A NORTH YORKSHIRE nature reserve has won an award for work at old gravel workings between Ripon and Bedale.

The Lower Ure Conservation Trust has pioneered projects at Nosterfield, and has been announced as the winner of the Best Small Wetland category in the Bird Challenge for Business awards, run by Tarmac Ltd and the British Trust for Ornithology.

Trustee Simon Warwick said: "It recognises the success of our approach, which is to allow the site to regenerate naturally.''

Breeding birds recorded at Nosterfield include redshank, lapwings, grebes, buntings, skylarks, whitethroats and various species of duck.

The 110-acre site was bought in 1997 with a £150,000 Yorventure grant, which was added to the £100,000 already spent on restoration by Tarmac.