Lottery funds new hides for Northumberland reserve

Two new hides have been installed at Northumberland's famous East Chevington nature reserve in time for spring migration.

Erected by staff and volunteers at the Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT), the hides are part of the charity's Catch My Drift project, a three-year initiative boosted by £418,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The new hides offer improved views over the East Chevington reserve, which has a track record of attracting scarce visitors (Sheila Luck).

As well as access and facilities, the project will to improve habitat and biodiversity at East Chevington.

The hides replace two old hides, which were taken out in October 2023. East Chevington hosts a variety of wetland birds, as well as Eurasian Otters, and routinely attracts rare vagrants, with highlights over recent years including Great Reed Warbler, Greenish Warbler, White-winged Tern and Red-footed Falcon.

Alex Lister, Druridge Bay landscape manager at NWT, said: "Our East Chevington reserve is a great place to watch all kinds of wildlife and the new hides have made the visitor experience even more enjoyable.

"Although the old, metal hides were vandal resistant, they weren't very user friendly but the ones are brilliant, especially the new Platform Hide, which, because of its extra height, gives a much better view of the reedbeds and all the activity in them."

The project has also released 330 Harvest Mice and sown wildflower seeds over 25 ha.