Durham Wildlife Trust
Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, Chilton Moor, Houghton le Spring, DH4 6PU
01915843112

For 50 years, Durham Wildlife Trust has been the leading nature conservation organisation dedicated to our local area. By working together with our members, volunteers and local partners, we are committed to protecting and conserving wildlife from Tees to Tyne. Our mission is to restore green places so wildlife can thrive. Vital to this is ensuring local people feel more connected to nature and can experience wildlife in their every day life. We are working to achieve this from the Tees to the Tyne, spanning County Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Darlington, and the adjacent coastal waters.
A big part of our work is managing our nature reserves from the rural landscapes of upper Teesdale to the urban heart of Sunderland and Gateshead. This involves conserving and restoring some of the UK’s most significant habitats. Through the delivery of wildlife projects to dedicated to particular species, like water vole, and the habitats that they rely on, Durham Wildlife Trust is working to our team is working to enhance the abundance and diversity of wildlife. We aim to encourage active participation and engagement from local communities by offering opportunities for participation, education, and enjoyment. This engagement not only fosters a connection with nature but also promotes health and wellbeing. Links with Nature is a project based in the Coalfields that brings everything together in one project. By integrating these efforts, we aim to create a thriving natural environment that supports both wildlife and the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Links with Nature is just part of what we do to find out more please have a look at our website.
Explore our offer
Help Out at Hetton Park (Links with Nature)Help out at Hetton Park with Links with Nature who will be running monthly litter picks around Hetton Park on… more about 'Help Out at Hetton Park (Links with Nature)'Hetton Park (Entrance next to the Hetton Centre), The Hetton Centre, Welfare Road, Hetton-le-Hole, DH5 9NEEvery 4th Sunday of the month, 10am to 2pmFreeSave Help Out at Hetton Park (Links with Nature) (Hetton Park (Entrance next to the Hetton Centre)) to favourites
Links with Nature Volunteering DaysLinks with Nature is an exciting project working across 12 greenspaces in the Coalfields including Copt Hill, Elemore Park, Elemore… more about 'Links with Nature Volunteering Days'Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10:00-14:00FreeSave Links with Nature Volunteering Days to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – Wild PaintingBring your little ones along to join us for a series of free, fun, weekly outdoor walks and activities in… more about 'Muddy Wellies – Wild Painting'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH5th February 2027, 10.00am to 12.00pmFreeSave Muddy Wellies – Wild Painting (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – Find The FootprintsMuddy Wellies is supported by Public Health Sunderland to get young children outdoors to improve their health and wellbeing, develop… more about 'Muddy Wellies – Find The Footprints'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH8th January 2027, 10.00am to 12.00pmFreeSave Muddy Wellies – Find The Footprints (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – Hello Hedgehogs!Bring your little ones along to join us for a series of free, fun, weekly outdoor walks and activities in… more about 'Muddy Wellies – Hello Hedgehogs!'Elemore Park, Elemore Lane, Easington Lane, DH5 0QS12th November 2026, 9.30am to 11.30amFreeSave Muddy Wellies – Hello Hedgehogs! (Elemore Park) to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – I Spy a Bird in the SkyBring your little ones along to join us for a series of free, fun, weekly outdoor walks and activities in… more about 'Muddy Wellies – I Spy a Bird in the Sky'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH29th January 2027, 10.00am to 12.00pmFreeSave Muddy Wellies – I Spy a Bird in the Sky (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – Meet a TreeBring your little ones along to join us for a series of free, fun, weekly outdoor walks and activities in… more about 'Muddy Wellies – Meet a Tree'Elemore Park, Elemore Lane, Easington Lane, DH5 0QS5th November 2026, 9.30am to 11.30amFreeSave Muddy Wellies – Meet a Tree (Elemore Park) to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – Ready for WinterBring your little ones along to join us for a series of free, fun, weekly outdoor walks and activities in… more about 'Muddy Wellies – Ready for Winter'Elemore Park, Elemore Lane, Easington Lane, DH5 0QS19th November 2026, 9.30am to 11.30amFreeSave Muddy Wellies – Ready for Winter (Elemore Park) to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – Sticky