THE creation of a wildlife haven will boost efforts to secure Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status for a countryside site in Hartlepool.

Work on a new feature at Summerhill, which will become a wetland habitat, has just been completed

Soil was scraped out to form a shallow bowl on part of the 100-acre site and this is expected to flood in the winter, creating a marshy area attractive to species including insects, amphibians, birds and plants.

Tony Davison, Summerhill manager, said: "The area around the new feature tends to flood in the winter anyway, so we are confident it will soon become an established habitat.

"A similar wetland on the other side of the site has been widely colonised. In fact, this year, we have had a fair bit of frog spawn.

"The new wetland will also be a major asset to the site as a whole when it comes to attracting visitors, providing an interesting and educational area."

Summerhill, which was formerly agricultural land, is being developed by Hartlepool Borough Council for sports, outdoor pursuits and conservation.

Work began in 1997 and since then about 100,000 trees and hedges have been planted.

If it secures LNR status, Summerhill will become the town's fifth site after Greatham Beck, the Hart to Haswell Walkway, Seaton Dunes and Common, and Hart Warren Dunes.

The next stage will be to submit an overall management plan for the site to English Nature for consideration.

LNR status gives sites enhanced protection against future development and provides access to grants.