And the good news doesn’t stop there! Such was the support for the local project that is working to bring water voles back to the waterways of Kielder, it has been chosen by Bellingham Co-op as one of its local causes for a second year.

Every year the Co-op Group chooses a new list of local causes to benefit from its Community Fund member scheme and each time a member shops at their local Co-op store throughout the UK, 1% of what they spend on selected own-brand products and service goes to the Local Community Fund.

Members can then go online and select which cause they want their own 1% to go to, with the money raised together with money from carrier bag sales helping local projects.

Better still, this year the Community Fund has upped its donation to Restoring Ratty to 2%, which will enable the project team to work with North Tyne Youth and take local children on a Ratty-themed residential in the spring - something to look forward to post covid.

Speaking about the cash boost from shoppers Kelly Hollings, Restoring Ratty Project Officer said: “What a way to boost morale during the second lockdown - over £2,000 for the project and another year of support from shoppers as well. Brilliant!

“As a Bellingham resident, I’m a great believer in shopping locally and keeping smaller shops in business, now more so than ever. The Bellingham Co-op is a real hub of the community and vital to people living in the area, so come on shoppers, help us to continue bringing Ratty to the Kielder area by visiting www.coop.co.uk/membership and making us your cause next time you do your shopping.

“Watch our brilliant four minute school engagement film on YouTube, featuring some Bellingham children, at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLoJuyc-f4Q and lift your lockdown spirits.”

Bethany Nichol, Co-op Community Fund Pioneer says: “We're delighted to have 'Restoring Ratty' as one of our local causes for a second year.

“This is a choice made by our colleagues, and is a valued movement for its positive environmental impact, and the education it provides to our local schools and youth groups.”

The Restoring Ratty project began in 2016 with a captive water vole breeding programme in Devon and, since June 2017, 1762 water voles have been released into the waterways of Kielder.

In addition, the project has engaged with 1046 children from inner city Newcastle as well as local schools such as Bellingham Middle School and Kielder Primary School. Schools from further afield in Yorkshire and Devon have also got involved with Ratty.

‘Restoring Ratty’ is a five-year partnership project between Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Forestry England and Tyne Rivers Trust.