A NEW ranger has been appointed to lead a team responsible for promoting and protecting country parks.

Ian Graham becomes park ranger team leader at Herrington Country Park, near Chester-le-Street.

He and his part-time colleagues will provide a seven-day presence at Sunderland's Princess Anne and Hetton Lyons country parks, offering advice and information to visitors and protecting the wild-life habitat for local flora and fauna.

Mr Graham, a former conservation and education officer at Durham Wildlife Trust for the past ten years, qualified in woodland management and countryside skills from Kirkley Hall Agricultural College.

He said: "My main role will be to promote better use of the park and encourage more visitors, through visiting schools and community groups, to let everyone know about the education and recreational assets provided in beautiful surroundings.

"Parks like Herrington are remarkable in the fact of what they once were, and we'll be trying to establish new habitats."

Sunderland City Council parks development manager Ian Coburn said: "Ian really is an excellent appointment, bringing a wealth of experience to his new role from his involvement at the Hylton Dene project.

"He will lead a team of part-time park rangers we are in the process of recruiting, who will provide habitat management within the country parks."