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Home , Portrack, River Tees, Tees Barrage

The Tees Corridor

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

The work WILDLIFE of the Tees Corridor Projects VOLUNTEERING

Protecting Wildlife for the Future What is the Welcome Tees Corridor?

Welcome to ‘Inside The Tees The origins of the are found at in the North , Corridor’, this magazine shows the 760m above sea level. The river flows 160km through the Tees Valley work of the Tees Corridor Natural before meeting the , and collects water from a drainage basin of Regeneration Projects managed by 1930 square kilometres. the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. With the help of partner organisations, The towns of Stockton-on-Tees and developed as busy the projects aimed to bring ports and a producer of iron and steel that was exported across the world. improvements to the Tees Corridor Heavy industries once dominated the area, but over time have all but for its wildlife and people. disappeared.

A19

Norton Lustrum Beck Grange A66

Primrose Hill & Newport Tilery A19

Stockton Portrack Marsh

Maze Park

Whinney Natural Regeneration Banks The Tees Corridor Natural Regeneration A66 Projects showed that creating a thriving natural environment can play a very Middlesbrough powerful part in the restoration of the economic and social life of a blighted area. Land along the Tees between Stockton A66 Bowesfield Thornaby and Middlesbrough probably suffered most from the negative effects of past industry and its subsequent decline. Acres of The Tees Corridor Projects focused on the section of the River Tees from despoiled ground, rubble and litter lent the Bowesfield (Stockton-on-Tees) to the Transporter Bridge (Middlesbrough). The place a heavy air. At one stage even the river image of has completely changed greatly over the years. With the was dead; a fish trawl in the early 1980’s decline of heavy industries, much of the land has been redeveloped for new between the Newport and Transporter businesses, public recreation and leisure. Throughout the Tees Corridor wildlife Bridges found that a single, diseased has returned and now thrives, with the core of the corridor now being actively flounder was its only inhabitant. The Tees Corridor Natural Regeneration managed to benefit wildlife. Projects channelled the enthusiasm of local communities and businesses to dig ponds, plant trees and sow wildflowers, and they had to go on to construct paths, boardwalks and viewpoints, because people wanted to come and enjoy the results. It might have been hard to market the revitalised Tees Corridor, to persuade people, especially from outside the region, that the area’s fortunes had turned. But once again nature intervened; there can be no more convincing a sign of the Corridor’s recovery than the appearance of seals and otter on this stretch of the river. Jeremy Garside Chief Executive

Protecting Wildlife for the Future History of Short timescale of the The Tees Corridor Tees Corridor

