A PROJECT to recreate one of the country's great 18th Century landscapes is well under way after years of planning.

Yesterday, hundreds of people took advantage of free entry to the Gibside Estate at Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, to see what the National Trust property had to offer.

The estate, originally created by coal baron and land owner George Bowes from 1730, has links with the Queen Mother's family of Bowes-Lyons.

The trust acquired the estate chapel and tree-lined avenue in 1974 and later the 300 acres around the Monument to Liberty.

Property manager Tony Walton, who is in charge of the development, said: "We have quite exciting and extensive plans to put together what was a large estate in 1860.

"We are rebuilding it the way it was then, in what will be a good 15 to 20-year programme."

The multi-million pound project, funded by English Heritage, Lottery cash and the National Trust, will include restoration of the old stable block to allow working horses to be introduced to the estate.

The upstairs of the stables will be converted into dormitory for schools to use the estate as an educational facility.

There are also plans to restore the orangery, built between 1772 to 1774 by Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore, who was a keen botanist.

When returned to its former glory, the ornate greenhouse will be staffed by people with disabilities to produce flowers and exotic fruits throughout the year.

Cut Thorn Farm will be converted to a visitors' centre, along with a children's farm.

Activities will include children's days, guided walks, theatre productions and musical events.