A FLOCK of rare sheep is helping restore a wildlife site to its former glory.

Eighteen Hebridean sheep have been taken to the Crow Trees nature reserve at Quarrington Hill, near Durham City, to stop the spread of hawthorn and gorse.

The 40-hectare site, in east Durham's magnesian limestone escarpment, is home to rare plants and animals, but the hawthorn and gorse scrub are threatening the fragile ecosystem.

On Friday, children from Cassop Primary School shepherded the flock to the site from a neighbouring field.

Ian Armstrong, Durham County Council community wildlife officer for the east of the county, said: "It is hoped that this management regime will return the grasslands to their former glory while still retaining a patchwork of scrub as cover for birds, mammals and insects.

"The Hebridean sheep are very good for this sort of work because they are a hardy breed and can be left out all year long. The grazing will benefit a host of species, including orchids and rock rose, which is a food plant for the rare Durham argus butterfly."

Crow Trees supports a range of birds, including the linnet, yellowhammer, song thrush, grey partridge, little owl and green woodpecker.

It is part of English Nature's Pastures for People project, uniting the owners of wildlife sites and the owners of livestock looking for grazing land