A very brief overview of some of the main events that created the SETTING THE STONES Tees Corridor Geological formation of the River Tees ■ Estuary deposits began after The underlying geology of the Tees 10,000 years ago we were in the grip of the last glaciation, 10,000 years Corridor is split between solid rock and an ice age, massive glaciers travelling ago a thin covering of clays, mud and silt. from the Lake District and the Cheviots ■ The solid rock dates back to the Triassic cut their way down the Tees Valley. As 1810 & 1830 - Mandale and period approximately 220 million years these glaciers travelled they scraped Portrack cuts to straighten the ago. During this period the climate was against the exposed bedrock and eroded River Tees extremely hot and dry, similar in climatic away all of the Jurassic rock where the ■ 1825 - conditions to modern day Tunisia. The River Tees flows today. As the climate area was close to a shallow sea. Flash warmed the glaciers started to melt and Stockton to Railway floods washed eroded sediments down massive amounts of boulders, sand, line onto the flat coastal plain and these mud and more importantly clay were ■ 1850's - 1920's - iron & steel were deposited as sandstones and released from the melting ice. industry mudstones. Moving forward 20 million The glaciers retreated up the valley ■ years into the Jurassic period the sea back to the Lake District. As they melted 1926 - ICI founded at level rose; covering the sandstones and raging torrents of melt-water gushed out , movement of heavy mudstones with a massive tropical into the icy sea. Eventually the ice had industry ocean. So began the time of the completely melted and the flow reduced ■ 1934 - Newport Bridge opened dinosaurs. to a steady one, dependant on rainwater Eventually the Triassic sandstones and rather than the melting ice. This ■ 1975 - A19 flyover opened mudstones were buried under 100s of developed into the River Tees we see ■ 1976 - 1998 - Portrack metres of Jurassic rock. They have today, it being only approximately 8,000 Incinerator become exposed today due to the years old. tremendous eroding ability of ice. Only ■ 1987 - Margaret Thatcher's 'walk in the wilderness' CHANGES IN THE RIVER ■ 1995 - finished ■ 2001 - Tees Corridor The natural meanders of the River Tees was noted for its catches of salmon, sea Environmental Strategy were a great drawback for the port of trout, flounder, and eels; but by 1937 Stockton in the 18th Century. In 1791 a salmon had been eliminated from the proposal was made to construct a "cut" river as a result of pollution discharged across the meander of the river at by the industries on Teesside into the Mandale near Stockton. The first cut (or river. Mandale Cut) was completed on the By 1970 the River Tees was 18th September 1810, the 220 yard cut considered the most polluted estuary in 1 a distance of 2 /2 miles. the with over 500 In 1830, the second cut (or Portrack tonnes of waste being discharged into Cut) was completed, covering 1,100 the river each day. The volume of waste yards cutting across the meander at being discharged into the river resulted Portrack, stretching from Blue House in a rise in the river water temperature Point to Newport. and a decrease in the dissolved oxygen Barges could now sail quicker up the in the water. These changes in water Tees and into Stockton, saving a weeks conditions led to a decline in the worth of time and costs, thanks to the wildlife that could survive along the two cuts. river. The former line of the Old River Tees In 1972, plans were drawn up to A little bit more.... can still be traced in the Tees Corridor begin to tackle the pollution problem The name Portrack comes from the today, with a section of the old river faced by the River Tees. With the process by which barges used to (still under tidal influences) flowing past gradual decline in heavy industries and navigate the meanders in the River Maze Park and up around Teesside the tightening of discharge permits into Tees prior to the "cuts" being Park. the river the pollution content of the finished. They were lead around the Human activities have not just river began to decline. bends by a horse or men fastened to affected the physical appearance of the the front of the barges. This process River Tees. Prior to 1926 the River Tees was known as racking.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future A brief project Tees Corridor Natural history Regeneration Project

Project Officer: Jonathan Pounder

This 3 year project had 4 main focus areas:

■ Wildlife Conserving the wildlife and habitats of the Tees Corridor through managing Tees Valley Wildlife Trust nature reserves and other wildlife sites. Promoting opportunities to see the wildlife of the area, and educating the public about what they could see. Performing relevant survey work. Working with volunteer groups to carry out survey work, linking into the Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan.

In 2000 Middlesbrough & ■ Community Working with community groups in Stockton Councils commissioned the Tees Corridor to bring benefits to their local areas. Work included attending the consultant Casella to produce residents meetings, offering advice and project guidance and assisting groups in the Tees Corridor Environmental implementing projects. Strategy, which looked at ways key sites in the Tees Corridor ■ Education Working with a range of educational establishments at all levels to could be developed in the future. bring environmental topics into learning. Conservation is also a good link into citizenship studies, and this has been developed into bringing groups out of the In 2001 the Tees Valley Wildlife classroom environment to carry out small practical projects. Trust, funded by the Countryside Agency and Heritage Lottery Fund, A programme of public events and guided walks was also organised covering a carried out the Tees Corridor great range of subject areas and interests. Natural Links Project, a 6-month pilot project to engage local ■ Volunteering Working to provide opportunities for the people of the Tees communities close to the River Valley to carry out practical conservation tasks to assist with the work of the Tees Tees in environmental topics. Valley Wildlife Trust, and make a difference to their local areas. One of the major successes of the project was to establish the Wednesday Wild-bunch Volunteer Following the success of the pilot Group to carry out tasks on sites within the Tees Corridor. projects, the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust secured funding from: ■ Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, Tees Corridor ■ Tees Valley Partnership, through One North East; Wardens ■ the Big Lottery Fund An active presence along the ■ the Social, Economic and riverside, Tees Corridor Warden, Environmental Development John Amos, carried out survey (SEED) Programme work and small practical to run two projects: the Tees improvement work in the Tees Corridor Wardens and Tees Corridor. Accompanying him Corridor Natural Regeneration were the Tees Corridor Assistants, a series of a 6- month paid training placements for local people to gain work experience and qualifications Warden: John Amos leading towards employment in the field of conservation. During the project 5 assistants worked with the Tees Corridor Warden with each assistant successfully moving into paid employment after completing their placements.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Bridges in The Tees Corridor

