A POPULAR nature area villagers feared would be sold following the collapse of a waste firm is to be saved and run by local volunteers.

Residents of Quarrington Hill, near Durham City, feared Kings Wood nature reserve would be lost after it was put up for sale in 2013.

They had believed the wildlife haven was in public ownership, gifted to the village as compensation for having to live near to a landfill.

But in fact it was owned by Premier Waste Management and after the Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council-owned waste firm collapsed that summer owing £19 million to 150 creditors, liquidators KPMG looked to sell the site.

Hundreds of villagers signed a petition calling for Kings Wood to be saved and no sale ever took place.

Now Durham County Council has agreed a 30-year lease to transfer ownership of the woodlands to the neighbouring Coxhoe and Kelloe parish councils.

Sixty-three residents are backing a newly formed Kings Wood Community Partnership, which has been consulting residents of Quarrington Hill and Kelloe on what they would like to see done with the reserve.

The group hopes to gain charitable status, secure more funding, improve paths, tidy the site and install benches and picnic tables to make the area more family-friendly.

Carole Hogarth, the partnership secretary, said: “It’s a lovely spot. When you’re out there, you could be anywhere.

“It’s very accessible. It’s one of the most commonly used areas in the village.

“We want to keep it in the same manner it was intended.”

Chairman Eric Thompson added: “When you’re out in the middle and all you can hear is birds singing, it’s beautiful.”

Volunteer countryside ranger Billy Jones said: “It’s brought the village together. It’s been uplifting for the community. The paths are very popular.”

The council has provided a Delivering Differently Grant of £1,600 towards the cost of outdoor equipment.

A launch event and open day will be held on Saturday, May 14, from 10am to 2pm, with stalls, planting and bird and bat box making. Councillor Jan Blakey, the Mayor of Durham, will cut a ribbon to mark the handover of the reserve to the partnership.

Kings Wood has been a nature reserve for ten years and is home to many native trees and much wildlife. It is part of an award-winning heritage trail and popular cycle route.