Goodbye for now
Hello and welcome to the final newsletter from the Our Dee Estuary project. We have some final updates for you below and a farewell message from our Project Manager. From the project team and all our partners we would like to thank you all for coming on this journey with us and we hope to work with the communities and wildlife of the Dee Estuary again in the future.
We are preparing to close down our social media channels now the project has come to an end. We will be doing a series of posts this month with links to follow all our partners who will be continuing to do great work in the area. Planned closure of the channels is the end of July 2025.
The Our Dee Estuary website will remain your primary source of information about the Dee Estuary. The contact us form will still be in use and will direct you to Hannah Phillips, the host of the Tidal Dee Catchment Partnership, based at Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
There is also another useful site for the River Dee Catchment Partnerships that is run by The Welsh Dee Trust. Make sure to check that out too!
Our hosts Cheshire Wildlife Trust would love you to keep up to date with their work by signing up to their weekly newsletter, Wild Cheshire. With two estuaries, the Dee and the Mersey, and an extensive coastline Cheshire Wildlife Trust will continue the work of the project for years to come.
The work continues… and we need your help
We can all play a part in protecting and caring for the Dee Estuary into the future. Whether it is by getting your hands dirty at a practical conservation session, helping a Friends of Group run their social media or fundraising and running events to support community conservation. Here are some groups and organisations who could use your help and support.
Greenfield Valley Heritage Park
A 70 acre country park, nestled in North Wales. The site is known for its woodlands, reservoirs and rich industrial heritage. There is an amazing team of dedicated volunteers here who lend their time to a wide variety of tasks.
If you have a couple of hours to spare, whether that’s weekly, monthly, or yearly and want to get involved, check out their website to find out more.
Can you lend a helping hand in the sand (dunes)?
Explore the outdoors! Do more for you community and nature by volunteering some of your time!
Want to spend the day on the coast with a friendly bunch of people doing something amazing for nature?
The team looking after the precious sand dune habitat at Talacre invite you to their regular day on the dunes, the first Thursday of the month.
Book your place here: Talacre Warren with ENI & Presthaven Sands rangers
Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens
Do you enjoy visiting the Dee Estuary to see the amazing flocks of waders that join us every year for autumn and winter?
You could combine your love of the estuary with helping the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens chat to people about the birds and why they are here, what we can do to make their stay a little safer and more enjoyable and also count them!
The DEVW are also looking for help with things like social media and organising events so if you aren’t into birds but want to help in other areas please still get in touch!
If you would like to know more about being a voluntary warden at West Kirby, then contact Matt Thomas and the Wirral Country Park Rangers at wcp@wirral.gov.uk
Dee Naturalists
There is a hidden gem on the Welsh side of the estuary, the Dee Naturalists. This membership group operate out of a site nestled in between Connah’s Quay and Oakenholt. They are always looking for new members and they run a whole host of events around the area for their members to socialise and learn. Membership is incredible value for money!
The Societies Annual Fees are:
£14.00 Family*
£12.00 Family* (at least one member over 60)
£12.00 Single (under 60)
£10.00 Single (over 60)
£3.50 Student/Junior (under 18)
Plus Key deposit £12.00
*Family Membership is defined as: Two adults living at the same address and their children up to the age of eighteen years.
Contact them at membership@deenats.org.uk if you’d like to join.
Volunteering at Wepre Park
Wepre Park is 160 acres of green space of various habitats and geology. Features include Old Hall gardens, Brook and Waterfall, acres of beautiful woodland walks and Ewloe Castle.
If you have some time to spare and fancy lending a hand working alongside the park rangers to maintain the site, then email them at friendsofweprepark@hotmail.co.uk
So long and thanks for all the fish…
As we come to the end of the Our Dee Estuary Project it is a good time for us to reflect on all that has been achieved and experienced over the last 6 years from project conception to completion. The team have built incredible relationships with partners and members of the Dee community and seen those flourish between individuals and groups as well.
In total the project has engaged with over 175,000 people through media, events and volunteering. That’s 175,000 people who have learnt how special the estuary is!
The team have worked with 9 different community groups, 38 teachers, and provided training for 120 citizen scientists. That is a lot of people with the knowledge, skills and passion to do amazing things for the Dee Estuary and its’ wildlife.
With that in mind we hope that you have enjoyed hearing about all of the fabulous organisations and opportunities around the Dee Estuary over the last couple of months. It is never too late to sign up and get involved!
It’s not all goodbyes…
The Tidal Dee Catchment Partnership, a group of collaborating organisations, who created the ODE project will continue to actively work together. Behind the scenes the group are developing new ideas and projects which will build on the achievements of the ODE project, continuing to protect and restore the Dee Estuary for wildlife and people.
Photo Credits: Our Dee Estuary, Rachel Bradshaw.