The bridges that cross the River Tees bridge was raised and lowered for the are each impressive structures in their last time on the 18th November 1990 own right, but together make the Tees when it was fixed into position, as large Corridor special. ships no longer travelled so far Transporter Bridge (Top right) upstream on the Tees. A bill from Parliament was passed in 1906 for the construction of the Transporter Bridge, at a cost of £68,026. The bridge was designed and constructed by the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company of Darlington, and was opened on the 17th Tees Barrage October 1911 by Prince Arthur of Work started on the Tees Barrage on Connaught. the 4th November 1991. This was the Forming an impressive entrance into brainchild of the Teesside Development Middlesbrough, the bridge was the idea Corporation. Completed on the 22nd of Alderman McLaughlin, and allowed April 1995 the Barrage represented the passage over the river without single largest engineering project in restricting movement of ships up the Billingham Branch Bridge Britain, at that time; and cost River Tees. The cradle of the Transporter At the same time as Newport Bridge £50,000,000. Since April 2000 the Tees Bridge links to the was being built, a second bridge was Barrage has been managed by British southern shores of the River Tees. needed to carry the Newport Waterways. Approach Road across the railway The Tees Barrage acts as a physical between Billingham Beck and Portrack. barrier to the tidal movements of the The Billingham Branch Bridge was the River Tees. Upstream of the barrage a UK's first all-welded steel bridge. 22km stretch of clean freshwater from Although the railway line has now Worsall (near ) to Stockton has disappeared, the 5 spans of the been created, which is held at a Billingham Branch Bridge allows constant controlled level, opening up walkers to safely cross under the A1032 opportunities for waterborne recreation and continue up towards Billingham such as canoeing and white water Beck and Newport Paths. rafting. Downstream the river still undergoes its tidal rhythm, but the saltwater does Newport Bridge not travel any further up the river. Construction of Newport Bridge began Water conditions have also improved in 1931 after 10 years of discussions. leading to the return of salmon (and The bridge was opened on the 28 many other fish) to the river. The Tees February 1934 by the Duke and Barrage also possesses its own fish Duchess of , a short 19 months ladder to allow fish to pass over the after its start date and at a cost of barrage and continue on their journey. £436,913. Newport Bridge was built to The fish also attract predators to the improve links between Stockton and barrage including a family of seals, Middlesbrough, and was constructed kingfisher, otter, and even harbour by Dorman Long, the same company Tees Flyover porpoise. that made the Tyne and Sydney The Tees Viaduct or 'flyover' opened in Technical Information Harbour Bridges. November 1975 to carry the A19 over ■ Bridge Length: 70m Newport Bridge was Britain’s first the River Tees between ■ Road Bridge Length: 160m vertical lift bridge. The design of the Middlesbrough and Stockton, forming ■ 4 fishbelly gates (8m high x 13.Sm bridge allowed the central span to be the main transport route through wide), each with a 21 tonne raised up 90 feet, giving a clearance of Teesside. hydraulic ram 120 feet to allow the passage of ships ■ 4 monitoring stations along the river, further upstream. Spanning 250 feet constantly monitoring water levels across the River Tees and towering 170 allowing levels to be maintained feet into the Teesside skyline, the ■ Maintains a water height difference bridge took only seven minutes to lift of 2.65m between each side of the and lower the 2,700-ton span. barrage The mechanical lifting structure of the

