A CONSTRUCTION company has shown its commitment to protecting the environment by becoming a corporate member of a wildlife trust.

Bowmer and Kirkland is building offices for Northern Rock at Rainton Bridge, near Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, next to Durham Wildlife Trust's headquarters.

The trust is responsible for an expanse of wetland at Rainton Meadows, which supports a range of waterfowl as well as kestrel, sparrowhawk, butterflies and dragonflies.

Bowmer and Kirkland saw its construction site's proximity to the reserve as an ideal opportunity to join the trust and support its work.

Now plans are under way to hold a team-building event on the reserve, involving company members and contractors.

The group, which has its head office in Derbyshire and a regional office in Sunderland, had a turnover of £750m last year.

It has been working at Rainton Bridge for three years and the site was recently a winner in the British Association of Landscaping Industries National Awards.

The company is also enrolled in the national Considerate Constructors Scheme.

Contracts manager Steve Waggett said: "Bowmer and Kirkland are neighbours of Durham Wildlife Trust while we build the new offices at Rainton Bridge.

"We are delighted to lend our support to the trust during this period, and we would like to look at developing a relationship in the longer term.

"We see supporting Durham Wildlife Trust as a further commitment to best practice in our field."

Adam Eagle, the trust's marketing manager, said: "Bowmer and Kirkland are a well-known name in the construction field and we are delighted to welcome them as Durham Wildlife Trust's latest corporate member.

"The company are particularly keen to get their staff involved in a team day.

"We are seeing more companies using this to benefit their staff as well as Durham Wildlife Trust."