MORE than 40 people turned out for the opening of a natural haven for wildlife and people at an Eden village.

People of all ages and physical abilities will now have the opportunity to enjoy the rich natural history of the Carsa Brow Nature Conservation Area at Orton - thanks to the creation of a disabled access path.

The opening was the culmination of a four-year project by Orton Parish Council and others to raise the £32,000 needed to buy a piece of land and develop it into a nature conservation area.

This challenging goal was achieved through help from a wide variety of bodies including the Countryside Agency, Friends of the Lake District and Eden District Council.

The wildlife and landscape value of the site has also been enhanced by planting a new hedgerow, trees and restoring a boundary wall. With visitor safety of utmost importance, tree surgeons were called in to make safe the conservation area's older trees. Part of the site is also being managed as a traditional, species rich upland hay meadow.