Protecting Wildlife for the Future In The Tees Corridor Gravel Hole Norton Bi Once a former sand and Gravel Hole gravel pit, the past history of the site has now meant it is a haven for wildflower species such as Common Spotted Orchid, Yellow Rattle Roseworth and Ox Eye Daisy that thrive in the nutrient poor soil. The TVWT actively manages the Billingham grasslands to keep the soil nutrients to a minimum, and so ensure the survival of the plant Beck Valley species. In turn the wildflower grassland A19 supports 10 different types of butterfly and a variety of other insects, a host of birds (such as Whitethroat, Yellowhammers, and Fieldfare) and mammals (such as Bank Vole and Fox). Hardwick Norton Lustrum B Bowesfield Grange Primrose Hill A Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Portrack & Nature Reserve, Tilery Bowesfield sits on 3 bends in the River Tees. Containing large wetland areas, Bowesfield supports Stockton thousands of birds over the winter months, whilst Roe Deer graze in the grassland, Harvest Mice make their nests and Otters swim along the river.

A6 Billingham Beck Valley

Bowesfield Thornaby With its colourful meadows, ponds, marsh and A66 woodland, Billingham Beck Valley Country Park is one of Stockton Borough Council’s most interesting areas of countryside. This wetland Bowesfield provides a home for plants and animals, which are beginning to disappear from our countryside, as wetlands are being drained. Designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1992, this valuable pocket of countryside has been preserved as a haven for wildlife. ■ Transporter Bridge ■ Tees Barrage Cradle bridge across the Tees Headquarters of British Waterways An urban greenspace in West Middlesbrough, Whinney Banks ■ Newport Bridge ■ Portrack Marsh Greenspace is an 8 hectare site sandwiched between The first vertical lift bridge in Britain TVWT wetland nature reserve the Whinney Banks housing estate and the A19. Over recent years the area has ■ ■ been transformed from an Billingham Branch Bridge Maze Park area of amenity grassland The first all-welded bridge in Britain TVWT grassland nature reserve to a community greenspace for local people, recreation and wildlife. The site is ■ ■ home to species such as Tees Flyover Portrack Meadows grey partridge, and water Main transport route across the Tees Rising from the ashes of industry vole. Saltholme TNR Teessaurus Park Billingham Clarences Farm Opened in 1982, Teessaurus Teessaurus Park sits in the heart of Middlehaven, backing onto the Portrack - Park River Tees. Built on a former Billingham slagheap, the site is home to St Hilda's large dinosaur sculptures built by engineering apprentices. Sculptures include Triceratops, Mammoth and Tyrannosaurus Rex, and will catch the imagination of any visiting children.

Beck A66 Portrack - Billingham

A footpath link that has been Newport North created between the Portrack A19 Riverside, Billingham Beck Valley and Gravel Hole Nature Portrack Marsh Reserve. This footpath link runs parallel to the A19 taking in the reedbeds and wetlands of the area, allowing visitor to Maze Park experience both areas.

WhinneyWhinney BanksBanks A66 Middlesbrough Clarences Farm Situated in the Clarence’s, the community farm offers the opportunity for people to discover the sights, sounds and smells of the countryside. The Clarence’s farm has all the animals you would expect to find on a farm including cows, sheep, goats, chickens, geese and small animals. This allows A19 visitors to get close to farm animals they might only see in books or on television.

■ Newport Paths ■ Tees View Point Saltholme TINR A circular link by Billingham Beck Great views of the River Tees A new Nature Reserve under development by the RSPB and ■ Roscoe Road, Billingham ■ Charlton’s Pond Teesside Environment Trust. Situated in the area behind Port Community greenspace project Wildlife haven in Billingham Clarence, the site is internationally important for migrating birds. Work has already started to create ■ ■ large areas of reedbed and Hardwick Dene South West Ironmasters wetland, 12,000 trees have been Natural habitats in an urban setting Evidence of industrial heritage planted on the site. Future plans include creating a visitor’s centre and further landscape improve- ■ ■ ments that will attract species Dorman’s Pool Tilery Park such as Marsh Harrier, Avocet and Bird watchers paradise in Teesside A community greenspace Bittern into the Tees Valley

