A COUPLE'S dreams of transforming a redundant quarry into a nature reserve and education centre are starting to flourish.

When Tom Mercer, 40, and Jill Essam, 41, bought Harehope Quarry in Frosterley, Weardale, they had a vision of creating a safe haven for wildlife that could be used to educate people of all ages.

So far they have managed to set up a carp farm that will help the project become more self sufficient along with a small wind turbine and solar power system.

The next challenge is to build an eco-classroom out of timber that has been made possible with two grants, one of about £33,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and another of about £20,000 from landfill company Sita Environmental.

Some of the money will also be spent on a bird hide and other items that will enhance the more natural habitat of the site.

Mr Mercer, a marine biologist, said: "When we bought the quarry in 1997 we wanted to try and establish a strong, stable project within the quarry that would protect the more natural area, which we call the nature reserve part, where the river is, while creating something that would make the project self sufficient.

"This is why we created the carp farm so the money we make from that can be ploughed back into the quarry."

Volunteers are lined up to start work on the new eco-classroom, which will be used as an education centre for schools and community groups.

The classroom will also be self sufficient because it will be powered by the small wind turbine and solar system already installed on site.