The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust has received a confirmed grant of £425,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) today for the Tees Valley Wild Green Places Project.

The five-year project aims to increase appreciation and understanding of the wildlife of public open spaces in the Tees Valley and increase the skills of local people to record and care for this wildlife. The new Wild Green Places project will work with twenty local community wildlife groups across the Tees Valley to carry out nature conservation projects that will create and restore habitats for wildlife on public green places across the Tees Valley.

There will also be a wealth of opportunities to engage local people of all ages to enjoy learn and care for their local wildlife through programmes of walks, family fun days, wildlife surveys, and conservation events. Training programmes will provide volunteers with skills in wildlife recording and caring for wildlife. In addition young people will gain work based countryside and creative skills through accredited training, student placements and a Wildlife Trust Trainee programme. This will be delivered in partnership with Cleveland College of Art and Design and Askam Bryan College.

Jeremy Garside, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive support for this project. With the help of local communities we are going to create and manage sites for wildlife right across the Tees Valley; green places that are going to be accessible and provide new opportunities for everyone.”

Ivor Crowther, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North East, said: “A mosaic of habitats and a wide variety of green spaces – from country parks to allotments – form Tees Valley’s natural heritage and we’re pleased to support the wildlife trust as it restores and protects it for future generations to enjoy. This is an engaging project which will actively involve the local community, especially young people, as they gain the skills and enthusiasm – vital for the future custodians of our natural heritage.”

Notes to editors

About the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is part of the influential UK-wide partnership of 47 wildlife trusts. The trust has worked for more than 30 years to protect wildlife and wild places, and educate, influence and empower people. They manage 14 nature reserves and help others to manage their countryside sites. Their work is helping to secure the future of many important habitats and species, which might otherwise be lost. Further information about the trust can be obtained at the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust website.

Further information

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust: Susan Antrobus on 01287 636 382, email: santrobus@teeswildlife.org.