Skip to content

Nature reserve to be created at former mine site

News imageDurham Wildlife Trust Three people, Kate Culverhouse of the Banks Group, Andrew Wadds of Durham Wildlife Trust and Louise Harrison of the Banks Group, standing in a line in front of a field. It is a grey day and the hills behind them are covered in mist. Kate has white, short hair and is smiling into the camera with one eye closed. She is wearing a big, dark coat and has round glasses on. Andrew is squinting at the camera and is wearing a beanie. He has his hands in his pockets and has a coat on with the Durham Wildlife Trust logo. Louise has dark hair and is wearing glasses. She is wearing a dark coat with her hands in her pocket and is smiling.Durham Wildlife Trust
Andrew Wadds, centre, said he hoped the reserve would be home to birds such as lapwings and skylarks

A nature reserve is to be created on the site of a former mine.

The Bradley surface mine, which sits between Leadgate and Dipton, in County Durham, was operated by Banks Mining before closing in 2020.

The 21-hectare (51.8 acre) stretch of land has now been donated to Durham Wildlife Trust and will be turned into Billingside Meadows.

Andrew Wadds, reserves manager for Durham Wildlife Trust, said it would be made up of grasslands, wetlands and mixed scrub where visitors could expect to see birds such as lapwings and skylarks.

Banks Mining has set up a £127,000 fund for the trust to help create and preserve the reserve, with annual support being provided for a further seven years.

Louise Harrison, project manager at Banks Mining, said: "Billingside Meadows will be a wonderful place for people to walk, play or just spend time, and Durham Wildlife Trust's expertise and dedication, along with the enthusiasm of their volunteer team, makes them the ideal partner to deliver something really special."

Wadds said Exmoor ponies and native cattle would be used to graze the area.

Durham Wildlife Trust said it was now looking for more volunteers to help it establish the site.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

More on this story
Related internet links