Plans for 'vital' work on two Northumberland nature reserves have become a reality thanks to a generous donation from a former Bedlington school teacher.
Dr John (Jim) Parrack from Seaton Sluice passed away in March 2020, leaving £33,000 to Northumberland Wildlife Trust with instructions that the money was to be spent on improvements to the wildlife charity's reserves. Born in Alston, Jim grew up in the South Tyne Valley where he developed an interest in natural history.
Following his degree and PHD at Kings College, Durham, he spent several years in industry before teaching Chemistry at Bedlington Grammar School. As well as being a lifelong member of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Jim was a member of the Bamburgh Bird Ringing Group and County Bird Recorder and later became county butterfly and moth recorder.
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He spent several years researching and determining the distribution of hoverflies in Northumberland at a time when very little was known about them. Now, two years since Jim's passing, work has been completed at the Trust's Holywell Pond reserve in Whitley Bay.
The previously weather-beaten and severely vandalised wildlife viewing hide has been renovated and now has a new roof, restored interior wood work and a metal plate on the door to reduce the risk of further vandalism, while the ramp up to the hide has also been replace to comply to updated UK disability standards. In addition to the hide, the bird viewing screen brought down by Storm Arwen last November has been replaced.
Situated north of Holywell Village, Holywell Pond is a haven for birds attracted by its proximity to the coast. Species of birds include greylag goose, mallard, goldeneye and tufted ducks and green sandpipers, with the grassland also supporting populations of common spotted and northern marsh orchids.
In May, Northumberland Wildlife Trust plans to install a new pond dipping platform at its Newsham Pond reserve from Jim's legacy. The reserve on the edge of Blyth is popular with the local community and a regular breeding spot for swans and ducks .
Geoff Dobbins, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Estates Manager, said: "With over 60 nature reserves which always need work carried out on them, we never seem to have enough money to see our plans come to fruition which is why Dr Parrack’s support is so amazing. Our Holywell Pond and Newsham Pond reserves are so popular with members of the local community and visitors, it is safe to say, his legacy is living on and is will be appreciated by future generations of nature lovers."
