MILLIONS of pounds is to be spent on a project to celebrate and enhance the River Skerne landscape.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded the Durham Wildlife Trust £2.6m for the project, bringing the total budget to £3.2m.

The scheme will create six jobs and include elements such as habitat improvements along a 9.5km stretch of the river and improvements to walking and cycling routes.

The area covered by the Partnership extends over 200km2 of lowland County Durham and Darlington, focusing on the River Skerne from Hurworth Burn reservoir in East Durham to South Park in Darlington.

The project area includes Great Aycliffe, Sedgefield, Bishop Middleham, Fishburn, Heighington, Brafferton, Barmpton and Darlington.

Durham Wildlife Trust director Jim Cokill said: “This is the largest project the Trust has ever secured funding for and we are delighted that it can now go ahead.

“The River Skerne catchment is already an important area for wildlife and historic sites, but there is enormous potential to further restore and reveal that heritage.

“Bright Water is an opportunity to put this part of the North-East on the map.”

The Skerne runs through the heart of Darlington and the borough council’s cabinet member for the local environment, Cllr Nick Wallis, welcomed the project.

He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of the River Skerne as a key economic and cultural asset of Darlington and we look forward to working with our partners on this special project.”

The scheme will see improved public access points to the Skerne landscape at Hurworth Burn Reservoir, Hardwick Park and Locomotion in Shildon.

There will also be a community programme to record and preserve historic buildings in the area and the creation of six village atlases, detailing the history, environment and culture of those villages.

There will also be on-site features along the river and a programme of expert-led events and talks.

A variety of organisations worked together to develop the project and win funding, including local councils, the Environment Agency, Groundwork NE and Cumbria, and the Tees Rivers Trust, among many others.