Community action/North East England

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| Location | North East England, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 55° 7' 53.06" N, 2° 4' 20.23" W |
The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across the North East England.
News
Northumberland nature recovery project takes shape with biggest land sale in 30 years, theguardian.com (Dec 31, 2025)
How heat from old coal mines became a source of local pride in this northern English town – new study, theconversation.com (Nov 20, 2025)
Sir David Attenborough backs plan to buy estate, BBC News (Oct 29, 2025)
Lynx could thrive in Northumberland with most in area supporting return, study finds, theguardian.com (Aug 07, 2025)
Give us a chance and we’ll give you community power, powertochange.org.uk (Apr 10, 2025)
National Trust asks public to join call for urgent Government action after hundreds of wildfires break out, and full extent of nature loss at Dunwich Heath emerges, nationaltrust.org.uk (Aug 07, 2026) — “The climate crisis long predicted by scientists is happening here and now. Ferocious wildfires, unprecedented temperatures and record-breaking droughts are already hitting communities and nature across the UK – they are not a distant threat. Tackling this emergency must be a cross-Government priority because it touches every aspect of our lives, our society and our economy. So we’ve launched a petition to demonstrate to Ministers the strength of public feeling on this issue." National Trust Director-General Hilary McGrady. To sign the petition, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/wildfire-petition
All of England's rivers and lakes polluted with chemicals, officials say, BBC News (Aug 06, 2026)
Firefighting aircraft aren’t enough – Britain needs to build a wildfire‑resilient society that involves everyone, Komal Raj Aryal, Lecturer in Crisis and Disaster Management, Aston University, theconversation.com (Aug 06, 2026)
Europe’s rivers are running dry, and the knock-on effects are disastrous, Yiannis Baboulias, theguardian.com (Aug 05, 2026)
How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight wildfires, BBC News (Aug 01, 2026)
May and June heatwaves killed about 2,700 people in England and Wales, data suggests, theguardian.com (Jul 13, 2026) — Extreme heat led to 440 deaths a day during June peak, say scientists, with climate crisis ramping up temperatures
South Korea's president orders all-out response to heatwave, reuters.com (Aug 06, 2026)
Young activists in the Maldives confront climate threats to their island nation, seattletimes.com (Aug 06, 2026)
Philippines steps up solar transition as Iran war hikes energy costs, eenews.net (Aug 06, 2026)
Networks, sustainability initiatives and community involvement
- Northern Heartlands, charity based in County Durham bringing the creativity of artists together with individuals, community groups, schools and partner organisations. added 17:28, 27 April 2023 (UTC)
- Middlesbrough Environment City
- Transition Tynedale, Northumberland
CDC video
Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Community action/Manchester, Community action/Essex, Community action/West Sussex / ...This week's featured Global videos / ... read more about Cosmolocalism
UK and international events
UK events
Aug 10 - 16, 2026 (Mon - Sun) — National Allotments Week, 2026 theme is “Grow to Learn.”, thenas.org.uk
Global or international events
Aug 09, 2026 (Sun) — International Day of the World's Indigenous People, observed on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population, un.org
Aug 12, 2026 (Wed) — International Youth Day, awareness day designated by the United Nations taking place on Aug 12 each year, un.org
2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events
North East England video
Localism
Supporting community business in the North East, powertochange.org.uk, added 10:23, 12 November 2021 (UTC)
Community and voluntary action
Community resources
- The Annexe is a recently-refurbished (2010) local Community & Resource Centre run by the Wharton Trust in the Dyke House area of Hartlepool, Wharton Trust, added 12:50, 16 November 2023 (UTC)
Food activism
- Key Community Bus, keycommunity.org.uk, serving the people of South Tyneside, "reducing food waste, promoting healthy, affordable food and offering advice on related issues, we drive into the heart of our communities to help local people thrive." added 20:29, 14 October 2024 (UTC)
Climate action
- Citizens' Assembly on Climate Change northoftyne-ca.gov.uk
- Climate North East
Sustainable transport activism
Do The Local Motion, Darlington
Cycling activism
The Bike Farm, information from ourgateshead.org - ScratchBikes, Newcastle
Biodiversity
The region has a diverse landscape that includes maritime cliffs and extensive moorland that contains a number of rare species of flora and fauna. Of particular importance are the saltmarshes of Lindisfarne, the Tees Estuary, the heaths, bogs and traditional upland hay meadows of the North Pennines, and the Arctic-alpine flora of Upper Teesdale.
