THE home of Durham Wildlife Trust staged an open day at the weekend.

Dozens of people made their way to Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, at Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, where they were able to build bird boxes and take part in guided walks around the nature reserve.

The Sunderland Wood Turners demonstrated their craft and visitors were able to try their hand at some practical conservation work.

Wildlife trust spokesman Sharon Coldwell said: "It was a successful day.

"We had a steady stream of people arriving.

"It was an ideal opportunity for people to get out and enjoy their local environment and learn about how the trust came to be based on an opencast site.

"One couple who live tenminutes' walk away had never been before and were really impressed.

"They will probably be back more regularly."