Major new wetland reserve to be created on Teeside

A new multi-million pound wildlife visitor attraction in northern England has received an investment boost of £3.7 million, the RSPB and Teesside Environmental Trust have announced. The funding will make the vision for a ground-breaking wildlife conservation project on Teesside a reality, creating a major new visitor attraction and international nature reserve for North East England. The decision has major implications for North East England, as the region will benefit from the transformation of former industrial land in the Tees Valley into a sparkling new visitor attraction with nationwide tourism and education links, alongside a new internationally important wetland wildlife reserve.

The 380-hectare Saltholme site is situated near the mouth of the River Tees between Billingham and Seaton Carew and with a projected 100,000 visitors every year, the site may become one of the largest tourist attractions in the region. At least 23 new jobs will be created at Saltholme and visitors to the site will bring an additional £1.4 million-a-year to the local economy.

The creation of lakes, pools, grasslands and reedbeds will attract new and rare wildlife to the area, boosting the Tees Valley’s biodiversity. It is hoped that new species of birds likely to colonise the area will include bittern, marsh harrier and avocet. The same habitats will also encourage popular and more familiar wildlife such as kingfishers, swans, herons, butterflies and dragonflies. An inspirational and iconic ‘Wild Bird Discovery Centre’ will be at the heart of the site, providing a family-friendly experience of wildlife, and facilities for recreation, education and local community activities.
Work on the new building will start in the New Year and Saltholme is expected to be fully open to visitors in 2008. Follow the latest developments by logging on to www.rspb.org.uk/england/north.

The RSPB and Teesside Environmental Trust are grateful to all the organisations that are supporting the Saltholme project. They include:

• One NorthEast/Tees Valley Partnership - £2,362,500


• Augean Waste Ltd, Premier Waste Ltd, County Durham Environment Trust - £1,77,146


• European Regional Development Fund/Government Office North
• East - £1,408,809


• Biffaward £500,000


• Stockton Borough Council - £250,000


• Northern Rock Foundation - £250,000


• SITA Trust - £150,358


• Shears Trust - £40,000