A FARM "safari" is being held later this month at an environmentally-friendly flagship North Pennines farm.

Experts from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have arranged a Spring Bird Safari at Herdship Farm, near Harwood-in-Teesdale, on Saturday.

People attending the event will be looking for lapwing, snipe, curlew and redshank as well as black grouse.

There will also be an opportunity to look for spring flowers on the farm, which is run by Maurice and Kath Toward.

Becky Cash, RSPB regional agricultural advisor, said: "Herdship Farm is a fantastic place for a whole range of birds and on this walk we hope to see many of the species which make the area so important for wildlife.

"With luck, walkers may be able to catch a glimpse of the rare black grouse, a bird that has its English breeding stronghold in the North Pennines."

The free event is part of the RSPB's Pastures for Plovers project and will start at about 2pm and last for about two hours.

Numbers are limited to 20 and booking is essential. For further information, call Ms Cash on (01786) 870681.