SEVEN wildlife sites in the Stockton borough have been given Local Nature Reserve status.
Stockton Borough Council's parks and countryside team declared the seven sites; Barwick Pond, Charltons Pond, Norton Grange Marsh, Greenvale, Quarry Wood, Stillington Forest Park and Hardwick Dene and Elm Tree Wood as Local Nature Reserves.
The Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Jennie Beaumont, and Keith Borer, chairman of the Friends of Local Nature Reserves Group, will officially launch the sites as LNRs on Tuesday, June 29, at Preston Hall, Eaglescliffe, which will then be followed by a guided walk of Quarry Wood nature reserve.
All seven sites have a number of rare and protected species of plants and animals, including the great crested newt, at Barwick Pond and a rare variety of Lady's Mantle at Greenvale.
Councillor Alex Cunningham, the council's cabinet member for education, leisure and cultural services, said: "This is an opportunity to raise the awareness, while at the same time providing future protection."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article