PLANS to bring wildlife and people closer together are getting a £65,800 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant.

The WWT Washington Wetland Centre’s saline lagoon is one of the UK’s rarest habitats and provides the ideal salinity levels for a unique range of wetland species.

Highlights at the lagoon have included wild Eurasian otter and roe deer, breeding oystercatcher and an array of flora.

The grant will go towards developments including a new hide, the installation of a composting toilet and improved access.

WWT Washington centre manager Gill Pipes said: “We are hugely grateful to HLF for giving us this opportunity to work together in enabling our visitors to get even closer to a diverse range of wild flora and fauna.

“Lagoon View hide will be an accessible, family-friendly space, blending into the landscape and overlooking the saline lagoon, the River Wear and our river reedbed – itself a regionally-rare habitat.

“It will have large panoramic windows, interpretation boards and bird books; as well as telescopes and binoculars for learning sessions.

“There will be improved access to the hide and surrounding meadows of high wildlife value and a composting toilet on the Eastern approach to the area.”

Ivor Crowther, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North East, said: “High quality green space, especially wetland, is at a premium across the North East, and once completed this project will provide the perfect nature spot for thousands of visitors to relax in and enjoy every year.”