Land handed to council

More than 50 acres of Nottinghamshire parkland are being handed back into public ownership.

The area next to Bestwood Country Park is being donated to the county council by the aggregates company Tarmac.

It was last used as a quarry in 1981 and has undergone a £100,000 restoration.

The facelift began in 2001 and saw dormant sandstone land turned in to lush grass areas.

Oak, birch trees and other shrubs have been planted to encourage unusual species of insects and butterflies to breed.

The park's managers have recently secured a further £15,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to continue the development of areas of heathland around the site.