Five nature reserves to be designated through project

Karen Fisher, 31, has become the first local nature reserve officer for Derwentside District Council.

Her first job will be to seek English Nature's approval for the proposed Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), which are Kyo Bogs, South Stanley Woods, Harperley Woods, Allensford and West Wood, plus a joint site combining Pontop Fell, Delight Bank and Harelaw Heath.

Ms Fisher said: "These areas have the potential to be managed and looked after in a positive way for nature conservation and the local community.

"I will be leading activities for local groups, to encourage understanding of nature conservation and raise local interest.

"Local people will be encouraged to help with the running of these sites."

Her post is being funded with a National Lottery grant, administered through English Nature's Wildspace! grant scheme.

At present, Derwentside has two LNRs, Greencroft Heath and Tanfield Lea Marsh, that are jointly owned by the district and county councils.

Once the new sites are approved, Miss Fisher will work with local groups such as Cub Scouts and schools, to improve their use of the areas.

Plans under way include introducing harvest mice to Tanfield School and Tanfield Lea Infants and Juniors, plus showing pupils owls and kestrels by working with Durham Police's wildlife liaison officer, Sergeant Eddie Bell.

"At the moment, some children are riding their bikes through these sites and older ones use them for drinking and drug taking," she said.

"The mice is one way of showing them that riding their bikes damages the grass, which means no mice, which means no birds of prey. We are hoping to get a web cam in with one of them, so we can put a mouse on the council's website."

She is looking for volunteers to help improve the sites, either as reserve wardens, who monitor the areas, or rangers, who do more practical conservation management work.

For information, contact Miss Fisher on (01207) 218304.