A New Chapter in NHSN’s Work on the Ouse Burn Way

With generous support from the Reece Foundation, NHSN has appointed James Common as its new Ouse Burn Naturalist. The role, funded through the Ouse Burn Way, will focus on increasing wildlife recording and engaging people with the remarkable nature of the Ouse Burn corridor.

NHSN is proud to support the Ouse Burn Way, helping bring its vision to life through wildlife recording, surveys and community events that give people opportunities to discover and experience nature along this vital green corridor. From guided walks and hands-on surveys to family-friendly activities, we’re helping local people explore the wildlife on their doorstep while contributing to a better understanding of, and care for, the natural world around them.

The Ouse Burn Way is a vision for a green corridor stretching from the River Tyne at Ouseburn to Weetslade Country Park and the Letch in Longbenton. It aims to connect communities with nature, creating a continuous network of places where wildlife can thrive and people can enjoy, explore and learn about the natural world.

From the Lower Ouseburn Valley to Woolsington, and from Heaton to Great Park, there are countless opportunities to get involved, record wildlife and champion nature along one of Newcastle’s most important waterways.

What Has Been Achieved So Far

Since September 2024, NHSN has engaged with more than 4487 people along the Ouse Burn, including residents and those who work, learn and spend time in the area. Over 163 events have taken place, ranging from guided walks and wildlife surveys to community bioblitzes, while 32 local schools have been involved alongside work with 14 local businesses.

And that’s not all. Newcastle’s naturalists, NHSN volunteers and local naturalists have carried out more than 100 wildlife surveys and logged over 15,000 wildlife sightings along the Ouse Burn. That’s around 70% of the 21,000 sightings submitted to iRecord since the project began, highlighting just how much our volunteers and recorders have contributed to building our knowledge of the area’s wildlife.

You can explore some of their most exciting discoveries, alongside records submitted by other local naturalists, below.

Exciting Things to Come

James joins the role on secondment at an exciting time, bringing extensive knowledge of the Ouse Burn and its wildlife from years spent surveying along its banks, established relationships from successful projects such as Newcastle’s Nature Networks, and a real passion for the special places that make the Ouse Burn Wildlife Corridor so remarkable. Celebrating the news in his own words, James writes:

From Jesmond Dene, north to NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve and onwards to Havannah Nature Reserve and beyond, I love the Ouse Burn. Having spent years recording plants for my Urban Flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside, I know the area and its wildlife well. It is an incredible place, home to a wealth of fascinating plants and much more besides. I can’t wait to get stuck in and discover what else is out there.

Having been involved in the Ouse Burn Way since its beginning, now feels like an exciting time to properly join the project. A huge thank you to NHSN volunteers and Urban Naturalist, Ellie Davison, for the incredible amount of work they have done laying the foundations for something really special.

I’m excited to build on that work, helping bring the Ouse Burn Way to life while recording its wildlife and encouraging more people to discover the nature on their doorstep.

James Common, Ouse Burn Naturalist (Seconded)

Anne Reece, chair of Reece Foundation and Ouse Burn Way Project Board, said: 

The Ouse Burn Way is about creating a lasting connection between communities and nature, and people are at the heart of making that vision a reality.

“We’re delighted to welcome James as the new NHSN Ouse Burn Naturalist, who will build on the fantastic work Ellie has undertaken over nearly two years, in engaging local communities and helping to bring the Ouse Burn Way vision to life.

“We are proud that the Reece Foundation can continue supporting this important role, as well as funding the Ouse Burn Way ecologist role alongside significant funding for key projects that will help restore nature, improve access and unlock further investment in the Ouse Burn Way.

Anne Reece, chair of Reece Foundation and Ouse Burn Way Project Board

There is plenty more to come along the Ouse Burn Way over the weeks and months ahead. All your favourites, including bat, badger and botany walks, will continue, alongside opportunities to learn more about wildlife recording and discover how you can help protect this important wildlife corridor.

We’ll also be introducing new catchment-wide surveys, building a network for local citizen scientists and taking a closer look at groups and habitats that haven’t yet received as much attention, including trees, dragonflies and important fungi. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved, learn something new and, of course, discover more of the remarkable wildlife living along the Ouse Burn.