Nature Features

It's all part of the BBC's Breathing Places project. We'll be working with the Big Lottery winners - the Marshall Drive Playing Field Action Group, in Brotton to transform the local landscape and increase biodiversity in the area. It's just one of many sites across the UK that will be transformed by special "SWAT teams” (that's Springwatch Action Team's) of enthusiastic volunteers and experienced experts.

The Marshall Drive Playing Field Action Group were established in 2002, and work regularly with pupils from St Peter's Primary C of E school in Brotton to plant bulbs and trees on the site.

They've designed a project whereby they will work with the pupils to design interpretation boards, built bird boxes and wildlife shelters and additionally arrange for the pupils to work alongside a local wildflower organisation to identify which flowers will be suitable to increase biodiversity.

The project will benefit 4000 people and volunteers will be encouraged to attend the training courses as well as practical input.

At the end of May the children will be making their own bird and bat boxes - so on the day, the volunteer team will be working to erect the boxes - which the children can't do themselves. 

We'll also be working with Wildflower Ark to cut back a patch of land and start a wildflower meadow. There'll be litter picking. And we'll get to find out more about the various green projects they've got going.

You can see pictures of the land and its progress by clicking on the links on the right.