A Hidden Gem Transformed into a Wildlife Haven
A wildlife site, known as a “hidden gem,” is preparing for its annual surge of activity, according to experts. Once a place where coal was loaded onto ships, Dunston Staiths on the River Tyne in Gateshead has now become a home for various species that have claimed the mudflats.
Birds such as curlews and lapwings will be present in the area during the winter months, which also marks migration season. The mudflats are also home to a range of crustaceans and mammals, including otters.
Heather Devey, from the Wild Intrigue nature group, describes the area as an “under-rated” oasis. Built in the 1890s, the Grade II-listed structure was once one of 30 similar structures along the River Tyne during the industrial heyday of northeast England.
At over 500 meters in length and resembling a pier, it is reportedly the largest timber structure in Europe.
“It’s like stepping back in time,” Ms. Devey said. “There’s been so much development along the river, but the Staiths has become a really important threshold where the estuary has been able to flourish.”
“The framework itself has actually helped to hold back a lot of the mud and silt that comes from the Tyne and from the River Teams, and it’s built up.” She explained that the accumulated mud supports marine invertebrates, like lugworms, and different crustaceans such as crabs and shellfish, which the migrant birds come to feed on.
A Time of Peak Wildlife Activity
“So peaceful”
Hundreds of redshanks, with their distinctive bright orange legs, will be among the waders on the mudflats, along with a similar number of lapwings—Ms. Devey says these can be seen for about a month as they pass through on their way to other countries.
“The birds have the feet for it, but also the right kind of beaks,” she explains. “They use their long bills to get to the richness of life hiding beneath the surface.”
“They’ve travelled huge distances and spend every winter with us. They’re really loyal to their nest sites, and their autumn and winter sites.”
“This time of year, through to November I’d say, is a real peak of activity for wildlife. In the summer it looks beautiful, but in the autumn, the soundscape is really something.”
The working life on the Staiths came to an end in the 1970s, and since then, there have been several fires on the site. The listed structure is currently looked after by the Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust and the National Trust, and it is part of the Tyne Derwent Way—a nine-mile (14 km) trail connecting historic sites along the river.
Wild Intrigue, a not-for-profit organization based at Ouseburn in Newcastle, serves as the nature lead on the scheme. They host public events throughout the year, including bird-watching walks and nature safaris along the riverside.
Ms. Devey added: “Dunston Staiths is so peaceful. You’ve got the hustle and bustle of Newcastle and central Gateshead, and then you’re in this wild oasis that I think is really under-rated as a spectacle.”
“It’s a bit of a hidden gem.”
