Green shoots: the growth of the Tyne Derwent Way Green Team

Stewart Turnbull , 17 June 2025 10:57

Back in the early months of 2024, I was still settling into my new role as Volunteer and Community Manager for the Tyne Derwent Way. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to create opportunities for people to get involved in activities with a strong nature focus—something that felt welcoming, flexible, and genuinely impactful.

That's when the idea for the Green Team was born.

Planting the seed

The initial idea was simple: start with some litter picks in Gateshead Riverside Park.

We'd heard time and again that the park felt unloved—full of litter, underused, and, for many, not a space they felt safe in. Some people didn't even know it existed.

I believed that by establishing a regular presence - even with small actions - we could start to change how the park was perceived. Cleaning it up and being visible would help show that the space mattered. And by being on the ground, we could chat with people passing through - dog walkers, runners, cyclists, commuters - about their thoughts, ideas, and hopes for the park.

The first step

Just days after the official launch of the Tyne Derwent Way in April 2024, we held our very first Green Team litter pick. It was promoted as a simple "turn up and do" community event.

One person showed up. That person was Charlie.

Charlie gave up his Saturday morning to help clean the park, and I'll always be grateful. I knew that if even one person turned up, there was a chance others would follow - and they did.

Charlie and the Core Team

Charlie is now our longest-standing volunteer. He's not only a committed Green Team member but also volunteers as a Dunston Staiths Steward, a Community Steering Group member, and supports events like The Late Shows and Heritage Open Days. If everyone was more 'Charlie', the world would be a better place, of that I have no doubt.

Since then, our Green Team has grown steadily. We now have:

6 core regulars who turn up to nearly every session
a wider group of around 12 additional volunteers who join when they can

From litter to biodiversity

While litter picking remains central to our mission, we always intended to broaden our impact. That goal came to life when we partnered with the incredible team at Wild Intrigue (opens new window), who became the Tyne Derwent Way's official nature experts, consultants and practitioners.

Working alongside National Trust Gibside Rangers and their Social Forestry School volunteers, we created a Woodland Management Plan for Gateshead Riverside Park.

Together, we've achieved:

clearance of ground scrub and overgrown bushes
selective tree thinning to:
- improve light levels on the forest floor
- support standing deadwood habitats
planting of over 100 native saplings
improvement of park pathways
creation of dead hedging to support wildlife
installation of 30 bird boxes across the park and St Mary's graveyard

Birds, bats and biodiversity

These actions have already increased the biodiversity of the park, attracting more birds, bats, and plant species.

We've also seen practical benefits - clearer sightlines in and out of the park have helped it feel safer and more open, something local residents have been quick to praise.

Gateshead Council, our lead partner on the Tyne Derwent Way, has stepped up as well, removing fly-tipped rubbish and giving the park's sculptures a full refresh.

Monitoring birdlife

Saturday Green Team installing a bird box

One of the most exciting developments has been monitoring the bird boxes.

Each box was recorded by location, height, orientation and aspect. All data was shared with the National Bird Survey, and follow-up sessions monitored box activity throughout the season.

We've observed: