With the current dry weather slowing down vegetation growth and reducing the need for subsequent clearance on most of the wildlife charity’s reserves, it meant that volunteers were able to turn their attention to maintenance work at Holywell Pond, which lies to the north of Holywell Village.

Thanks to player support, the wooden bird watching hides and viewing screens could be repaired and repainted before the start of the summer holidays.

Duncan Hoyle, Estates Officer at Northumberland Wildlife Trust said: “Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery allows us to purchase materials to help us undertake tasks on our reserves which benefit wildlife but which also which make a visit to the site much more pleasant for members of the public.”

Holywell Pond is a result of mining substances and is a haven for
over-wintering birds which are attracted by the pond’s proximity to the coast. Breeding species of birds include little grebe, pochard, graylag goose and sedge warbler. Goose numbers grow during the winter when they are joined by wildfowl including widgeon, golden eye and tufted duck. The neutral grasslands of the site support populations of common spotted and northern marsh orchids.