The Coal Authority has begun work to restore a previously ancient woodland in County Durham.

Hag Wood is a 46 acre woodland near Chester le Street, County Durham, that the Coal Authority bought in 2004.

The wood is classified as a previously ancient woodland site, meaning that it has been covered in trees since at least the 1600s.

Approximately 60 years ago the native trees were felled and replaced with commercial conifers. The current crop of Norway Spruce, Larch and Scots Pine is now mature and will be felled by Scottish Woodlands Ltd. This will allow the space to be replanted with the original native tree types.

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Commenting on the project Mark Carey, property manager for the Coal Authority said:"Hag Wood is one of several projects that we have underway in the north-east where we are working to not only manage the legacy of the mining that took place, but to ensure that this land is returned so natural systems can function again.

"We take our nature recovery and sustainability work very seriously and are committed to protecting people and the environment on the coalfield. Hag Wood is an important project for us in this area and one that will be of benefit to the local environment by enhancing biodiversity for the future."

Jonathan Harker, senior forest manager at Scottish Woodlands Ltd, said: "This has been an interesting project that will restore this woodland back to its original native state. It has involved the creation of an access road to enable the timber to be harvested and marketed to local sawmills and Panel Board Mills, which produce the timber products we all need day to day.

"On completion there will be a combination of planting with native species as well as encouraging the existing native species present, such as oak, beech, holly, and hazel to regenerate on the site."