AN ancient woodland is to be restored to its former glory thanks to a £25,000 grant.

Pontburn Wood, close to Consett and in the heart of the Derwent Valley, extends over more than 270 acres and represents the largest site of its kind in the region.

The definition of ancient woodland is an area that has been continuously wooded for at least 400 years and often much longer, sometimes linking back to the last Ice Age.

They are a habitat of more threatened species than any other UK environment and are a finite resource that cannot increase, so what remains is irreplaceable.

The Woodland Trust, which owns Pontburn, yesterday revealed it had secured £25,000 from the Sita Trust.

The money will be used for the restoration of parts of Potburn Woods and the work will begin this autumn and continue gradually over the next three years.

Laura Judson, for the Woodland Trust, said: "Pontburn Woods are already a very special place and this work will ensure they get better.

"Ancient woodland deserves our protection and where we can through a programme of conifer removal, our restoration programme will see much improvement, but it will be a gradual process.''

Sita Trust chairman John Leaver said: "It is very exciting to be able to fund a project of this scale where we can see such an improvement to biodiversity in such a short space of time.

"It will be fascinating to see the restoration of Pontburn Woods over the coming years."