NATURE reserve birds are enjoying new homes thanks to a youth project.

Young people from Quarrington Hill worked with Durham City Council's community team and Durham County Council's countryside team to build around 40 bird boxes for the village's new Crow Trees Nature Reserve.

The boxes, which the youngsters helped to install last weekend, will provide homes for flycatchers, tits and tree sparrows.

Quarrington Hill Youth Project members, who were involved in the bird box making, are working alongside local residents on Whitbread's Action Earth campaign at the reserve.

They have helped to reinstate pit ponds, which are home to great crested newts and sticklebacks, and have cleaned up rubbish.

Community team member Glen Duckett said: "Helping out on an environmental project is a great way to learn new skills and at the same time, do something really worthwhile.

"I'm pleased that so many young people have taken time to support their local environment."

For details of activities at the Crow Trees Nature Reserve, contact Tina Wiffen on (0191) 518 2823, or Ian Armstrong on (0191) 386 4411.