A GROUP that organises the Christmas lights in Barnard Castle has teamed up with Marwood Parish Council to tidy up a beauty spot.
Vintage photographs show the bandstand in Flatts Wood was once a popular spot but now much of its wonderful view of the River Tees has become obscured by overgrowth.
Marwood Parish Council chairwoman Pauline Glasper hopes to revive its attraction for people by turning it into a picnic area.
She called on the festive lights committee, whose volunteer workers are renowned for doing gardening around Barnard Castle and they set about clearing the overgrowth along the riverbank.
Volunteer Roger Peat said: “The idea is to create a view so you can sit on the benches and look out onto the river.
“We would like to get permission from Raby Estate, which owns the land, to remove the dead trees.”
However, the group’s work was hampered by long-tailed tits nesting in nearby brambles.
It was agreed not to disturb the area until after the nesting season.
Cllr Glasper, who has been looking into the history of the site, said: “They call it the bandstand, but there has never been a bandstand here.
“The band would be on the hill and the audience would be down here.”
She added that picnic tables, which allow access for wheelchairs, had already been ordered by the parish council and would be installed soon.
