GOOD-NATURED energy staff have been mucking in a nature reserve to help protect 67 acres of special landscape.

Employees from EDF Energy’s customer service centre at Doxford Business Park, Sunderland, took time out to help remove an invasive shrub which was threatening to starve the native plants from sunlight at Hawthorn Dene.

The Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is between Seaham and Easington.

As part of the energy company’s Helping Hands volunteering programme, the team spent a day removing Himalayan balsam by hand.

EDF Energy customer service advisor Phil Hughes said: “The Helping Hands scheme allows us to assist community projects with the support of the company.

“There are always deserving local projects that the teams at the customer services centre can get involved with and it not only benefits the community, but gives us an opportunity to do something really rewarding.”

The EDF Energy Helping Hands programme allows all 1,800 employees at Doxford to take up to two days paid leave every year to volunteer in the community.

The Himalayan balsam, which originates from its namesake, was introduced in the 1800’s because of the ability to decorate gardens at a low cost due to its high and rapid spread.

However its invasiveness soon became apparent to be damaging to other species of plants, and in 2010 was recognised as a prohibited noxious weed.

Steve Purvis, Reserves Assistant, at Durham Wildlife Trust reserves assistant Steve Purvis said: “EDF Energy has always been a great supporter of the trust’s work and we’re delighted with the work of the volunteers at Hawthorn Dene.”