Director for Environment: Dai Richards

“We are passionate about the superb environment in the Morpeth area, and believe we have made a significant impact over many years. If you are interested in helping, please get in touch.”

 

 

The Environment Group works to identify and develop environmental projects and activity in Morpeth and its surrounding areas. Lobbying of appropriate organisations is another important role when environmental issues have been identified, such as a problem with a public footpath, woods, watercourses, or signage / interpretation boards erected by the Trust. In our early years we picked up the Castles, Woods & Water project from Castle Morpeth Borough Council, carrying out major environmental improvements in the Wansbeck Valley between Mitford and Bothal.

The group also lends support to others implementing environmental projects in the area, such as local schools, Morpeth Town Council which manages Britain and Northumbria In Bloom, and Morpeth Flood Action Group. Over the years members have produced publications such as Morpeth Walking Maps and ‘Birds of the Wansbeck Valley’ cards for public sale – please visit our website Shop. All our projects aim to improve the Morpeth area for both the community and visitors to the town.

In 2022/23 Morpeth Litter Group will be carrying out further community litter picks, and expanding the successful ‘Adopt a Street’ initiative where we ask volunteers to pick up litter in a nominated area on a regular basis. Other Keep Britain Tidy initiatives include: ‘Street Blitzes’ where small teams (8 max) hit heavily littered road verges; ‘Adopt a Bin’ where volunteers “own” a new bin supplied by local funding and that individual promises to keep it empty.

GMDT is progressing a series of landscaping improvements at Morpeth Railway Station in partnership with Morpeth Lions, Morpeth Rotary, and Morpeth Litter Group. You can see the 1st stage upgrade with new colourful flower beds within railway sleeper planters at the front of the station, surrounded by bright gravel to keep the weeds at bay.

In Autumn 2022, the same partners are cutting back bushes and planting 3,000 new spring bulbs alongside the pathway leading down from the northbound station platform towards Morpeth town centre. Additional planting will take place in 2023 and 2024, and will hopefully provide rail travellers and town visitors with a welcoming floral display.

We have completed a full audit of the 120 information signs around the town, assessing their condition and will be seeking funding to cover damage repairs and a number of full essential replacements as necessary.

Please visit our GMDT Volunteers page for further information.

Index to Sub Groups

  1. ‘Birds of the Wansbeck Valley’
  2.  Bluebell/Local Green Spaces
  3. Morpeth Walking Maps
  4. Signage / Interpretation
  5. Railway Station Landscaping  – page under construction – available early April 2023
  6. Partnerships: Morpeth Litter Group