THE North-East’s rich coal mining history is to be explored in the way it has shaped lives and landscapes – thanks to £30,000 of lottery funding.

Three projects have been awarded cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund in the hope they will reconnect people with the man made and natural heritage which has made the region what it is today.

They will capture on film the rise and fall of the mining industry to the impact of war and effects of expanding towns on Durham’s eroding coastline.

Youngsters in Sacriston, near Durham, will also get the chance to hear first hand from second and third generation miners.

Another project aims to rekindle interest in the breathtaking array of wildflowers on the Cleveland Coast, including some that because of industrial activity would not naturally be found there.

Ivor Crowther, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in the North-East, said: “Whether man-made or natural, our heritage has a lasting impact on our lives today and by capturing local memories and sparking interest, particularly for young people, we can ensure future generations have a personal connection with their roots.”

The three projects awarded funding are

:: Capturing Coastal Memories (£9,200 grant)

This project aims to give future generations a personal connection to their communities. School children will visit key points along the Durham Coast, including Horden Heritage Centre, George Elmy Lifeboat House, in Seaham and Donnison School, in Sunderland, and have the chance to add their own thoughts through artwork and poetry.

:: Sacriston Community Development Group – Mining 30 Years On (£9,200 grant)

In the 30th year since the closure of the pit in Sacriston local young people will look back at the lives and work of members of the mining community.

They will visit Sacriston Working Men’s Club to hear the stories first-hand from second and third generation miners. Students from Fyndoune Community College will also work with Durham Records Office and a banner maker to create a new miners banner to be carried at the Durham Miners Gala.

:: Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Cleveland Coast Wildflowers (£9,900 grant)

This project will encourage greater appreciation for wildflowers and explore the effects of human intervention on them.

The Cleveland Coast stretches 25km from South Gare, near Redcar, in the North, to Cowbar in the South and has many different habitats including cliff tops, grassland, dunes and tidal marshes as well as reclaimed sites and industrial land.

Artificial cliffs along with one stretch formed by the disposal of molten slag from 19th and 20th century iron works have given rise to plants that would not be found naturally along the coast.

A leading local botanist will lead workshops to enable volunteers to accurately and photographically record the wildflowers throughout the summer and add to a new database explaining the natural and human significance of each species.