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Portrack Meadows Newport - from the ashes... Paths

The Portrack Municipal heart of Stockton-on-Tees. A circular link path around Newport Tip, Incinerator opened in As a result it carries a lot Newport Paths is a fabulous addition to 1975 and burnt domestic of sediment which is the Tees Corridor. The surfaced waste from the four local deposited in the area footpath winds its way through the tree authorities: around the tidal defence screen of the site, close to the mouth of Middlesbrough, Stockton, barrier and in Lustrum Billingham Beck. Five viewing points & Cleveland and Beck pond. This gradual allow visitors to get close to the wildlife . Around silting will lead to the that follows the tidal movements of the 200,000 tonnes of waste ultimate loss of the water, including a family was burnt per annum wetland area. of seals that hauls out and generated electricity. As part of the regularly on the Situated between the development work the beck mouth after Newport Approach Road whole area was dredged feeding at the Tees and the Tees Flyover the to remove the silt build Barrage. towers of the incinerator were visible up. In specific areas phragmites reeds across Teesside. were planted, but the rest of the Closed in November 1996 after it vegetation was allowed to re-colonise failed to meet new emission naturally. regulations, the site was subsequently Tree Management demolished and cleared. Between 1998 Trees were originally planted on the and 2000, the northern area of the site site to screen the incinerator building was the temporary home for the from the roads, but after their planting Stockton civic amenity site, which received little or no management. As closed in December 2001. part of the site development work the With the closure of the civic amenity trees were extensively thinned and site and a new 'Energy from Waste' pollarded to create a more natural plant opening in Haverton Hill, a woodland and promote the Billingham Beck partnership between Stockton Borough development of ground flora. ay line Council and the Tees Valley Wildlife Across the site further tree Trust began to transform the site into blocks and hedgerows ineral railw an area for recreation and wildlife for have been planted by isused m the people of Stockton and volunteers and local D Middlesbrough to enjoy. school children from The site represents an important link Stockton. Over 100 bird A1032 to the Tees Corridor creating a green boxes have been wedge along both sides of the River constructed and Tees that is open to the public but erected across the site. A 10 managed to benefit the wildlife of the Footpath 32 NE WP OR area. Construction T A PPR OA Wildflower Meadow A circular footpath has CH RO In the centre of the site the concrete been created to allow AD footings of the incinerator building visitors to safely access remains. The footings have been the site. A boardwalk has covered, landscaped and sown as a also been built to allow A 1 wildflower meadow, not just making it people to cross the 9 attractive but creating an area where damper areas. All of the T butterflies (such as the Grayling and footpaths on the site link E E Dingy Skipper) and other insects can into the Tees Corridor. S feed. Interpretation & F Wetland Management Signposting L Y Lustrum Beck Ponds is a small wetland To guide visitors around O V area sandwiched between the A19, the site a series of signposts E Lustrum Beck, and Portrack Meadows. and interpretation panels R

The wetland area acts as an overflow have been erected showing River Tees for the Lustrum Beck Tidal Defence directions and links to other system, and as a result the area is sites, and information on some flooded on a regular basis. of the history and wildlife found in LUSTRUM BECK Lustrum Beck flows through the the area. POND

Protecting Wildlife for the Future TVWT Nature Reserves on the River Tees

Marston Road Portrack Marsh Viewing Platform Information Panel Steps Former Portrack Railway Line Much of the original marshland was destroyed Scrape Scrub when the River Tees was straightened in the Reedbed 1800’s, and Portrack Marsh as it stands today P Parking Mallard Water was created. Portrack Marsh is the largest Seating Boardwalk remaining wetland area on the lower River Tees. The West Teal Talpore P Heron's Water Managed by the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and Haunt Lake Treatment Compound Northumbrian Water the large bodies of open Darter water, surrounding reedbed and wet grasslands Ponds Bird Willow provide the ideal habitat for animals such as Tees Barrage Island Pond White Water Dipping herons and harvest mice. These also act as an Course Platform

