DURHAM Wildlife Trust has launched a project designed to take the wonders of the Durham moors wildlife into the classroom.

The Living Uplands project offers primary schools a free education pack that encourages young people to take a closer look at bird and plant life on the Durham uplands. 

Included in the pack, which can be used across all aspects of the curriculum, is information on the Black Grouse, one of the area’s rarest birds.

Black Grouse, the sixth most endangered bird in the UK, have declined in many parts of the United Kingdom but significant populations survive in the North Pennines, including the Durham moors, upland areas of Wales and most of Scotland.

The Living Uplands education pack includes information on the birds’ breeding grounds where in the spring the males gather to display for the females while uttering a distinctive ‘bubbling’ mating call in a ritual known as a lek. The ritual happens particularly in April and May.

Kirtsy Pollard, of the Trust, said: “The Living Uplands project links to Key Stage 1 and 2 on the primary school curriculum and is an effective way to enhance Science and Literacy skills, and to promote pupils’ creativity and confidence.

“Using everything from pictures and videos to blogs, the project provides children and teachers with a window into the upland moorlands to see birdlife at first hand. We look forward to exploring the Living Uplands with our region’s young people.”

For access to the educational resources, a school needs to register with the website. This provides full access to the online resource and can be found at  www.livinguplands.com Teachers can also ring the Trust on 0191 584 3112