Charity Devastated as Council Tractor Flattens Prudhoe Park's Wetland

In a concerning turn of events, a charity dedicated to improving Eastwoods Park in Prudhoe, Northumberland is devastated after a large section of the park's wetland and wildlife area was flattened by a council tractor. The Friends of Eastwoods Park (FOEP), a charity that has worked tirelessly to enhance the park, claimed they had managed to stop the damage, but a "large area" was ultimately lost.

Northumberland County Council, which owns the park, stated that the work carried out was "planned and completed correctly" as part of the park's agreed management plan. However, Hexham MP Joe Morris has called for a formal apology from the council to acknowledge the damage caused and "rebuild trust" with the local community, who are described as being "deeply disappointed" and "heart-broken" by the incident.

The FOEP group had spent years turning a waterlogged area of Eastwoods Park into a thriving wetland and wildlife habitat, investing significant time and resources into the project. According to the charity, the destroyed area included "well-established grasses and sedge which provided shelter and food for many amphibians, insects and mammals, increasing biodiversity and helping fight climate change." The group's founder and project manager, Russ Greig, expressed his frustration, stating that the council's claim of the work being planned is "absolute rubbish."