Ship important resting point for migrating birds. Turning Circle TVWT volunteers have worked tirelessly to open River Tees up and improve the area for visitors. Footpaths and boardwalks have been created along the outer edge of the site to allow visitors to look at the area from every angle, whilst the centre of the site remains undisturbed. The site has a bird hide, interpretation panels, seating and a dipping platform for visiting educational groups. Work on the habitats for wildlife has included creating large areas of reedbed and scrub, a gravel beach, featured ditches and scrapes. Rough grassland has been managed to maximise its potential for the wildlife of the area.

Thornaby Marshalling Maze Park Yards Situated on the southern banks of the River Tees, the three large mounds A66 make Maze Park highly visible. The mounds were created from spoil from the

Teesdale Development on the corner of the TO STOCKTON Marshalling Yards. Since 1998 the TVWT have River Tees managed the site as a grassland nature reserve that aims to bring people and wildlife together. Each of the 3 mounds has Viewing Point Interpretation Cycleway & its own vegetation community representing their different soil Footpath Tees Scrub Barrage Mound properties, which in turn supports a myriad of wildlife species Way marked/ Whitewater Course New tree planting proposed footpath New wildflower Industrial Marsh/occasional including the Grayling butterfly, fox, sand martins, goldfinch Footpath meadow wildflower grassland pools and skylark. Viewing points allow visitors to look onto the River Tees, with butterfly sculptures providing opportunities for cyclists to their bikes up and explore the site before carrying on their journey along the Route One National Cycle Way. An artistic viewing station at the top of the largest of the 3 mounds offers a spectacular view across the Tees Valley and beyond.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Tees Corridor Bites

During the Tees Corridor Natural Regeneration Project there were: Hallgarth Citizenship ■ 144 structured events (including organised events, guided walks and volunteer sessions ■ 46 days working with educational groups ■ 240 practical days ■ 3300 people involved in the project ■ 7850 involvement hours

The following are some of the highlights of the activities during the course of the projects: PANDA 2004 Caterpillars & Butterflies

As part of their Citizenship Week, children from Hallgarth School got involved with practical work in the Tees Corridor, including constructing a riverside footpath and cleaning up their memorial garden.

Portrack Marsh Reedbed The People And Nature Development Visitors to the Tees Corridor may have To improve the reedbed areas on Awards (PANDAs) were a celebration of noticed the start of an invasion of giant Portrack Marsh, volunteers from TVWT community environmental projects in metal insects in the area with the planted a new phragmites reedbed at the Tees Valley. Sponsored in 2004 by creation of the caterpillar barrier on the the northern edge of West Water. npower, the awards aimed to showcase Portrack railway line, and the butterfly examples of what has been done by cycle racks on Maze Park. Designed by Seals and Otters groups in the Tees Valley in order to local artist Andrew McKeown, with the Discovering seals hauling themselves stimulate further work by likeminded help of local school children, the out at Newport Paths during the groups. The awards were presented by features were installed by Trust creation of the link footpath, and the the Mayor of Stockton at an evening volunteers. confirmation of otter activity in the ceremony held at Old Hall. centre of Stockton has shown how Macmillan College Tree much the quality of the River Tees has Tree Planting on Saltholme Planting improved. Children from Macmillan College have Roscoe Road Clean Up been involved in a project to improve their college grounds. In February 2004, as part of their citizenship studies children from years 7, 8 and 9 spent an hour planting trees and a hedgerow around the perimeter of the school. The work was carried out in partnership with the REACT project.

Traditional Woodland During the winter of 2003/ 04 over Management 12,000 trees were planted across As part of the tree work on Portrack Saltholme Nature Reserve by TVWT Meadows some felled trees were Working with Tees Valley Housing and volunteer groups, NACRO removed in the traditional manner local residents to develop a small area Middlesbrough, and employee using a horse. Children from Oak Tree of land off Roscoe Road in Billingham. volunteer work groups. Children from Primary School were able to watch a Local people helped with a clean up the nearby High Clarence Primary horse called Foster work as they day as part of Make a Difference Day School also came out to get involved planted trees in another area of the site. 2004. with the work, taking a morning out of their lessons to brave the winter chills and help with the planting.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Volunteers make a difference to the Tees Corridor!

