A historic Durham Wildlife Trust site has been restored to its former glory thanks to a contribution from Esh Construction’s Greener Communities Fund.
Esh donated £1,500 to Durham Wildlife Trust to support the restoration of the much-loved Joe’s Jetty at Joe’s Pond Nature Reserve, which sits adjacent to Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve in Houghton-le-Spring. The jetty was subject to an arson attack in 2023.
Joe’s Pond – formerly Nicholson’s Pit Pond – was named after local man, Joe Wilson, a keen gamekeeper and caretaker of the pond, which was often used locally for fishing. Previously a flooded clay pit, where clay was dug for brickworks that supplies the drift mines of the Rainton Collieries, it later became a recreation pond owned by the Coal Authority, before Joe leased the site from them.
Joe tended to the pond with great care, introducing plants and creating islands in the pond which attracted various wetland birds and amphibians. The pond was acquired by Durham Wildlife Trust in 1971 when Joe retired, and it was renamed ‘Joe’s Pond’ in recognition of his dedication to the site. The name has been maintained in its heritage for more than 50 years since.
Emily Routledge, Head of Development and Communications at Durham Wildlife Trust, said: “Joe had done such a good job that the pond was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) shortly after the Trust took over the site. The area really is a shining example of how, given time, nature can return and thrive despite the scars of industry. The jetty is a very popular spot for local people to enjoy the wildlife the reserve is home to, and we were all devastated when vandalism destroyed it. We can’t thank Esh enough for its contribution to helping us reopen Joe’s Jetty.”
Launched in 2022 in partnership with the County Durham Community Foundation, Esh’s Greener Communities fund was set up to help communities deliver projects which centred around carbon reduction, environmental improvement, and education. More than £50,000 of donations have been granted to organisations across Esh Construction’s operational areas for a variety of projects that contribute environmental improvements within the local community.
The donation to Durham Wildlife Trust arose through Site Manager David Matthews, currently working on site at Grove Hill in Middlesbrough, where Esh is delivering 296 new affordable homes on behalf of Thirteen Housing Group. David visits the nature reserve regularly with his family and after seeing the jetty fall into disrepair as a consequence of the arson attack, he reached out to the Esh team to see if the company could support.
He said: “My wife and I regularly visit the nature reserve as it is five minutes from our home. We are keen bird watchers, so this wonderful place is perfect, the walks, trails and ponds cover a vast amount of land where you’ll see a wide variety of birds and wildlife.
“When we heard that Joe’s Jetty had been vandalised, I contacted our social value team to ask if Esh could possibly help with funding to replace Joe’s Jetty. I would like to thank Esh for jumping into action and providing the funding to replace Joe’s Jetty for all to use.”
To find out more about Durham Wildlife Trust’s work, visit www.durhamwt.com/
When we heard that Joe’s Jetty had been vandalised, I contacted our social value team to ask if Esh could possibly help with funding to replace Joe’s Jetty. I would like to thank Esh for jumping into action and providing the funding to replace Joe’s Jetty for all to use.”
