From Saturday 14^th February until Sunday 22^nd February, between 10:00am and 3:00pm, there will be the opportunity for outdoor explorers of all ages to find out more about life on Weetslade Country Park, via a free downloadable self-guided trail.

The trail, made possible thanks to support from The Land Trust, includes ten stopping points detailing intriguing and fascinating facts about the site, which, at this time of year, is alive with the song of dozens of skylarks and the resident birds will be fluttering around in search of a mate.

The former colliery site, now a nature reserve, has been extensively landscaped over the years by Northumberland Wildlife Trust on behalf the Land Trust. 

The Park lies on a strategic wildlife corridor between Wideopen and Dudley and is a wonderful wildlife haven with habitats including wildflower meadows, grassland, scrub, reed bed, and woodland areas attracting a variety of wildlife including grey partridges, otters, and kingfishers. 

The Seaton Burn runs close by and the Weetslade reed beds, are home to common blue damselflies, dragonflies, and birds such as reed buntings. The reed beds also provide important winter roost sites for pied wagtails. Small pockets of willow carr have been planted around the edges providing a habitat for great crested newts and Daubenton’s bats.

From the hilltop, with a prominent drill head sculpture reminiscent of the site’s mining past, it is possible to view the North Sea, the Cheviots and Newcastle City Centre. 

Trails can be downloaded at www.nwt.org.uk/events