Having worked to garner the support of local landowners, we have the amazing opportunity to work across the Warksburn catchment to deliver coordinated land restoration to restore its biodiversity potential.

The area has great swathes of pastures and lowland arable areas, a substantial covering of peatland in mostly poor health, and is largely surrounded by extended conifer plantations

It hosts sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) including the last, fragile remnants of the great bogs that once covered much of the North-East. The area also overlaps with a special area of conservation (SAC) and partially with RAMSAR sites (wetland site designated to be of international importance).

The project has a number of aims: to create new woodland areas and hedgerows, bolster wetland complexes, and provide habitats for local wildlife; to address the poor condition of the peatland and restore them to healthy carbon sinks once again; to construct swales, ponds, and leaky barriers to slow and store water, reducing flood risk.

We are looking to buy and restore a 170 acre plot in the Northumberland National Park.

The land, which has been over-grazed, is in a very poor state. The wet heath and peatland require extensive restoration to help the rare flora thrive. The fields would also benefit greatly from much additional native flora, including native woodland around the middle burn, to create new habitats for wildlife to colonise.

The area faces commercial restrictions, is poor for farming, and has priority habitats unsuitable for tree planting organisations. Consequently, it has been left abandoned.

We want to raise money to buy and restore this under-loved land and bring it back to a wilder place with a much richer biodiversity.

A big thank you – we have completed fundraising to restore this typical livestock farm, which has fragmented and damaged habitats, with habitat corridors, woodland creation, and species rich hedges to enhance local biodiversity.

The money raised covers the raw materials only, with the restoration work being carried out by the team with the help of generous volunteers.

Want to join our volunteer days? Simply email us at support@naturalworldfund.com