The beauty of the Northumbrian coastline has led to its designation as an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) stretching 100 miles from Berwick-Upon-Tweed to the River Coquet estuary. Among the 290 bird species identified on the Farne Islands, is the rare seabird the roseate tern. One of the foremost bird sanctuaries and observatory for migratory and wading birds in the UK is now operated at "Saltholme" which is part of a wider site of special scientific interest called Seal Sands. The Saltholme reserve is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). This project was pronounced as one of the best places to view birds by Bill Oddie, the former host of the BBC's Spring Watch Programme. In December 2012 he also presented the project with a prize as the UK's favorite National Lottery funded project.
The seal colony at Seal Sands on the mouth of the River Tees is thriving and in 2013 had more than 60 harbour seals. This is the only breeding colony of this species on the northeast coast. "Rainton Meadows" is also a recently[when?] created bird-watching site. The region is also the English stronghold of black grouse and contains 80–90% of the UK population of yellow marsh saxifrage.
The Magnesian Limestone grasslands of East Durham are a unique habitat not found anywhere else in the world which is particularly important to many species of butterfly and moths.
The Northeast of England also features woodland such as Kielder Forest, the largest man-made forest in Europe. This is located within Northumberland National Park and contains an important habitat for the endangered red squirrel. W
Environmental Records Information Centre for the North East of England
Trees, woodland and forest
Northern Forest
The Northern Forest is a partnership in England between five of England's Community Forests, (the Mersey Forest, the White Rose Forest, City of Trees, and Humber Forest), the Woodland Trust and the Community Forest Trust. The aim is to plant 50 million trees between Liverpool and the Yorkshire coast for the benefit of nature and communities. Initial funding for the project was granted by the UK government in January 2018.
Planting in the Northern Forest partnership area would run the whole width of England from Liverpool and Chester in the west to the coastline of the East Riding of Yorkshire including the cities of Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull. The aim is to plant 50 million trees in the 25 years between 2017 and 2042, a trebling of current planting rates in the area; this would increase the rate of reforestation in England, which is at record low rates and may currently be outweighed by the rate of deforestation for the first time in decades. The area currently has less than 8% tree coverage, one of the lowest proportions in the country.
Great Northumberland Forest
The Great Northumberland Forest is a proposed new forest in the north of England. Announced in September 2019, it is intended that up to a million trees will be planted between 2020 and 2024.
Other woodland
The Northeast of England also features woodland such as Kielder Forest, the largest man-made forest in Europe. This is located within Northumberland National Park and contains an important habitat for the endangered red squirrel. W
Towards sustainable economies
- For Solidarity North East, solidarityeconomy.coop
Social inclusion
- Report of the Newcastle Fairness commission, July 2012 (PDF)
see also: Social deprivation W
News archive
Wildlife Trusts buy Rothbury estate in largest land sale in England in 30 years, theguardian.com (Oct 29, 2024)
All hail the greengrocer buses tackling the UK’s food deserts, wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk (Oct 09, 2024)
High-street regeneration has to start with community trust and care, theconversation.com (Nov 21, 2023)
Social prescribing: coming to a forest near you?, positive.news (Sep 19, 2023)
Northern Heartlands are a CAN that helps communities story their past, present and future, so they can act with confidence and power, The Daily Alternative (Apr 19, 2023)
England region plans world-first for climate change teaching...theguardian.com, Jul 30, 2019
- Newcastle builds £1.7m protected city centre cycleway, Dec 3, 2016...BikeBiz
- £1m cycle super-highway proposed for Newcastle city centre, February 4, 2015...chroniclelive.co.uk
- Newcastle selected as one of six cities in the UK to receive funding to support efforts in improving food culture and becoming a Sustainable Food City, December 17, 2013...bdaily.co.uk
- Stockton-on-Tees council refitting 1,600 private homes to save energy and keep fuel bills low, March 12, 2013...theguardian.com
About North East England
Past events
- June 7 - 8, 2014, Newcastle Community Green Festival
North East England, often referred to as simply the North East within England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of County Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and part of North Yorkshire. With 2.6 million residents in 2022, it is the least populous region of England. Its largest settlements include Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Gateshead, Darlington and Hartlepool. The North East is covered by two mayoral combined authorities: North East Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority. It is one of three regions, the other two being North West England and Yorkshire and the Humber, that make up Northern England.
| Authors | Phil Green |
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| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Philralph (2014–2026). "Community action/North East England". Appropedia. Retrieved August 12, 2026. |










