The loss of Northumberland's iconic sycamore tree at Sycamore Gap has deeply touched many, both nationally and worldwide, says Tony Gates, Chief Executive of the Northumberland National Park Authority.

Amidst this tragic event, the Northumberland National Park Authority and partners forged ahead yesterday with a planned conference aimed at radiating hope.

Held at The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, the event unveiled the transformative 'Hadrian’s Wall: Recovering Nature' project, a conservation initiative over two years in the making.

The project signals a significant turn towards nature-led land management within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall.

Tony Gates, Chief Executive Officer, Northumberland National Park Authority said: “Hadrian’s Wall: Recovering Nature aims to put nature first within Northumberland National Park by restoring and expanding wetland habitats, enabling wildlife to flourish, allowing currently missing species to return, and doing all of this whilst allowing people to engage hands on with nature recovery.”

While the core focus rests on Greenlee and Stonefolds, a 200-hectare site including Greenlee Lough, the project extends its reach with a wider catchment area of 5,000-hectares.

The Northumberland National Park Authority will work with farmers and landowners to restore peatlands, re-naturalise watercourses, plant trees and create habitats.

The Reece Foundation offered its support for this pioneering work.

Anne Reece, Chair of the Reece Foundation, said: “The Reece Foundation is proud to support this visionary project. By bringing together experts, landowners, and the community, we are investing in a brighter, more sustainable future for Northumberland’s natural heritage and addressing some of the nation’s biggest challenges around nature recovery, biodiversity loss, and health and wellbeing.

“There is no blueprint for nature recovery. We hope this project will expand our knowledge, including the economics of nature recovery whilst engaging and inspiring people to learn and take action that will help to prepare for and mitigate the impact of climate change.”

The project seeks to promote hands-on interaction with nature recovery efforts – an approach captured in the project’s film, which was shot in September.

Visitors can learn more about its scope by visiting an exhibition that will run until November 6 at The Sill.

Details about the project can be found at www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk.