CHILDREN from two primary schools celebrated the completion of a joint project this week in the unlikely setting of the village cemetery.

Pupils from Evenwood and neighbouring Ramshaw gathered on Monday to mark the unveiling of a sculpture commemorating local history and wildlife.

Local interpreter, Lesley Silvera, and sculptor, Steve Holliday, worked closely with the pupils to design the interpretation panel.

Children from years five and six at Ramshaw were chiefly concerned with the history of their area. They visited the cemetery, looked at census data and traced the history of names, while the Evenwood remit was the flora and fauna.

Workshops were held in which they worked on designs with the two experts, which Ramshaw head teacher, Janet Grainger, said had raised their awareness of local history and the environment.

There have been complaints in the past about the overgrown state of parts of the cemetery, but following the tidying-up scheme, Teesdale District Council has agreed to maintain footpaths while the children have been involved in bulb planting activities to encourage wildlife and insects back into the area. This theme is reflected in the sculpture, which depicts flowers and insects.

Evenwood Parish Council worked with Groundwork West Durham to secure funding for the project from the County Durham Foundation. Teesdale Council has is keen to preserve the site as a nature area with pathways through it