A SENSORY garden designed to attract dragonflies has been given a £20,000 grant.

The County Durham Environmental Trust (CDent) is giving money from the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme to Broadgate Farm, near Esh.

The garden features brightly coloured plants and shrubs such as ligularias, which are popular with species including dragonflies and great crested newt.

The CDent funding will go towards the introduction of a range of new plants and development of facilities for local schools.

CDent money will also help St Aidan's Community Trust plant a heritage garden at Rookhope; support the development of a wildflower and sensory garden at Bearpark; a wildlife area at Waldridge for the Edmondsley Community Partnership; as well as enabling Durham Wildlife Trust to improve access to the Lambton Wildlife Garden, at Hetton-le-Hole.

Quarrington Hill Community Association will receive money for the creation of three interpretation panels for a heritage trail at the Crowtrees Local Nature Reserve.

CDent', chairman, John Wearmouth, said: "Small is beautiful so they say, but we hope these schemes will also make a big difference to the local communities in which they are set."