A TYNEDALE nature reserve is opening its doors to the public in the hope it will help raise much needed funds.

Ladycross, in Slaley Forest, is hosting an open day to showcase its nature reserve and quarry on Saturday, August 15.

Entry fee money will go towards a project to convert a steel shipping container into much needed visitor facilities.

Husband and wife team, Lara and Robin Turner, who run the 40-acre reserve at Ladycross Quarry, have struggled to raise the funds need to kit out the shipping container.

The plan includes turning the 20ft space into a basic classroom facility, with an eco toilet next to it, to encourage more visitors to Ladycross, such as schools, art groups and photographers.

However, since announcing the plans in October last year, the not-for-profit Ladycross project has only raised enough funds to prepare the footpaths and site for the classroom.

Ladycross committee member Joan Jewitt said: “To fit it out, the cost may be a couple of thousand pounds and there is work to do on the container to make it watertight.

“Unfortunately there are lots of people doing lots of different things who need funding so it is a struggle to get money.

“Ladycross is a working quarry; you can’t just pop in and walk round whenever you like, so Lara wants to create more awareness to let people know the reserve is there.

“We are quite keen to get families and children involved and hopefully spark an interest in the reserve.”

The open day will run from 10am to 4pm and includes guided walks of both the nature reserve and stone quarry.

There will also be a nature hunt, stalls, demonstrations of stone-built fire pits by Ivor Scott and countryside crafts, including wood carving, natural weaving and dry stone walling.

Visitors are asked to wear suitable footwear and no dogs are allowed on site because of the sensitive areas within the reserve.