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• Managing Organisation:

  City of Sunderland

• Contact:

  Keith Hamilton

• Telephone:

  01915538786 
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Information about this open space

Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve has been developed from a derelict area dominated by slag heaps from Nicholson, Adventure and Meadows Collieries.  The restoration was achieved through open cast removing 1 million tonnes of coal from the site.  Restoration was completed in 1996 and therefore followed a 10 year after care period to November 2006.  At handover to the City the Reserve is already recognised as one of the finest in the North East with potential yet to be fulfilled.  Durham Wildlife Trust, as the City’s expert Agent had been brought in to run the Reserve which boasts a classroom as well as a coffee shop/exhibition space.  The Reserve is well placed to serve a cross section of the local community and offers a warm welcome to those wanting to enjoy 65ha, 10km of footpath cycleway and 5 lakes.  Such as the quality of the restoration that when the BBC were looking for sites for their documentary celebrating the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in terms of the changing in landscapes they rejected this site on the basis that it looked too natural.