CONTRACTORS will be moving into a woodland in north Durham this week.

The contractors will be improving the footpaths, replanting hedges and tidying-up the entrances to woods in The Grove and Moorside, in Consett.

The work is part of a project being managed by Groundwork West Durham and Darlington.

Working with Consett South Community Partnership, the groups will improve Temperley's Wood, which runs from Moorside Community Technology College to Allensford, and the footpath that runs through Taylor's Wood, from the A692 adjacent to Castleside Inn, to Selby Gardens, The Grove.

Two art features will be created to mark the entrances to woods in Selby Gardens and Moorside College.

Artist Phil Townsend was selected by the partnership and has held workshops with pupils from both primary schools in The Grove, making clay tiles. Pupils from the college have been carving stone.

Mr Townsend will incorporate some of their ideas into the final designs, which will be approved by the partnership in the next few weeks. The artwork will be erected by the end of next month.

The project, which is costing in the region of £50,000 is being funded by Durham County Council's urban and rural renaissance initiative and local transport plan two scheme and with £20,000 from County Durham Environmental Trust. Anyone who would like to help can call 01207-524803.