On 4 March 2026, Durham Wildlife Trust and Banks Mining announced the creation of a new nature reserve on the site of a former surface mine in County Durham. The 21-hectare site, to be named Billingside Meadows, is located between Leadgate and Dipton and will be transformed into a managed space for local wildlife like skylarks.
Banks Mining has gifted the land to the Trust and set up a £127,000 fund to pay for the initial work needed to create and look after the reserve. The mining company has also agreed to provide extra money every year for the next seven years to help with the ongoing costs of keeping the site in good condition.
The project aims to turn old industrial land into a useful green space that the local community can enjoy. This work at the former Bradley surface mine is part of a larger plan to help nature recover in the area by fixing up land that was previously used for industry.
Andrew Wadds, the reserves manager at Durham Wildlife Trust, is helping to lead the project as the land moves from its mining history to becoming a protected natural area. The new reserve joins a regional network of sites across the county that are being set aside to help local plants and animals thrive.
