Natural World Fund - Warksburn

Background

The Warksburn rises in the hills above Stonehaugh and runs 8.8km down to join the North Tyne — a river system that supports one of England's last strongholds of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, one of the world's most endangered species. Decades of forestry and agricultural drainage have altered how water moves through this catchment. The peatland that should be holding and slowly releasing water has been damaged, and the river's natural rhythm — its flow, its temperature, the sediment it carries — has changed with it. In 2019, this stretch of water was classified as only "Moderate" in ecological status. We believe it can recover. This project restores the habitat that keeps the Warksburn — and the North Tyne it feeds into — healthy.

What your donation funds 

On the ground: 
→ Peatland restoration
→ Native tree and vegetation planting
→ Wildflower-rich habitat creation
→ River and other habitat surveys and monitoring

Why it matters beyond the Warksburn 

For an endangered species. The Freshwater Pearl Mussel can live for over a century, but it's acutely sensitive to water quality and sediment — one of the reasons it's now one of the most threatened species in Europe. A healthier Warksburn means a healthier North Tyne, and better odds for the mussels that depend on it. 
For people downstream. The same monitoring network that tracks ecological recovery also builds the evidence base for natural flood management — helping protect properties along the Warksburn that are currently at risk. 
For the wider landscape. What we learn here will help guide peatland recovery, woodland expansion and climate adaptation work across the North Tyne catchment, not just this one site.

A river that's waited decades to recover. One of England's rarest species depends on it. Your gift helps bring it back.

Thank you