A RUGGED area of land, which became an eyesore after having sand and gravel dug out of it, has been restored and is likely to become a nature reserve.

An attractive pond and a flower meadow with rare plants, including lady's mantle, are being established on the site near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

There is a wide range of wildlife, including sand martins, on the land between Romaldkirk and Mickleton.

The scheme will be highlighted during a countryside awareness day organised by the Romaldkirk Ward Partnership at Mickleton Village Hall, on Saturday.

Rosemary Smailes, a member of the partnership committee, said: "I am sure many people will enjoy it in future years."

Durham County Council has paid for the restoration, which involved planting trees, grass and flower seeds, and is now being asked to designate the site as a local nature reserve. If it does, the authority will take over its management.

English Nature is backing the proposal as part of a drive towards more local nature reserves to give more people easy access to the countryside.

A county council spokesman said yesterday: "It has always been our intention that this site should be designated as a local nature reserve, and hopefully the formalities for this should be completed next year."

People who attend Saturday's open day, between 10am and 3pm, will be asked to choose between two names suggested for the reserve, Hayberries or Ormsley Hill.

Mince pies and mulled wine will be served and the ward partnership will display proposals to improve signs and information panels on a walkway which has been created on the old Teesdale railway line, which closed in 1964.

The partnership has asked Durham Wildlife Trust and English Nature to carry out a plant survey alongside the route so rare species can be protected