A NORTH-EAST company is working with ecologists to encourage wildlife on its sites.

Terra Nitrogen, of Billingham, Teesside, called in the Industry Nature Conservation Association (Inca), which is based at the nearby Belasis Business Park, to advise on ecological projects at its fertiliser works.

Projects include the creation of a pond, erection of bird boxes and planting, including buddleia bushes to encourage butterflies.

Much of the work has been carried out by Durham contractor Traditional Conservation and there are plans for a wildflower meadow to be created in the spring.

Inca conservation officer Jonathan Gibson, who has advised Terra on the project, said; "This underlines how industrial sites can have wildlife value and the company is very keen to develop that.

"Hopefully, we can attract amphibians and dragonflies to the pond and bring in butterflies through some of the planting we have done."

The company is trying to encourage barn owls at its Portrack site, also on Teesside. A single bird started roosting in an old shed on the site and now, working with Inca, Terra has erected a nest box to encourage breeding.

Published: 15/03/2005