WILLING hands are welcome to roll their sleeves up and join a community conservation drive at a local nature reserve this Sunday (March 9).

Volunteers, overseen by Durham County Council countryside rangers, will help to clear invasive trees growing on an area of lowland heath and meadow at Daisy Hill, near Waldridge Fell, south-west of Chester-le-Street.

The 130-acre reserve, developed on a transformed former opencast coal site, is home to native black poplar trees, the UK’s most endangered and rarest timber tree.

All those willing to give up two hours late on Sunday morning to help the clear-up are asked to meet at Tinkler Row car park, off the Waldridge to Edmondsley road, at 10am.

CHORAL CONCERT: A mixed evening of song, from classical favourites to light popular sounds, takes place at the Methodist Church, in North Burns, Chester-le-Street, on Saturday (March 8).

TunesRUs, performed by the church’s talented choir, begins at 7pm, with admission £5 at the door, on the night.