TWENTY-THREE employees from EDF Energy helped prepare a North-East nature reserve for an official ceremony.

The workers, some from the company's Doxford Park premises in Sunderland, worked with a team from Durham Wildlife Trust at its Low Barns reserve, at Witton-le-Wear, County Durham.

Their task was to ensure the site looked its best for the ceremony marking the completion of a wetland at the reserve, known as Wild Wetlands.

Guests at the event last month included Professor David Bellamy and representatives of organisations such as English Nature and Northumbrian Water.

In addition to the Sunderland workers, EDF Energy employees travelled from as far as Worthing, in East Sussex, to undertake the challenge.

Their first task was to clear an area of Himalayan balsam, a virulent species of plant introduced from Asia which spreads rapidly, strangling native species.

The only way to halt its spread is to dig out the roots, which the volunteers achieved.

After lunch, the team split into two groups to improve wheelchair access to one of the bird hides at the reserve and to fence off an area of ageing woodland which had become unsafe for visitors.

Kerry Watson, the trust's volunteer development officer who co-ordinated the challenge, said: "We are really pleased with the work these guys have done.

"There's so much to do here that their effort really helps to ease the pressure on us in the run-up to the launch. They worked fantastically hard on a very hot day."

* The trust tailors similar challenge events for companies and anyone wishing to find out more can contact Mark James on 0191-584 3112.

Published: 05/07/2005