Rye Hill Surface Mine
- Green Flag Status – Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve (Rye Hill Surface Mine)
- 1998 Durham County Council – Environment Award 1998 – Rye Hill Opencast Site - Creation of a nature reserve at Rye Hill Opencast Site.
- 1999 Durham County Council – 10th Anniversary Environment Award – Rye Hill Opencast Site - Rainton Meadows, won its class as best entry received in that category over the ten years the competition had been running.
- 2000 Civic Trust Award - Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve.
