YOUNGSTERS in the North-East have been helping harvest a bumper crop of nuts.

The children from Barmston Village Primary School worked with National Trust staff at Washington Old Hall to squirrel away hazelnuts.

The trees in what is believed to be the region’s only nuttery have yielded a large crop this year.

Pupils aged five to 11 have collected basketfuls of cob and filbert nuts, both cultivated forms of wild hazels, which they will use in cooking over the coming weeks.

Sarah Murray, Washington Old Hall’s learning and interpretation, said: “This year we’ve had an exceptionally abundant nut crop, more I think than at any time in the 25 years or so since the trees were planted.

“Maybe it’s all the warm weather we have had or the fact we’ve been doing a lot of work to maintain the nuttery and also improve it as a wildlife habitat.

“Hazelnuts have been grown in gardens since the 16th century and, just as we are now, the nuts would have been picked by hand and stored for use over the winter.

“With the hazel trees bulging with clusters of nuts, they were in need of a helping hand, so it’s great the children have been able to come along and help.

“They have had great fun harvesting the hazelnuts and working together as a team.”