BBC Countryfile to feature two Northumberland Nature reserves next Sunday night

Two Northumberland nature reserves are set to star in Countryfile next Sunday night.

Earlier in May, presenter Joe Crowley visited both East and West Chevington at Druridge Bay, both of which are managed by Northumberland Wildlife Trust. During an interview with West Chevington project officer Lee Rankin, they spoke about working to develop the site as an area for rewilding in partnership with local farmers and landowners.

After West Chevington, the film crew headed to East Chevington to meet Sophie Webster, EcoNorth ecologist and former Catch My Drift project officer who discussed at length the importance of the former mining site. The site has the largest reedbeds in Northumberland with specialist species, such as moths, bearded tit and marsh harrier breeding there, and the return of the latter to the site in 2008 after an absence as a breeding bird in Northumberland since the 1850s.

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Lee Rankin, Northumberland Wildlife Trust West Chevington project officer says: "I am delighted Countryfile will be highlighting two of our Duridge Bay sites on its upcoming programme. East and West Chevington have such a wonderful mining heritage and are a splendid example of how nature can be restored and nurtured on former colliery sites.

"We are so fortunate to live in a wonderful part of the world and hopefully, after the programme is broadcast, viewers will come and see it for themselves."

Countryfile will be broadcast on BBC One on Sunday, May 19 at 7.15pm