GREEN-fingered children were planting woodland bulbs in Stainton Quarry yesterday to celebrate the opening of the first local nature reserve in the Middlesbrough area.

Pupils from Hemlington Hall Primary School added to the 1,000 snowdrops, bluebells and wood anemones planted in the quarry on Sunday then walked the circular footpath.

In the past many of Middlesbrough's streets were cobbled with whinstone quarried from the site, but it will now be protected as a wildlife haven.

Councillor Maelor Williams, of Middlesbrough Council, said: "The communities of Stainton and Thornton are very proud that Stainton Quarry is the first local nature reserve in Middlesbrough. The involvement of pupils augurs well for the future and we hope that the recent extensions to the footpaths will be well used by local people to explore the natural beauty of the site."

The quarry is a tranquil countryside site straddling Stainton Beck in Stainton.

A banner depicting a tree and stencilled leaves of the different species growing in the quarry has been created by families at a craft workshop in Hemlington Library to mark the event.