Gateshead

Despite its bustling heart and industrial past, it may surprise you to know that almost half of Gateshead is made up of countryside with the Council looking after 20 parks and nature reserves. Over the past 12 months Gateshead has been involved with the Year of Action for wildlife, having signed up to become a Breathing Places city.

You're never far away from the coutryside

There's over 20 countryside sites and nature reserves

And plenty of amazing wildlife to be discovered

There's over 100 public wildlife events throughout the year

Everyone can learn about wildlife

No one is too young to get involved

You could even join our Countryside volunteers

You could easily have a list as long as your arm of Gateshead's achievements during the Breathing Places Year of Action, but perhaps one simple quote sums it up.

"We now need to buy a second mini bus as we've recruited so many countryside volunteers", says Clare Ross from Gateshead Council. The Council says the Year exceeded its expectations with dozens of activities and plenty of new partnerships in place. "And of course with all those new people offering to clear rubbish, thin woodlands, lay hedges, plant trees and wildflowers, build paths, take part in wildlife surveys and help at events."

"The Breathing Places Year of Action was great for us at it coincided with our 2008 Year of Volunteers. And supporting volunteers is very important to our work at Gateshead Council."

Then there are the thousands of people who actually left their homes after seeing the BBC's call to action and did One Thing for wildlife. "The variety and number of people attending public events was a major achievement," said Clare. "About six thousand people have attended events this year alone."

While the Springwatch Festivals at Blaydon Burn were big crowd pleasers some of the other 100 smaller events such as Tree Parties, Dawn Chorus, bird box making, pond dipping, bug hunting, bird watching etc.

The Council says it now plans to build on the success of Breathing Places, maintaining the relationships that have been set up. You might not know it when you first look at it but behind the looming hulk of the Metro Centre, and the industrial outlets of the Team Valley, lies the real Gateshead Borough, of which two thirds is countryside, a green oasis of pastures and woodland. Getting that message across has been one of the aims of the Breathing Places tie up. In addition there are a number of wildlife reserves in the urban parts of Gateshead giving a chance for people to have contact with people on their own doorstep.

So has all the hard work been worth it? Clare Ross seems to think so. "It was great having the extra help for events, the fantastic publicity and great contacts with organisations you wouldn't normally work with." And best of all? "Thinking that we were genuinely doing something postitive to help people to do something for wildlife and giving them enjoyable and rewarding experiences"