NATURE reserves throughout the borough are to benefit from a £14,000 lottery grant.

English Nature's Wildspace grant scheme has awarded Darlington the money to maintain a number of wildlife reserves.

The scheme uses National Lottery money from the New Opportunities Fund Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme.

It will help improve and create local nature reserves, allowing communities to explore nature on their door- step.

The money will pay for interpretation boards and signs at Darlington's nature reserves.

Those to benefit include Brinkburn Pond, Drinkfield, the Whinnies, the Cocker Beck restoration, Skerne Restoration area at Haughton, Brankin Moor and Neasham Woods.

The grant will also be used for educational resources and information leaflets designed to extend awareness of the reserves to a wider audience.

A proposed development at Firthmoor will also benefit from the new signs and resources.

Last week plans were submitted to Darlington Borough Council for the reserve which is planned for land off Yarm Road.

The nature reserve will include two fishing ponds, wildlife ponds and footpath and cycle access.

A five-year plan of work has been drawn up for the project.

In February, a consultation was held for residents in Cockerton about proposals for the stretch of Cocker Beck which runs from the edge of the town, alongside Staindrop Road and into the middle of Cockerton.

Cocker Beck is renowned for its population of endangered water voles.

Possible plans for the Cocker Beck site include creating meadow and wetland areas and improving the banks for water vole nest sites.