The Great North Museum: Hancock in Northumbria has opened a new interactive wildlife gallery.

The Natural Northumbria Gallery offers visitors four learning areas resembling wildlife observation hides which display information on upland, lowland, forest and coastal locations in north east England.

The interactive touch-screen maps and 'virtual visits' of wildlife areas are also integral to the museum's educational learning programme, which aims to teach primary and secondary school pupils more about the local flora and fauna.

Alec Coles, director at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums - which was awarded a £20,000 grant towards the development from the Banks Group Community Fund - said: "Only when it is viewed in a location such as the Natural Northumbria Gallery can we really appreciate the diversity of flora and fauna that exists in the many and varied locations that make up this beautiful part of the country.

"The different habitat 'hides' provide an excellent hands-on platform to learn about the wealth of natural environments that north east England has to offer, and the interactive nature of the resources therein give visitors a great chance to get very hands-on."

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at Banks, added: "The gallery clearly demonstrates the natural diversity and richness of the area in which we live, and the investigative hides provide an ideal location in which visitors can learn more about it.

"As a company that is committed to supporting and enhancing the north east environments in which we operate, we are very pleased and excited to be involved with such a prominent and valuable project."