Beelines North East activity days create a buzz in Newcastle’s parks during half term
We're BUZZING to learn children and families will be able to learn more about the role of bees in supporting the region’s natural habitats during the February half-term, as Urban Green Newcastle launches its Beelines North East activity days!
Delivered in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, the free interactive activities in some of our city’s parks will help children, young people and their families learn more about plants, pollinators and their conservation whilst enjoying springtime walking trails, crafting and face painting.
The Beelines North East activity days take place in Nuns Moor Park on Tuesday 22 February (10am-3pm), Walker Park on Thursday 24 February (10am-3pm), and Exhibition Park on Friday 25 February (10am-3pm). The activity days are part of the wider Beelines North East project, which will see a network of 45 nectar-rich public sites created across the region, with the aim of planting 2,500 trees, 25,000 bulbs and creating 18 hectares of grassland to enable pollinators to thrive all over the North East.
Rachel Faichnie, Beelines North East Education Officer, said: “We often take the natural world for granted, never really understanding how these complex habitats evolve and thrive thanks to wildlife like bees.
“Through our Beelines North East activity days, we’re aiming to show people why bees and other pollinators are so important for the future of our parks, allotments, and green spaces. It’s also a great way to connect more young people with nature through fun, outdoor education sessions.”
Children and families will be able to take part in spring spotting walk in their parks, looking out for the early signs of the new season. There will also be an exciting crafting station where people can make their own blossom tree artwork and a face painter.
In addition to the activities in Newcastle’s parks, Urban Green Newcastle is also running an outdoor education programme for schools.
Designed for children aged five to eleven, the four different sessions support curriculum learning. Children can become park explorers for the day and find existing pollinator habitats. They can also make their own bee hotel to help create new homes for bees.
Rachel continued: “Beelines North East will provide more opportunities for young people to discover and interact with nature, whilst also enhancing our city’s pollinators through habitat creation and regeneration.”
Urban Green Newcastle and Northumberland Wildlife Trust were awarded £697,800 from Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund to deliver Beelines North East.
Barbara Hooper, Director of Parks and Allotments for Urban Green Newcastle, said: "In recent years habitat loss has been a major contributing factor to the decline in the numbers of pollinators like bees and butterflies. Our parks provide real opportunities to encourage and support these vital pollinators, and enable them to thrive in our region.”
Elaine More, Living Landscapes Project Manager for Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: "Connectivity of habitat across urban areas is of vital importance for pollinators so they can move around, forage, and reproduce. We aim to work with local communities, especially young people, to create a strong network or ecologically diverse sites on people’s doorsteps where pollinators can thrive, creating a legacy once funding comes to an end."
One of the 45 nectar-rich public sites being created as part of the Beelines North East project will be within Exhibition Park’s new blossom display, which is part of the National Trust’s Blossom Together project. The new spring blossom display will bloom for the first time in 2022, providing park users with a quiet place for reflection, peace and enjoyment.
To find out more about Beelines North East and the free activity days in Nuns Moor Park, Walker Park and Exhibition Park during this February half-term, visit urbangreennewcastle.org.
For more information about the Blossom Together project, visit urbangreennewcastle.org.
