PUPILS at Durham High School for Girls have conducted their own ‘Spring Watch’ at an emerging nature reserve on school grounds, of South Road, Durham. The girls spent four hours measuring, identifying, sketching, plotting, mapping, photographing and listing as many different species as they could find. Among the finds was a newt, which they named Sheldon.

PLANTS DONATION: Plants R Ross garden centre, in South Hetton, has donated £500-worth of plants to Gretton Court Alzheimers and Dementia Centre in Hartlepool and Grace House Children’s Hospice in Sunderland. Additionally, £50 vouchers were given to various other causes.

HOMES PLAN: Durham County Council is being asked to grant outline planning permission for 18 new homes on land behind Rock Terrace, New Brancepeth, near Durham. For further details, visit durham.gov.uk

CHARITY NIGHT: A Thai charity evening at the Active Life Centre in Coxhoe has raised £3,655.44 for Bragorn Paengaew, a Thai boy who suffers from numerous disabilities. The event was organised by Por Cartner, a Thai resident of Coxhoe. It included Thai food, music and dancing.

PIZZA TIME: Planning permission has been granted to convert a former shop at 5 Cheveley Park shopping centre, Belmont, Durham, into a takeaway restaurant. The firm behind the bid is Pizza Time.

24-7 PRAYER: Emmanuel Church and King’s Church, both in Durham City, are staging a week of non-stop prayer at St Oswald’s Church, Church Street, Durham, until Sunday (June 9). For further details, visit emmanuel.org.uk/247prayer

CAMPAIGN BACKING: Pupils at Belmont Community School, in Belmont, Durham, have backed the ‘Enough Food For Everyone If’ campaign against world hunger. Pupils penned messages on paper plates, which will be sent to the Government ahead of the G8 meeting later this month.