VISITORS are being welcomed back to a Teesdale nature reserve which was closed last year because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

English Nature is reopening Moor House - Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve.

The nature reserve has recently been improved and there is a new leaflet to guide visitors along the trail.

There are also updated interpretation panels at the Cow Green reservoir car park.

The leaflet gives details about wildlife and geology, and points out interesting features that can be seen along the route of the easy three- mile nature trail, which is accessible to wheelchair users.

A set of five interpretation panels describe the reserve and the geology, vegetation and animal life on Widdybank Fell.

The spring gentian, with its bright blue flowers, is now in bloom along the nature trail.

In the British Isles this rare alpine plant grows only in upper Teesdale and western Ireland.

Other interesting plants, including the Teesdale violet and the bird's eye primrose are also starting to flower at this time of year.

Chris McCarty, English Nature site manager, said "It's good to be able to welcome people back to the reserve at this time of year, with so many beautiful plants and spectacular birds to see."

The Widdybank Fell nature trail starts at the car park at Cow Green Reservoir, signposted off the B6277 at Langdon Beck, seven miles north west of Middleton-in-Teesdale.

The nature trail leaflet is available at the car park, from tourist information outlets in Teesdale, or from the Moor House - Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve office, on (01833) 622374/