SCHOOLCHILDREN have branched out to help return a working site in Teesdale to its natural beauty.
After years of being used as a site to spread sludge from water treatment at Lartington works, near Barnard Castle, Northumbrian Water is restoring the nearby Cotherstone site.
Thirty pupils from Cotherstone Primary School helped five water employees plant 100 trees.
The species were carefully chosen for the area and included oak, rowan, downy birch, hazel, holly, hawthorn, juniper, ash and elm.
The two-year restoration project is in the early stages and the site is also to be landscaped and seeded.
Stuart Pudney, Northumbrian Water's conservation consultant, said: "Hard work from the children at Cotherstone Primary School has contributed greatly to make this happen, for which we are extremely grateful."
Ian Moorhouse, of Trees for Cotherstone, said: "This tree planting project by Northumbrian Water and children from Cotherstone Primary School is excellent.
"It is great to see the landscape being returned to its natural environment and brilliant for the residents of Cotherstone village."
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