DERELICT nature reserves are being brought back to life by dedicated teams of community volunteers to create pleasant areas to enjoy wildlife.

The Living Waterways project is bringing environmental improvements to ponds at Harperley Wood, near Stanley, and Barbara Priestman School, in Sunderland.

Tanfield Lea Countryside Group asked for help to clean up Kyo Burn in the woodland and restore the ponds, which are important for sustaining the natural habitats of great crested newts.

The volunteers have started removing rubbish and overgrown vegetation from the ponds and more conservation days are planned.

Living Waterways project officer Sarah Edwards said: "We've hope to make great progress on the site working with volunteers over the winter months.

"Harperley wood and Kyo Burn are an important corridor for wildlife in the Tanfield area.

"Keeping the burn free from litter helps the water to flow freely, reducing the risk of flooding, and maintaining the ponds will help to conserve the important population of great crested newts that live in the surrounding area."

Living Waterways is run by Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee, Durham Wildlife Trust and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, which works with local communities to reduce flood risk and improve urban streams and green spaces for people and wildlife.

Barbara Priestman School, which has pupils with special needs, contacted Living Waterways for help restoring its nature reserve and create a pond for them to enjoy.

Volunteers cleared paths and unblocked an overgrown stream and work is being carried out to dig a new pond.

Jewson's in Gateshead loaned Durham Wildlife Trust a mini digger for some of the work.

Environment Agency project manager Rachael McFarlane said: "The support from the local communities, schools and Jewson's has been a great help in delivering this work in both locations.

"I am really pleased that Living Waterways has progressed these two sites in County Durham and been able to improve them for people and wildlife."

To find out how to get involved or donate to either project, contact Sarah Edwards at Durham Wildlife Trust on 0191-512-8950 or email sedwards@durhamwt.co.uk