SCHOOLCHILDREN teamed up with environmentalists yesterday for a taste of life on an allotment.

The youngsters from Bloemfontein Primary School, in Craghead, near Stanley, worked with environmental charity workers from Groundwork West Durham to create a community allotment. The communal garden space will be used by the schoolchildren as an outdoor classroom, and as a tree nursery to improve the £130,000 Craghead Millennium Green. Sarah Gibbs, of Groundwork West Durham said: "It was hard work, but the fun will start for the children now that the clearing is done."

Thousands of pounds of funding has been provided by the Craghead Area Partnership, Whitbread Action Earth, and the County Durham Environment Trust. More work will be going on at the allotments, opposite the school from 10.30am today.

Volunteers are welcome to join in.