TRAINING courses aimed at conserving traditional riverbank settings take place at the Hetton Bogs nature reserve, in Wearside, next week.

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and Sunderland City Council's countryside team have joined forces to provide conservation training courses of between one and four days.

Traditional skills on offer include the use of willows to form a natural barrier between the river and land to prevent riverbanks crumbling away, preserving a valuable natural habitat.

Mark Connelly, BCTV project officer, said: "We are showing people some of the old traditional skills which have preserved riverbanks and wildlife habitats for centuries."

To take part in the training, between Tuesday and Friday, contact Mark Connelly, on 0191-553 8774. Pre-booking is essential. Transport is available to the Hetton-le-Hole site, from Sunderland Civic Centre. People should meet on the civic centre steps, in Burdon Road, Sunderland, at 9.30am.