A COMMUNITY group has been learning about environmental projects to carry out further work to improve part of north Durham.

Members of Chester-le-Street and District Area Action Partnership visited Crook, Willington and Tow Law to see three different schemes.

The environmental task group wanted to see if the projects could be replicated in or around the town.

The group visited Roddymoor Community Allotments, Oakenshaw Nature Reserve and South Dene woods, meeting the communities involved and finding out what they had achieved and what these projects mean to the communities who use them.

Derek Snaith, principal community development officer, said: “The group was particularly impressed with the allotment project and how the allotment group had created a meeting space for the local community to meet, learn and socialise.

“Another impressive visit was to the Oakenshaw Nature reserve where the local community through the residents association are taking on a large woodland and lake area, to improve access to it through improving the pathways and route-ways across the site and ensure people make the most of this amazing local beauty spot.”

Previous visits to the south and east of the county have helped to inform improvements to roundabouts, furniture recycling, In Bloom, grant schemes to support planting projects, tackling ‘grot spots’ and fishing ponds.

Last year the group was commended at the County Durham Environment Awards for its ‘Blooming Chester-le-Street’ project and the work they have undertaken in previous years to help improve the environment.

Group chairman Derek Briggs: “We are so keen to see how we may support activities to improve the environment and this latest visit has inspired us to keep pushing forward to help develop further the area where we live for the benefit of the community.”