Trees for climate/North East Community Forest
The two-year project (July 2024 to July 2026) is being delivered by a partnership of Durham Wildlife Trust, Sunderland City Council and Wear Rivers Trust and combines restoring habitats and increasing biodiversity on the sites alongside a varied activity programme of volunteering, green social prescribing, engagement and wellbeing activities to improve health and wellbeing of local residents through actively linking with nature.
The project is improving access to greenspaces through the installation of new footpaths & signage and by making the spaces more accessible it enables and encourages more residents to access nature. The engagement and volunteering activities led by the project has helped residents connect with their local greenspaces and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that come spending time in nature.
Progress in the first year (July 24 to July 2025) of the project has included:
- 5,124 metres of footpath improvements
- The planting of 6,146 trees
- 120 metres of new boardwalks
- 3,520 volunteer hours invested by 100 volunteers
- 16 new wetlands created
- Nearly 900 people attending events, walks or nature-based activities
- The addition of 14 gates and stiles, plus a new footbridge
As well as Improving quality of greenspaces within the Coalfield area, this project has inspired the city's Nature Towns and Cities project - Connecting through Nature, which will bring benefit to nature and residents across the city. The Council secured funding from the Lottery and Healthy City Grant in July 2025, to deliver the project over the next three years. The City Council's bid to the Nature Towns and Cities Programme was one of only 19, benefitting 40 towns and cities nationally, to be awarded funding.
