Gardens North East
Rows of potted plants in a nursery polytunnel

Wildlife, community and allotments

Wildlife trusts covering the whole region, a hedgehog rescue, beekeepers, a community environment charity and allotment groups. Good places to volunteer, learn and find events.

Gardening for wildlife

Small changes add up across a street of gardens: a gap under the fence for hedgehogs, a patch of longer grass, a shallow pond or a few flowering shrubs for pollinators. The wildlife trusts listed here run events and share advice for gardens in their areas.

Getting an allotment

Allotments in the region are run by councils and by independent associations. Newcastle City Council manages a large number of sites; associations such as West Jesmond Allotments run their own. Waiting lists are common, so it is worth applying early and asking about shared or half plots.

Charities, groups and allotments

  • Northumberland Wildlife Trust

    Wildlife charityNewcastle, covering Northumberland and Tyne and Wear

    Website

  • Durham Wildlife Trust

    Wildlife charityCounty Durham, Sunderland and Gateshead

    Website

  • Tees Valley Wildlife Trust

    Wildlife charityTeesside

    Website

  • Groundwork North East and Cumbria

    Environmental charityAcross the region

    Website

  • Northumbrian Hedgehog Rescue Trust

    Wildlife rescue charityLongframlington, Morpeth

    Charity Register entry

  • Newcastle and District Beekeepers Association

    Beekeeping charityNewcastle and Northumberland

    Charity Register entry

  • West Jesmond Allotments CIO

    Allotment associationNewcastle

    Charity Register entry

  • Newcastle City Council allotments

    Council service (more than 60 sites)Newcastle

    Council page