SpiderwebsBring your little ones along to join us for a series of free, fun, weekly outdoor walks and activities in… more about 'Muddy Wellies – Sticky Spiderwebs'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH22nd January 2027, 10.00am to 12.00pmFreeSave Muddy Wellies – Sticky Spiderwebs (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – The Worldwide Food WebBring your little ones along to join us for a series of free, fun, weekly outdoor walks and activities in… more about 'Muddy Wellies – The Worldwide Food Web'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RHFreeSave Muddy Wellies – The Worldwide Food Web (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventMuddy Wellies – Wild WeatherBring your little ones along to join us for a series of free, fun, weekly outdoor walks and activities in… more about 'Muddy Wellies – Wild Weather'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH15th January 2027, 10.00am to 12.00pmFreeSave Muddy Wellies – Wild Weather (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
Wellbeing WeekendsWellbeing weekends is a six-week beginner friendly programme designed to boost physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing through nature connection and… more about 'Wellbeing Weekends'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RHSaturday 28th November to Saturday 16th JanuaryFreeSave Wellbeing Weekends (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventWellbeing Weekends – Art within NatureWellbeing Weekends is a six-week beginner-friendly programme for the residents of the Coalfields. Spend time outdoors, meet new people and… more about 'Wellbeing Weekends – Art within Nature'Elemore Park, Elemore Lane, Easington Lane, DH5 0QS7th November 2026, 10.00am to 12.00pmFreeSave Wellbeing Weekends – Art within Nature (Elemore Park) to favourites
EventWellbeing Weekends – Bug Hotel CraftsWellbeing Weekends is a six-week beginner-friendly programme for the residents of the Coalfields. Spend time outdoors, meet new people and… more about 'Wellbeing Weekends – Bug Hotel Crafts'Elemore Park, Elemore Lane, Easington Lane, DH5 0QS14th November 2026, 10.00am to 12.00pmFreeSave Wellbeing Weekends – Bug Hotel Crafts (Elemore Park) to favourites
EventWild About Brain Health – Back 2 Back SketchingActivities and workshops which aim to reduce dementia risk by promoting healthier lifestyles through nature-based activities. The sessions, which form… more about 'Wild About Brain Health – Back 2 Back Sketching'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH9th December 2026, 1.00pm to 3.00pmFreeSave Wild About Brain Health – Back 2 Back Sketching (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventWild About Brain Health – Intro To Wildlife ConservationActivities and workshops which aim to reduce dementia risk by promoting healthier lifestyles through nature-based activities. The sessions, which form… more about 'Wild About Brain Health – Intro To Wildlife Conservation'16th December 2026, 1.00pm to 3.00pmFreeSave Wild About Brain Health – Intro To Wildlife Conservation to favourites
EventWild About Brain Health – Sensory Rope WalkActivities and workshops which aim to reduce dementia risk by promoting healthier lifestyles through nature-based activities. The sessions, which form… more about 'Wild About Brain Health – Sensory Rope Walk'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH2nd December 2026, 1.00pm to 3.00pmFreeSave Wild About Brain Health – Sensory Rope Walk (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventWild About Brain Health – Tree ID Wildlife WalkActivities and workshops which aim to reduce dementia risk by promoting healthier lifestyles through nature-based activities. The sessions, which form… more about 'Wild About Brain Health – Tree ID Wildlife Walk'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH11th November 2026, 10.00am to 12.00pmFreeSave Wild About Brain Health – Tree ID Wildlife Walk (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventWild About Brain Health – Wild OrienteeringActivities and workshops which aim to reduce dementia risk by promoting healthier lifestyles through nature-based activities. The sessions, which form… more about 'Wild About Brain Health – Wild Orienteering'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH25th November 2026, 1.00pm to 3.00pmFreeSave Wild About Brain Health – Wild Orienteering (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites
EventWild About Brain Health – Willow WeavingActivities and workshops which aim to reduce dementia risk by promoting healthier lifestyles through nature-based activities. The sessions, which form… more about 'Wild About Brain Health – Willow Weaving'Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton le Hole DH5 0RH18th November 2026, 1.00pm to 3.00pmFreeSave Wild About Brain Health – Willow Weaving (Hetton Lyons Country Park) to favourites