Being members of the Trust’s Young People’s Forum means that as well as doing pro-nature campaigns and events, we also get to access the Trust’s reserves around the region to see the hard work of the different staff teams played out in living landscapes. These experiences help deepen our understanding and love of nature. They also show us the diversity of careers involved in supporting our planet and help us to connect with other like-minded young people.

For our most recent trip we were keen to visit two of our most scenic reserves in Northumberland – Hauxley and East Chevington. In the morning, we explored the rockpools of Hauxley beach with the Stronger Shores project officer, learning about the challenges faced by our coastline and what people on the ground- or sand, are actually doing about it.

This was an amazing learning experience as we identified the many different types of seaweed, fish and molluscs, immersing ourselves in the habitat rich with life - one of the highlights of the day! 

As we sat on the warm sand for an al-fresco lunch on the most perfect of summer days we noticed beneath the dunes a dark line of ancient trees with some complete branches and trunks jutting out, the remnants of a vast forest which once covered the landscape long since submerged by a rising North Sea. Hauxley is rich with history as well as wildlife and it was fascinating to learn about how the landscape has evolved over time. After lunch, the group took part in a butterfly survey on the nature reserve, identifying the different species and contributing to long-term recording data. We also met some young members of staff in trainee community and estates roles and were blown away by their knowledge and enthusiasm, and it gave us hope that amazing jobs do exist for those new to the sector and the working world.

At East Chevington, we spent the afternoon learning about the site history and development, bird watching and identifying plant species. Seeing how the landscape was transformed from an opencast coal mine to woodlands and meadows teeming with wildlife was inspirational. It is unrecognisable from the desolate pits of the mine, just one example of how much potential our landscapes have for recovering biodiversity, whilst staying connected to the community around it. This was a very hopeful experience as we got an insight into how with the right commitment our landscapes can be reclaimed for nature.