A HYNDBURN environmental group is looking for volunteers to help plant more trees in a community wood that was created to mark the start of the new millennium.

The Millennium Baby Woodland in Altham was created by the Prospects Foundation to celebrate the birth of babies born in the borough in 2000.

It was originally planted in Spring 2002 when hundreds of local residents and school children helped plant more than 1,000 trees.

The wood, adjacent to St Mary's burial ground, Burnley Road, was officially opened last year at a special ceremony attended by the millennium babies and their families.

Since then Prospects Panel volunteers, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the Probation Service have installed a new ramp and footpath, as well picnic benches and a display board giving details of the trees and wildlife in the wood and the names of the babies registered with the Prospects Foundation in 2000.

Funding for the £21,800 project came from the Government's New Opportunities Fund, BT's People's Places, Cheshire Building Society, Lancashire Environmental Fund, the Forestry Commission's Woodlands Grants Scheme and East Lancashire Woodland.

Now the Prospects Foundation is planning to plant around 200 more trees at the site and is looking for people to help.

The tree planting session, which takes place on Saturday, from 11am to 2pm, has been planned to coincide with the 30th anniversary of National Tree Week, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday, December 5.

Mike Stapleford from the Prospects Foundation said: "We want to replace a few of the trees that haven't made it and fill some more of the site.

"When we first created the woodland we had some community tree planting days which were attended by a couple of hundred volunteers.

"People got really involved in it and it became a real community woodland, so we decided to put out an open invitation for anyone who wants to come along and help us plant around 200 more trees at the site."

All volunteers need to wear appropriate clothing, including waterproofs and sturdy boots.

If you would like to attend contact Mike Stapleford on 380176.