River Tees lottery grant for conservation

The work will take place along a large stretch of the River Tees

The River Tees is to get more than £3.5m of investment to improve wildlife around the river and access to it, after help from a lottery grant.

The River Tees Rediscovered project will last five years and will train volunteers in various skills to help maintain wildlife and paths.

The aim is to connect people to the river's natural heritage.

The project has secured £3.7m in funding, including £1.89m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The scheme is being run by Groundwork North East and Cumbria, a charity that works on environmental projects across the region.

'Promoting Teesside'

The activity will take place along a large stretch of the river, from upstream of Piercebridge near Darlington, down to the estuary.

People will be able to learn skills including footpath creation and maintenance, hedge laying and traditional crafts, such as wood carving and blacksmithing.

The project will also include guided walks and archaeology projects to help people explore the river's past.

Events will start later in the summer.

River Tees Rediscovered chair Doug Nicholson said the project would provide "a real opportunity for us all to pull together and promote Teesside as an attractive and desirable place to live and work".