CONSERVATIONISTS hope work on their nature reserve will make it more attractive to the public.

Durham Wildlife Trust (DWT) has made significant improvements to the pathways at its Rainton Meadows headquarters, between Durham City and Houghton-le-Spring.

At the heart of the project has been work to make the reserve’s pathways more accessible, And three nature trails have been created with funding by the SITA Trust, the Sir James Knott Trust and power generation equipment manufacturer Cummins.

Elizabeth Lovatt, the trust’s communications officer, said: “Our volunteer task force and reserve teams recently installed a series of wildlife-themed way-marker posts to create three interactive nature trails so that more people can explore and learn about the reserve and the variety of wildlife found there.

“The trails take in the sights and sounds of Rainton Meadows and the neighbouring Joe’s Pond.”

Members of the public are invited to explore the reserve through the heron (2km), shrew (1.5km) and dragonfly (1km) trails.

Visitors are encouraged to take pencils or crayons so they can collect rubbings of the 20 different wildlife pictures as they explore the trails. Some can be borrowed from the coffee shop or the visitor centre.

For further information call the trust on 0191-584 3112.