 projects funded nationally to halt species decline by 2030, with community engagement being central to the scheme.

Volunteers, schools and local groups have taken part in almost 100 events, supporting with activities from wildlife surveys and habitat management to educational sessions and large-scale plantings.

Through the use of the iNaturalist app, the project has also recorded more than 900 species observations and introduced the ‘Durham Dozen’ to make identification more accessible for the staff, volunteers and participants.

Cllr Kyle Genner, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and environment, said: “We’re delighted at how successful this project has been. Working alongside our partners, we have taken on significant work to help restore ponds and hedgerows along the route, improve more than 11km of paths to enhance public access, and plant more than 21,000 trees and shrubs at the Tina’s Haven nature reserve in Horden.

“These combined efforts have helped to restore the grasslands, improve roosting for birds and create diverse habitats and better conditions for a range of plants and wildlife. The project has delivered lasting environmental, social and educational benefits, ensuring the long-term protection and resilience of the county’s beautiful coastal grasslands.

“It supports our aim to deliver a practical environmental stewardship in County Durham, committing to improvements through strong partnerships with local groups and residents that help to build pride in our communities.

“I’d also like to say thank you and well done to our heritage coast team for doing a wonderful job and overcoming every challenge to ensure this project was delivered successfully.”

Eric Wilton, general manager at the National Trust – Derwent, Wear and Coast, said: “Coastal grasslands reconnected has been an exceptional project. It has delivered a great deal for both nature and communities, providing habitat corridors to allow key wildlife species to move across the landscape.

“It has also connected communities to the coast and its nature, driving an immense sense of pride and stewardship for the area. The project linked directly with schools and the wider community partners to enable people to help us create Tina’s Haven and it has been a joy to witness the impact nature has played in supporting people through recovery while they support nature recovery.”

Barbara Hooper, head of nature recovery for Durham Wildlife Trust, said: “Magnesian limestone grasslands are home to some rare and interesting species, many of which have declined dramatically over recent decades. Protecting and restoring such habitats is vital to prevent biodiversity loss and the wider implications this has for the natural world.

“We were delighted to be part of the project, helping to connect local people with their nearby greenspaces so they can understand the important role such precious places play in the world around them.”

Find out more about the Heritage Coast Partnership.