BUSINESSES in the region are being urged to offer services for wildlife projects.

Durham Wildlife Trust issued the appeal after Northumbrian Water organised, and paid for, two days' hire of heavy machinery for work at Hylton Dene Local Nature Reserve, in Sunderland.

The machines were used to reinstate areas of open water that have silted up over a number of years. Thinning out the vegetation means the ponds remain excellent habitats for insects and birds.

Mark James, marketing and development officer for the trust, which runs the reserve, said: "Support from businesses both large and small is an invaluable resource for the trust and there are many benefits to both parties.

"There's always a project, new or ongoing, that a business can get involved in and we work very hard to ensure that the help is of real value to the company,. as well as us. That is important."

Northumbrian Water is one of Durham Wildlife Trust's most supportive corporate members and the work at Hylton Dene is one of many similar projects with which it has been involved in recent years.

Andrew Blakemore, Northumbrian Water's sewerage operations controller, said: "This goodwill gesture will not only improve the quality of Hylton Dene, but also ensure that visitors to the nature reserve will be able to continue to learn about and enjoy the wildlife, especially popular for pond-dipping."

Maurice Bates, the trust's project officer, said: "A job like this would be almost impossible to complete without the machinery Northumbrian Water provided."

* To support a project, contact Durham Wildlife Trust on 0191-584-3112. Other wildlife trusts in the region would also welcome help.

Published: 14/02/2006