WORK to encourage the natural regeneration of a well-known Teesside wood has begun.

Foresters have started to fell many of the thin, young coniferous species and some dead and dying trees at Tilery Wood, part of Wynyard Woodland Park, north of Stockton.

Many of the larger coniferous trees will be left.

The main aim of the project is to promote natural regeneration and encourage native broad-leaved species, such as oak, ash, silver birch and hazel. The workers hope the new trees will provide better structure to the woodland and attract more wildlife.

The work, co-ordinated by The Tees Forest and Stockton Borough Council, is likely to be finished by the end of January. The car park off the A689 is closed and access through the woodland is restricted. The car park and footpaths around the area are open from today until January 3 and then on Sundays only until further notice. Wynyard Woodland Park includes Castle Eden Walkway, Thorpe Wood Local Nature Reserve, Pickard's Meadow, Tilery and Brierly Woods.