Thanks to your donations, the new Nature Learning Centre at Gosforth Nature Reserve will open its doors this autumn!
Thank you to everyone who has supported our Gosforth Nature Reserve appeal. Your donations and the kind support of £2,400 from the Joicey Trust, have together raised £10,000! This will fund furniture, equipment and an access ramp. Volunteer Rangers are excited about welcoming local schools, charities and families all year-round.
Taking shape
Thanks to a grant of £91,500 from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership we were able to build the Nature Learning Centre. Building contractors, Gilleard Bros, have gone the extra mile with their ideas, enthusiasm and hard work in creating a great place for learning on time and on budget.
A look inside the new Nature Learning Centre 
A building that will inspire learning about the natural world
Every penny raised through our Gosforth Nature Reserve Appeal will ensure it is fully equipped, accessible and ready for visitors. From all important tables and chairs to learning equipment, storage, interpretation and other essentials, thanks to your support, volunteers will have all they need to open the doors this autumn.
NHSN Members have been wanting NHSN to do more to support local young naturalists. This new Nature Learning Centre – a first for Gosforth Nature Reserve – is a huge leap forward.
Clare Freeman, NHSN Director
Special thanks to a young hero
Thank you so much to NHSN’s young member, four-year-old Rubén who raised an incredible £1,572 towards the appeal with his sponsored bike ride and birdwatch.
On Sunday 1 August, Rubén cycled an amazing six miles from home to the reserve and was greeted with a warm welcome by naturalist and NHSN Trustee, Cain Scrimgeour. Together, Cain and Rubén enjoyed a successful morning of birdwatching at the reserve, spotting Grey Heron, among other highlights.
Rubén’s commitment to providing opportunities for children, just like him, to enjoy and learn about the natural world has been inspirational. After having the idea, he practised hard and completed his bike ride. Rubén has made a lasting difference at the North East’s oldest nature reserve.
On behalf of the many children who will benefit from the new building, a big ‘thank you’ to our young natural history superstar.
Rubén really enjoyed doing his sponsored Bikeride and Birdwatch. He rode 6.25 miles altogether, and arrived at the nature reserve with great excitement. Rubén is very excited about the new learning centre and enjoyed having a sneak peek.
He really hopes to visit with his class when he starts school in September. We all enjoyed exploring the nature reserve on Sunday and even spotted a beautiful deer!
Hannah, Rubén’s Mum
