Become part of a community of over 8,000 members who are passionate about making a real difference for wildlife 💚 Join us on exclusive events – from rambles around our nature reserves to talks on gardening for wildlife and plans for future projects.

Come and join us this Saturday as we open the Rainton Meadows bird hide to all visitors from 10am - 2pm 🐦 Learn more about the birds of Rainton Meadows and the work of Durham Wildlife Trust!

Gardens account for approximately 521,872 hectares of land in the UK. Whether you have a large garden or a "yarden", your outside space can provide a vital stepping-stone across the landscape for wildlife🪻

👀 Spot* the tawny 🦉 (*We've offered a little help in some sections!) 😊 📷 David Thompson

🍄 Step into a damp autumn woodland after rain and the ground comes alive. Hidden kingdom: a beginner’s guide to fungi 👉 new blog now online. www.durhamwt.com/blog/thewild...

🍄 Fly agaric. The classic (but poisonous!) fairy tale toadstool, this red and white fungus is often found beneath birch trees in autumn. 📷 Paul Rodgers

Eyes on the prize. 👀 📷 David Thompson

Thank you to everyone who has completed our hedgehog survey already this autumn 🦔 🍂 It has been lovely to see your photographs of hedgehogs in gardens across our region 💚 To take part in our hedgehog survey please visit www.durhamwt.com/hedgehog-sur...

Could you help us to conduct a biodiversity survey this Saturday? 🔍 Join our team of staff and local volunteers as we carry out a rocky shore survey at Hartlepool North Beach! Come along from 11:30 and discover the wonderful wildlife along our North East coast... 🦀🐚 Find out more or book below:

Could you help us to conduct a biodiversity survey this Saturday? 🔍 Join our team of staff and local volunteers as we carry out a rocky shore survey at Hartlepool North Beach! Come along from 11:30 and discover the wonderful wildlife along our North East coast... 🦀🐚 Find out more or book below:

This autumn, we are giving a FREE Concise Guide to mushrooms to all new members of Durham Wildlife Trust! 🍄 Join today and discover the fascinating world of fungi on your doorstep 👀 To become a member or find out more please visit www.durhamwt.com/fungi-freebi...

The Wildlife Trusts’ Meg Dobson shares the joy of foraging – and top tips to make sure you forage safely and ethically. 🧺 www.durhamwt.com/blog/thewild...

Migrant hawker dragonfly, aka the autumn hawker - as perfectly displayed in this photo. 📷 Michael Coates

Don't miss our upcoming supporters' event at Hawthorn Dene this Saturday! 🍂 Join the Trust's Northern Reserves Officer, Michael Andrews, for a guided walk of this fascinating reserve... 🌳🥾 Book your place on this walk for members and volunteers at www.durhamwt.com/events

Can't beat a bit of otter-ly wonderful trail cam footage. 🦦 📷 David Thompson

Discover five simple ways to help hedgehogs this autumn 🍂 If you have already spotted a hedgehog this September, please let us know by taking our quick survey and registering your sighting on our interactive map 🦔🗺️ Find out more at www.durhamwt.com/hedgehog-sur...

A juvenile moorhen posing in the perfect place. 😊 📷 John Stephenson

From city to sea, our wild runners did us proud, raising thousands in the process. 💚 www.durhamwt.com/news/city-sea-our-wild-runners-did-us-proud

Receive your free 10-page guide to gardening for wildlife this autumn and winter 🍂 Find information on what to feed migrating birds, such as the redwing (below) and what to plant in your garden pond 🐦🐸 www.durhamwt.com/autumn-wildl...

We’ve installed fantastic new signage at Hawthorn Dene Nature Reserve. Learn about the history, habitat & discover what you might see.🌳👣 All thanks to funding from Point North Community Foundation through the Great Eppleton Wind Farm operated by RWE and the hard work of our volunteers & staff. 😊

📢 Parents of little ones: don’t miss out on our free, fun, outdoor sessions designed to get pre-schoolers (aged 2-5 years) active in nature. Running weekly, 18th Sept - 23rd Oct at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve. Booking is essential, visit durhamwt.com/events for more details. 👣👦👧

Join Durham Wildlife Trust and the North East Fungi Study Group for a guided fungi foray at Low Barns Nature Reserve (SSSI) 🍄🥾 Book your place or find out more about this event below: www.durhamwt.com/events/2025-...

Leaving a gift in your will is a powerful way to have a lasting impact for years to come. Find out how your legacy could support a future filled with wildlife: durhamwt.com/legacy 💚 #RememberACharityWeek

GOOD LUCK to our team of wild runners, taking part in the Great North Run today! We are hugely thankful for your support and we'll be cheering you all the way from Newcastle to South Shields. 💚 ajbellgreatnorthrun2025.enthuse.com/durhamwildli...

Birds on (and off) a wire. Restless swallows getting ready for winter migration.

