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The Longhirst Wildlife & Community Trust (Longhirst WCT) is a registered charity, led by a Board of Trustees made up of Longhirst residents past and present. The aim of the Longhirst WCT is to involve as many residents of all ages as possible to enhance wildlife and habitats throughout the parish; to increase our understanding and support of nature and the environment; to bring together the local community for events and projects and to celebrate the wonderful range of wildlife we already have in the parish of Longhirst.

The Trust was originally funded from a Heritage Grant of £10,000 and we will be forever grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for that initial seed investment.

The Trust works alongside the Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Natural History Society of Northumbria as well collaborating with the Mid-Northumberland U3A. We also work with Longhirst Parish Council and we administer the Longhirst Hundred Club which benefits St John’s Church and the Longhirst WCT.  In addition we are actively involved in many initiatives in the parish, including the biennial Longhirst Open Gardens weekend.

 

Everyone is very welcome to come along to one of the talks and events arranged by the Trust, many are held in Longhirst Village Hall and others held outdoors.  This enables us to learn more about the wildlife that surrounds us and to hear accounts from those who have travelled to all corners of the world to see birds and other wildlife.  Details of these talks and events can be found on the ‘Longhirst Wildlife & Community Trust’ section of the village website in addition to regular updates in the Longhirst Leader section of the website.  Here are links to both sections:-

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Some of the projects in our parish to protect and enhance our wildlife are detailed below.  However, as well as the projects listed, many people in Longhirst are already doing something to help encourage and protect wildlife.  Some of the basic things we can all do is to simply provide food, water, shelter and breeding habitats.  For example, putting out bird feeders and bird baths in your garden; creating a wildflower area and log pile; planting flowers and shrubs that attract bees and other insects to encourage pollination, having a pond (no matter how small) which will encourage wildlife to visit and stay, building a hedgehog house and hedgehog ‘highway’ under fencing, putting up a ‘bee hotel’ or even just avoiding using pesticides and herbicides.  You could also volunteer with various initiatives in the parish as they arise.  Please get involved in any way you can because every little thing really does make a difference.

 

Our local farmers also play a huge part in protecting and encouraging wildlife in the parish.  One has 50 acres of winter bird food on the farm which is a mixture of plants that are solely for the birds to eat; it is not harvested nor cut.  This area is a wonderful haven for hare, deer and lots of other wildlife.  This farmer also grows legume fallows which provides further habitat for wildlife.

 

Some of the Trust’s recent and ongoing projects include:-

 

• Paddock Wood: improving footpaths, renovating the bird hide, clearing invasive weeds, installing new bird feeders and providing bird feed during winter months

• Protection of red squirrels

• Hedgehog rescue and rehabilitation (Richard Tordoff)

• Church island: conservation management of the island adjacent to the church car park including clearing invasive weeds, trimming back overgrown areas and replanting wildlife friendly shrubs and plants

 

An interesting fact….  Did you know that, despite their small size, hedgehogs can run up to 5mph and are excellent swimmers and climbers?

Another……  Did you know that some swallows fly 6000 miles each year from South Africa (roughly 200 miles a day) at average speeds of 20mph to reach Longhirst to breed?

 

Below are just a few examples of the treasured wildlife we already have in our small Parish of Longhirst:-​​

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