Exciting New Role for Wildlife Enthusiasts Along the Ouse Burn Valley
1st January 2026
We are delighted to be funding a new Ouse Burn Ecologist position with the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), part of the Foundation’s Ouse Burn Way Fund. This exciting role offers a unique opportunity to support local wildlife, engage communities, and help deliver the vision for the Ouse Burn Way in Newcastle.
The Ouse Burn Ecologist will survey habitats, monitor species, and manage conservation projects along the seven-mile Ouse Burn corridor. The role also includes community engagement, leading events, and inspiring residents of all ages to notice, enjoy, and care for urban wildlife.
Working alongside NHSN’s Urban Naturalist, Ellie Davison, the Ecologist will help nurture local enthusiasm for nature and support community-led improvements such as tree and bulb planting, wildlife habitats, and litter picking.
“This exciting project puts communities at the heart of caring for the Ouse Burn,” said Ellie Davison. “It’s about shared action, local pride, and creating lasting benefits for people and wildlife for years to come.”
The Ouse Burn Way project aims to transform this urban corridor into a thriving green space, connecting communities from the River Tyne to Weetslade Country Park. Through a mix of habitat restoration and citizen engagement, the initiative demonstrates the impact of collaborative conservation.
“The Ouse Burn Way is such a special part of our local environment,” said Anne Reece, Chair of the Reece Foundation. “We are very pleased to support its future by funding an Ouse Burn Ecologist. This important role will engage communities, protect wildlife, and help nature thrive along this vital corridor.”
This field-based position is offered on a three-year contract with a salary of £26,500–£28,500. Applications close at midnight on Sunday 18 January. Full details and the recruitment pack are available on the NHSN website.
Interested? Find out more
For an informal discussion about the role, email Ellie Davison, Urban Naturalist: urbannaturalist@newcastle.ac.uk
There will also be a drop-in session at the Council Room, Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle City Centre, from 1–4 pm on Friday 9 January 2026 — an opportunity to meet Ellie and the team and learn more about the Ouse Burn Way.
The Ouse Burn Way is a seven-mile urban wildlife corridor stretching from the mouth of the Ouse Burn to Weetslade Country Park. Its vision extends beyond wildlife, improving water quality, enhancing wellbeing, and creating spaces where communities can connect with nature. The Reece Foundation’s £1 million Ouse Burn Way Fund supports local projects that make this vision a reality.
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