Poor quality grassland in County Durham is being turned into a thriving habitat for flora and fauna.

Northumbrian Water is set to transform the 15-hectare site, between Shildon and Bishop Auckland, after taking on a 31-year lease.

The site runs alongside the River Gaunless and currently comprises modified grassland, with low species diversity.

Work to address this will include:

  • Converting the grassland to ‘other neutral grassland’ with native grasses and wildflowers to be seeded across 27 acres
  • Planting over 1,000 metres of new native species hedgerows and restoring 140 metres of existing hedge along the length of the site
  • Creating new areas of scrub and woodland, and
  • Enhancing an existing pond and creating three new ponds

Uncontrolled access to the riverside by grazing animals is also contributing sediment into the Gaunless, which the company plans to address through the addition of fencing, to protect the water quality.

Work will also be carried out along the route of the new project, with land restored as construction is completed along the way, but this additional site will allow for greater benefits to be delivered.

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Stuart Pudney, Conservation and Land Manager at Northumbrian Water, said: “Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley is a huge investment for us, protecting vital water supplies for the future.

“Developing this plan for a Biodiversity Net Gain project close by offers us the opportunity to enhance the environment at the same time, and long into the future.

“It’s a really exciting ‘first’ for us and the potential for making this a home to new species, such as skylark, is something we hope people across the area will be really enthusiastic about.”

An agreement has been reached with the existing landowner and other partners to ensure the management of the site delivers benefits for the environment and wildlife.