October 10, 2024

NHSN Welcomes New Urban Naturalist to Lead Wildlife Engagement Initiative

The Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) has announced the appointment of Ellie Davison as the new Urban Naturalist, a role funded by the Reece Foundation, as part of the Ouse Burn Way vision.

Ellie will spearhead efforts to engage the community with the wildlife of Newcastle and North Tyneside, as part of an ambitious project to create a seven-mile urban wildlife corridor from the River Tyne at Ouseburn to Weetslade Country Park.

The Ouse Burn Way, supported by NHSN, is a key part of the Reece Foundation’s vision to revitalise the urban environment and reconnect residents with nature. The corridor will provide long-term benefits, improving water quality, enhancing well-being and supporting local wildlife. The Reece Foundation announce a £1m fund to kickstart the Ouse Burn Way vision to enable partner organisations to leverage the additional funds required to bring this project to fruition.

Ellie has already begun her journey by meeting local volunteers, partners, and supporters. Ellie said “In just the first ten days, I’ve been inspired by the amazing nature and people I’ve encountered. The support from the Reece Foundation and the passion of our volunteers has been overwhelming. I’m eager to explore the wildlife corridor and work closely with the community to help nature thrive in this urban space.”

Anne Reece, Chair of the Reece Foundation, said: “This seven-mile stretch will establish a vital connection between communities and nature. I’m thrilled that the Reece Foundation can help fund the Urban Naturalist role to engage local people in this initiative and support the recovery of nature in our urban environment. We are very proud that the Foundation is backing up our vision with significant funding to support key projects and leverage the additional funding required to advance the Ouse Burn Way project.”

Clare Freeman, Director of NHSN, welcomed Ellie, saying: “There’s a great momentum building with the Ouse Burn Way vision launched earlier this year, collaborations with organisations such as Tyne Rivers Trust and Environment Agency and many others in the Ouse Burn Group.  Plus, we are part of the Newcastle’s Nature Networks led by Urban Green Newcastle, carrying out nature recovery work for species and habitats across the city.  Nature needs a lot of help from local people, and with this investment from funders and collaborations we can achieve more by working together than individually”.