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Children’s creativity takes centre stage as a new nature trail launches at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve

Notice Your Nature St Anthony's School

A family nature trail, illustrated and written by local students, officially opened this week at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve near Houghton le Spring, with students from two Sunderland secondary schools leading the celebrations.

Eye‑catching signs have been installed around the reserve, each showcasing original artwork and accompanying information about key wildlife species, created by the students. Their words and illustrations invite visitors to pause, look closer and discover the wildlife that thrives in this much‑loved green space. An accompanying leaflet guides visitors along a recommended route, helping them get the very best from their walk.

The creative collaboration is a result of the ‘Notice Your Nature!’ project, which brought together Newcastle University and Durham Wildlife Trust. The initiative aimed to demonstrate the wellbeing benefits of time spent in nature, while also nurturing the children’s passions and skills, providing them the opportunity to explore future career pathways.

A man leans forward in tall wetland grasses, using a long-handled net to collect samples while a group of students watch and take notes. The scene is outdoors, surrounded by lush green vegetation, suggesting a hands-on ecology or field study activity.

Notice Your Nature Southmoor Academy

A group of students outdoors lean forward to examine tall wetland plants. One boy in a blue hoodie and a woman in a red jacket point toward the vegetation, while others watch closely and hold notebooks. The background shows lush greenery and a pond, suggesting a hands-on nature or ecology study session.

Notice Your Nature Southmoor Academy

A small group of students crouch and stand around a white tray in a grassy wetland area, examining its contents closely. Two hold smartphones, possibly photographing or identifying samples, while another holds a notebook. The scene is surrounded by tall reeds and yellow wildflowers, with a path and more people visible in the distance, suggesting an outdoor field study or nature survey.

Notice Your Nature Southmoor Academy

A group of people walk along a countryside path bordered by tall grasses and yellow wildflowers. The focus is on a single grass stem in the foreground, with the walkers and rolling green hills softly blurred in the background under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

Notice Your Nature St Anthony's School

In June, students spent time across Rainton Meadows and Newcastle University to prepare to create their trail, immersing themselves in nature and higher education. At Rainton Meadows, students explored its habitats and species with the Trust’s educational lead, John Hayton. At the University, they found out about the University's cutting-edge wildlife research and experienced Higher Education first-hand. Inspired by what they found, students then worked in groups to write up species descriptions and mindful guidance, and worked with artist Zoë Robinson to produce their own watercolour artwork which form the final interpretation panels.

A person sits at a table painting a great crested grebe. They hold a printed reference image labeled “Great crested grebe” showing the bird’s distinctive black crest and chestnut neck. On the table are art supplies — brushes, a palette with mixed paints, a green water bowl, and a smartphone — while the painting in progress closely mirrors the reference bird’s elegant profile.

Notice Your Nature Southmoor Academy artwork

A person paints a bird on white paper, using a fine brush to add detail to its beak. The workspace is scattered with art supplies — colorful bowls of water, paint pots, pencils, and palettes with mixed colors. Nearby are printed reference photos of birds, including one flying over water and another with bright plumage, suggesting a nature-inspired art session.

 Notice Your Nature St Anthony's artwork

A person with long fair hair and glasses speaks to a small group of students in a classroom. She holds a sheet of paper and a pencil, appearing to explain or discuss something. The students, dressed casually, listen attentively, one holding a small notebook. The setting includes dark screens and a blue wall, giving the scene a focused, academic atmosphere.

Notice Your Nature St Anthony's 

A teacher leans over a table, showing a group of students how to handle old books carefully. The students, dressed in school uniforms, watch attentively as several historic volumes rest in foam supports with protective straps. The classroom has blue walls and large black screens, creating a focused, academic atmosphere.

Notice Your Nature Southmoor Academy

A group of students and a teacher stand around a table examining an old book supported by a foam cradle. The students lean in closely, holding notebooks and papers, while the teacher observes and discusses the contents. Behind them are pastel pink and blue lockers, adding a classroom or archive setting feel to the scene.

Notice Your Nature St Anthony's 

John Hayton said: “This project has been a joy from start to finish. The students threw themselves into learning about the wildlife here, and the artwork they produced is fantastic. Rainton Meadows is a hidden gem in the heart of an industrial landscape, and sometimes people don’t realise just how much life is buzzing, singing and blooming around them. These panels encourage visitors to slow down, listen and really take in the nature on their doorstep.

“We hope the time the students spent with us, and everything they discovered, will inspire them to keep connecting with nature and recognise just how vital the natural world is to us all.”

Lauren Aspery, the ‘Notice Your Nature’ project lead, said: “We are delighted with the nature trail that the students have created, which provides visitors at Rainton Meadows with the opportunity to pause for a mindful moment in nature and find out about their local wildlife through the lens of local young people. The students thrived throughout this project, absorbing all of the knowledge and advice shared with them by staff at Durham Wildlife Trust and Newcastle University. We hope this unique experience has encouraged them to consider their future in Higher Education and beyond, and truly notice their nature.”

"I learned that without the smaller insects or species the larger ones couldn’t survive."

"Learnt about how small things matter in nature."

"Losing just a fly could break the food chain and even the smallest animals matter."

"I think it is very exciting that our hard work over the past three days will be published at Rainton Meadows."

"I think it was a good opportunity for learning more about nature and the environment."

"I learned a lot about different creatures and new species I never knew existed before."

"Without small creatures like insects we couldn't have large animals as they set the foundation of the food chain."
The students who took part in the project shared their feedback.

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