 Nature is central to our own health, happiness and economic prosperity so it needs to be at the heart of everything that we do. However widespread devastation of natural habitats to expansion in agriculture, forestry and housing developments have meant that more often than not nature gets a rough ride. And that's where places like this come in, Hawksleet Nature Reserve, a place where volunteers come together to help maintain and run one of the best nature spotting reserves in the North East. We're here to find out how £417,000 worth of funding through the National Lottery Heritage Fund has helped to bring a community together and make it a place where nature truly matters. How important is it do you think that people you know get involved with nature and just realise that things like this are out here? I think it's important for people's well-being it's been demonstrated many many times that we need that ourselves. We have people from all kinds of backgrounds we have people from mental health side where they find incredibly therapeutic to come here once you just walk in here the peace and the tranquility and the shoulders kind of relax and it is it's just worth so much. How nice is it to have an area like this to walk the prams around? Oh it's fantastic you're bringing my grandchildren here oh it's brilliant wonderful facility. What does it mean to you personally to be involved in such a project? There's a tendency for people to think well once you're retired that's it I've spent two years learning a whole load of new skills having a wonderful time and every time I walk into that building I can stand there and go wow I was a part of that. What is it about nature do you think that brings people together? Well I think a lot of people don't realise maybe that they appreciate or like nature but when they're able to come to a place like this where I think for most people the viewing is so easy they then get a passion for it. If you can get people enjoying it learning about it caring about it they're going to love it and if you love something you're going to protect it.