Tree Planting Day at Tina’s Haven
Local community is at the heart of a new coastal nature reserve at Horden, East Durham
In 2023 the National Trust purchased a 34 hectare (84 acre) field at Warren House on the Durham coast with grant funding from the North East Community Forest Trees for Climate fund. Planted with crops for many years, this former farmland is being restored to a natural state with the aim of enhancing recovery for both people and nature.
The new nature reserve has been named Tina’s Haven in memory of Tina Robson – a young woman who lost her life to trauma-based addiction in 2020. In 2022, Tina’s mum, Dr Sue Robson, founded and collaboratively developed a groundbreaking arts and nature-based programme (also named Tina’s Haven) in East Durham, designed to nurture self-empowerment and support women’s recovery from addiction and trauma.
Sue is now working closely with the National Trust and local organisations including Addictions Northeast, The Barn at Easington, Women in Empowerment and Recovery (WiRE) Project, No More Nowt, Durham County Council’s Horden Together, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Free Women’s Community, Recovering Justice Women’s Group, Steps into Recovery and Rainbow Promise, to ensure the Tina’s Haven site embodies strength in community. The project provides a place for people to connect with each other, spend time outdoors and work together to create the nature reserve.
Monday 31 March, chosen to mark Tina Robson’s 40th birthday, begins a week of tree-planting at Tina’s Haven. Community groups, partner organisations and schools will be invited to plant saplings along with their messages of hope, written on heart-shaped biodegradable paper.
Dr Sue Robson said: “Through the Tina’s Haven project, women are achieving self-empowerment and well-being from being immersed in nature; effectively connecting their recovery to that of the land.
Collectively working towards the creation of Tina’s Haven widens and extends these connections, spreading a message of hope across East Durham communities and beyond.”
Work to prepare the site began in February. Over the coming months, 21,575 trees will be planted within the nature reserve. That number will include a ‘Tree of Hope’ – one of 49 saplings grown from seed from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall and gifted to communities across the UK.
Dr Sue Robson added: “The planting of the Sycamore Gap sapling on the land later this year will symbolise that even after the worst adversity and tragedy, there can be recovery, healing, new beginnings and hope can grow in abundance.”
Event Details:
Tina’s Haven community tree planting day
Monday 31 March at Tina’s Haven nature reserve, Warren House, Horden.
Meet at the car park opposite Pat Lavery Car Sales, Blackhills Road, Horden, SR8 4DT what3words /// zooms.invite.hardly NB the nature reserve is approximately 0.6 miles/ 15 minutes’ walk from the meeting point. Team members will guide you to the site, or direct you on arrival.
Tree planting and photo/interview opportunities: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Refreshments available from The Hope Box, provided by The Barn at Easington and Women in Empowerment and Recovery (WiRE)