Are you planning a walk to one of our nature reserves this autumn? Treat yourself to a FREE Concise Guide to mushrooms when you become a member of Durham Wildlife Trust 🍄 Find out more at www.durhamwt.com/fungi-freebi...

It's just a few days until our wonderful team of wild runners take part in the BEST half marathon in the world. Please give our Great North Runners your support, either with a loud cheer on the day or a donation to their fundraising pages. 💚 ajbellgreatnorthrun2025.enthuse.com/durhamwildli...

Don’t miss out on our series of free, fun, weekly outdoor sessions designed to get pre-schoolers (aged 2-5 years) active in nature. Starting on 18th September and running until 23rd October, at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve. Booking is essential, visit durhamwt.com/events 👣

This #OrganicSeptember, discover simple ways to grow with wildlife in mind! By taking simple steps such as composting, avoiding the use of pesticides and choosing plants for pollinators you can help to support a range of species 💚 Find out how to take action for wildlife at www.durhamwt.com/action

The stonechat can often be seen sitting on the top of gorse bushes, flicking its wings and making a call like two small stones being hit together. 📷 Paul Cleasby

The Willow Emerald spends much of its time in the trees, laying its eggs into the bark of willow or alder 🌳 It can be found near ponds, canals and other still waterbodies that have overhanging trees. This Willow Emerald damselfly was spotted at Joe's Pond Nature Reserve earlier this month 📸

Join Durham Wildlife Trust on a supporter's event this September 🥾🌿 These guided tours are for members and volunteers only and provide an insight into Durham Wildlife Trust nature reserves and the ways in which they are managed for wildlife 💚

Often misunderstood, grass snakes are shy, sun-loving creatures that play a vital role in our ecosystems, especially around wetlands and gardens 🐍 Discover more: www.durhamwt.com/blog/thewild...

A large, brightly coloured moth, the garden tiger is on the wing towards the end of the summer, during July and August. It is a night-flying moth of scrub-covered sand dunes, woodland edges, wet meadows, parks and gardens. 📷Paul Cleasby

Come along to Wildlife Watch at Low Barns Nature Reserve (SSSI) this Sunday 🌿 As summer starts to draw to a close, we are going to be looking at the wetland habitat here and the different species this amazing place supports 🐦 To find out more visit www.durhamwt.com/.../2025-08-....

Join us at Souter this Sunday as we look for cetaceans such as dolphins and harbour porpoises, and learn about the marine mammals that can be seen from our shores! 🐬 Find out more or book your place at www.durhamwt.com/.../2025-08-....

Calocoris roseomaculatus, pictured at Bishop Middleham Quarry Nature Reserve. Stunning. 😍 📷 Peter Swan

From protecting wildflower meadows and creating wetland habitats, to securing a future for water voles in the North East, a legacy can do amazing things for wildlife across the region for years to come. 💚 durhamwt.com/legacy

Join the Links with Nature team at Hetton Lyons County Park this Thursday for a fun-filled day of outdoor and nature-based activities! Find out more at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/links-with...

Thank you to everyone who came along to this Saturday's Swift City Printing Workshop at Low Barns Visitor Centre! 🎨💚 Find out more about this project and how you can help at www.durhamwt.com/appeals/durh... 🪹

The golden-bloomed grey longhorn beetle (pictured here at Bishop Middleham Quarry Nature Reserve) lives up to the name, with incredibly long antennae that are striped black and grey. 📷Peter Swan

🛍️ Our online store has a fantastic range of nature-themed gifts and homewares. And by shopping with us you're directly supporting nature restoration from Tees to Tyne. Thank you. 💚 🛒 durhamwt.com/shop

The small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly gets its name from the row of 'pearls' on the underside of its hindwings. Due to habitat loss it became a rare sight in our patch. 📷 Peter Swan 1/2

Dinner time at the beck. Heron making light work its catch. 📹 David Thompson

Summer strolls through woodlands. 🌳

In partnership with the Coastal Grasslands Reconnected Project, Durham Wildlife Trust volunteers recently attended a butterfly survey training session at Blackhall Rocks Nature Reserve 🦋 Find out more about this project and how to get involved at www.durhamwt.com/durham-herit...

Thank you for making a splash during #NationalMarineWeek! 🌊💙 Your support helps protect our incredible seas and marine wildlife. Keep the momentum going by adding your voice to help stop bottom trawling in English offshore Marine Protected Areas 👉 action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/171084/...

Stunning details showing on this photograph of a beautiful shield bug.🤎 📷 Paul Cleasby

Not all reefs are coral. Some are made of chalk, a rare and important habitat 🪨 Chalk reefs support seaweeds, sponges, and anemones, and provide shelter for species like tompot blennies and lobsters. #NationalMarineWeek

Join this weekend to receive your free Wildlife Trust Concise Guide to coastal birds or seashore wildlife 🦀 Receive your preferred book along with your membership pack and access to exclusive supporter events 🌿🥾 Valid until midnight tomorrow! Find out more at www.durhamwt.com/marine-week-...