The project’s aim is to deliver 100 walks across County Durham that enable people to re-discover their local heritage. It is funded by the Walk and Talk Trust, a North-East charity dedicated to improving lives by enhancing people’s connection to the countryside. They note that:

• Walking is a cheap form of exercise with proven physical and mental health benefits.
• Enables the public to experience the wonderful countryside on our doorstep.
• Talking connects people, families and communities.

To help the Trust start the project across the county, Cllr Jonathan Elmer organised a promotional meeting at County Hall. Jonathan helped make connections between Keiron Young, a Trust Officer and other County Councillors.

The Langley Moor and Brandon Walk

In particular, Jonathan Elmer helped to establish the Brandon walk. Jonathan introduced Keiron Young to key local people and helped him to navigate procedural barriers.

The work on the ground for the walk was delivered by the Trust with Keiron leading.

Jonathan Elmer said: “We’ve been working with the Walk and Talk Trust for a couple of years and we are delighted to announce that the Brandon & Langley Moor ‘Heritage 100’ circular walk is now open.

“All the walks are designed to enable re-discovery of local heritage, whether that is built, social, or environmental. My favourite part of the walk is adjacent to the Browney, as there is a chance of seeing a kingfisher!”

For more information on the circular walk, visit its page on the Heritage 100 website.

The post ‘Heritage 100’ walk opened in Brandon and Langley Moor appeared first on County Durham.

What a night for the Green Party! We now have four Green MPs to represent us at Westminster. This result is an incredible breakthrough for the Green Party and shows how much appetite there is for something different from the status quo. Many North East Green Party activists contributed to this success, both by travelling in person to the target constituencies to help with canvassing and also by telephoning fellow activists in those constituencies to encourage them to get out on the doorsteps.

Siân Berry in Brighton Pavillion, Carla Denyer in Bristol Central, Adrian Ramsay in Waveney Valley and Ellie Chowns in North Herefordshire will work so hard for their constituents and be the Green MPs our country so desperately needs.

Our own County Durham candidates also did us proud, all six fought commendable campaigns raising the profile of the Green Party locally. The feedback they had from constituents was very positive, people welcomed their willingness to answer people’s concerns honestly and openly. We can look forward with optimism to a strong showing at the local elections in May 2025.

The post Election Results appeared first on County Durham.

Jonathan Elmer reports that “the Browney regularly floods into Holiday Park as this forms part of the natural flood catchment. On the 17th March this year, community volunteers litter picked the park after flood water had receded. We were horrified to discover condoms and sanitary towel applicators as well as raw sewage deposited by the receding water. Northumbrian Water have been releasing raw sewage into the River Browney for many years and the level of sewage released has increased.”

The released sewage has resulted in a dis-appearance of Salmonids from the river, and without these fish, Kingfishers and Otters will soon follow.

County Durham Green Party have started a petition to be sent to the CEO of Northumbrian Water calling on them to stop sewage being released into the Browney within 5 years. Please sign and share the link below.

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-dumping-sewage-in-the-river-browney

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County Durham Green Party welcomes this important initiative. The strategy is a blueprint for the recovery of nature, showing where and how natural habitats can be supported, extended and linked-up. We do have some questions, which we will raise with DCC, about how the restoration will be measured and regulated; but we would encourage everyone to get involved and give feedback to support this drive.

You can complete DCC’s questionnaire, though this will limit you to choosing priority species and habitats – in our opinion it’s the connectivity that’s important, habitats function as an ecological network not as individual stand-alone sites. If you don’t want to use the questionnaire you can still write/email with your thoughts. The closing date for feedback is 16^th April.

The post DCC’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy appeared first on County Durham.