Whittle Dene Appeal

Northumberland Wildlife Trust already owns a stretch of Whittle Dene, north of the A69, near Ovingham. However, the southern part of the Dene has, until now, been privately owned. We have just been given the chance to buy a further 42 acres, half of which includes rare ancient woodland. This is a great opportunity to connect and improve biodiversity on a very special piece of land, safeguarding it for public use. The map below gives a broad view on the land for sale.

Rare and unique

Whittle Dene is designated as a Local Wildlife Site for its ancient woodland, which is a priority habitat nationally and rare in Northumberland. A network of footpaths cross the Dene and it provides a beautiful stretch of broadleaved woodland to explore. In spring, bluebells and wild garlic cover the ground and the site is alive with birdsong. The Whittle Burn meanders through, providing vital resources for wildlife.

We will protect the ancient woodland by removing non-native trees, replanting and encouraging scrub as a buffer habitat around the edges.

Biodiversity gains and community links

The land for sale also includes grassland and farmland, which have potential for restoration to species rich meadow, if managed appropriately. There are also 11 cabins used as 'holiday homes' by the owners, which have historical significance as they date back to the early 1900s and served as getaways for workers from Tyneside's industrial past.  Whittle Dene CIC, a local community group, already operates in the woodland, running training and educational events. This fits with our community-led approach and they are already having great success in connecting the local community with nature.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust also has good links with several other neighbouring landowners, including the Woodland Trust, Newcastle University and Northumbrian Water, which will make working at a landscape scale easier in the future.

Key reasons to donate:

• Connecting Northumberland’s landscapes
• Protecting rare, ancient woodland
• Improving biodiversity
• Helping the local community
• Securing public access

How to support the Whittle Dene Appeal

Most of the funding is in place, but we need to raise just £30,000 more towards the land purchase and management. In the event that the Whittle Dene land purchase does not go ahead, or if we exceed the target, funds will be used to manage Whittle Dene and other important areas of Northumberland managed by Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

Please donate and help secure this land for future generations  

Thank you