Volunteers are vitally important to the Weekend Wild-bunch project work of the Tees Valley Wildlife To provide more opportunities for Educational/ Trust, and the Tees Corridor Natural those that like to get involved the Regeneration Project is no exception. Weekend Wild-bunch meets every 1st Training Group Volunteers have been involved in every & 3rd Saturday of the month carrying aspect of the project with work out a daylong activity. This volunteer Volunteering including: group is instrumental to facilitating the large-scale conservation projects of the School groups have been actively Tuesday Volunteer Group Tees Corridor Natural Regeneration involved in as part of the Tees People from across the Tees Valley Project. Corridor Projects, with many school meet each Tuesday to carry out work groups not only visiting the sites, on the Trusts Nature Reserves. Each Employee Volunteering but helping to carry out small reserve needs its own particular Major companies from the Tees Valley practical improvements as part of management and this is the group of (including n power, Environment their visits. dedicated volunteers who carry out the Agency, Barclays, Inland Revenue and work. Caterpillar Stockton) have encouraged groups of their workers to get involved Abbey Hill School Groups from with the work of the Tees Corridor Abbey Hill School came out to Projects. Tasks organised provide a improve an area of the former great day out for the work force and Portrack Railway line. Their work promote team working, included both the design and communication skills and personal implementation of work to improve satisfaction. Skills and experience are access and safety for people visiting then being taken back to the work the area. place. npower have shown great support for Hallgarth School As part of their the work in the Tees Corridor, with their Citizenship studies, children from groups carrying out: Hallgarth School have been involved Wild-bunch ■ Planting 800 trees on the Saltholme in implementing conservation The Wild-bunch was established Nature Reserve projects for a variety of agencies in primarily to allow local students to get ■ Constructing 100 metres of surfaced the Tees Corridor. In 2003 their work involved during their weekly activities footpath on Portrack Marsh included creating an access path off ■ sessions. The short regular session has Planting over 500 wildflower plants Newport Bridge into Portrack proved very popular for many and erecting signposts on Portrack Meadows. In 2004 the children individuals, and groups regularly Meadows worked for an entire week to clean attend. ■ Constructing steps at Brewsdale up their schools memorial garden. The Wild-bunch carry out small tasks Nature Reserve on sites across the Tees Corridor, Shape Training Groups from working not just on Tees Valley Wildlife Hartlepool Environmental Shape Training are involved in a Trust Nature Reserves, but also Action Team programme to engage their community project sites, local authority HEAT have become involved in work in construction work groups in sites, and community sites in both the Tees Corridor in order to gain some practical conservation work. This Stockton and Middlesbrough. The skills and experience to help them in strong volunteer base and hard work their projects in Hartlepool. enables them to put the skills they of the Wild-bunch has also brought are learning into practical use. benefits to other projects across the Asylum volunteers activities Tees Valley. The “Including You” project allowed Stockton Youth Services Young asylum seekers and refugees based in people from Stockton have been Middlesbrough to get involved in helping to improve their local areas environmental volunteering activities and learn skills to prepare them for across the Tees Corridor. future work.

Young Offenders Young people A big thank you to all of the volunteers who have given their time to having served their reparation help the work of the Tees Corridor Natural Regeneration Project! orders by clearing and improving areas in the Tees Corridor. If you are interested in finding out about volunteering please contact Bill Ashton Wickett at the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust on 01642 759900.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Documenting the work of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and its partnership TEES VALLEY organisations in the Tees Valley

TEES VALLEY

BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Supported by Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Bellamy Pavilion, Kirkleatham Old Hall, Kirkleatham, Redcar, TS10 5NW Telephone: 01642 759900 Fax: 01642 480401 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/teesvalley Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is a registered charity. No. 511068

Protecting Wildlife for the Future