HUNDREDS of acres of farmland across County Durham could be turned into woodland through a green project.

A five-year scheme, costing up to £5m, is being drawn up to plant species on former coalfield sites that were turned into fields 30 years ago.

The county has a lower amount of woodland than the national average and the organisations behind the scheme, which are seeking Heritage Lottery Fund cash, hope to redress the balance.

The planting of native broadleaf species would be carried out on 624 acres in parts of Teesdale, Wear Valley, Derwentside, Durham City and Chester-le-Street.

A bid of £1.5m has been approved in principle by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and detailed plans are being prepared.

Durham county council is working with English Heritage, district councils and groups such as the Groundwork Trust and Forestry Commission.

Countryside officer Mike Lowe said the project was the main part of a number of schemes being drawn up under the umbrella of English Nature.

"The thrust of the project is that the county council acquired a lot of land with the colliery site reclamation programme of the 1960s and 1970s," he said.

"A lot of it was reclaimed as agricultural land, and we are thinking that in many cases it would be suitable for woodland and recreation for the public."

There are also plans to improve the Weardale Way footpath.