Hide is a new wildlife watching facility on the shores of Bakethin conservation area, at the head of Kielder Water. The structure was the fourth in the ‘Testing Ground’ series of projects, designed and built by a small group of MArch students from Newcastle University School of Architecture.

Students worked closely with the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbrian Water, and Kielder Art & Architecture, to create the brief for the project and develop a number of design responses from which the project partners selected their preferred option.

Hide replaces an old bird watching hide that had occupied this site for the past 20 years and the new structure responds to the aspiration to widen the experience to be had bt visitors to include opportunities to not only observe birds on Bakethin, but also wildlife in the forest adjacent to the hide at close hand.

To the front, Hide is 100m from a new osprey nesting pole sited on a nearby island, and will provide unparalleled views of the birds throughout the nesting season. To the side, tall windows give vertical views from the forest floor to its canopy. Timber screens to hide approaching visitors and a moss roof complete the building.

Hide is designed to be a wildlife attraction to all, from serious birdwatchers, to family groups and has been funded  by the Heritage Lottery grant through the Living Wild at Kielder project.