Charity reveals woodland project

Thousands of trees will be planted on the site

A unique landscape between Durham and Sunderland is to become the area's largest publicly accessible woodland.

The Woodland Trust has finalised a £1.3m deal to acquire and manage the 203 acre (83 hectare) site at Elemore Wood, near Easington Lane.

The charity already owns an adjacent 175 acre (71 hectare) site, which is largely made up of magnesian limestone.

Over two years it will be planted with more than 90,000 trees to become part of a continuous area of woodland.

Sara Lyons, regional development officer for the Woodland Trust, said: "The Extension enables us to put a large area of accessible woodland within easy reach of thousands of people.

"Elemore Woods is now ready for the creation of new woodland for the benefit of both people and wildlife."

The Heritage Lottery Fund and the County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT), were among the organisation that contributed cash towards the purchase.