LOWTON and Golborne people who formed a Friends of Byrom Wood group to support their new community woodland, have made sure visitors can take a breather.

With Forestry Commission staff they have spent the past year transforming the former farmland site -- installing new benches at the side of the recently-completed circular trail.

They also rolled up their sleeves to clear one of the ponds as part of an on-going programme to encourage new wildlife to the 28-hectare site, which is now part of Red Rose Forest.

Since work started earlier this year, 10,000 trees have been planted and more than 1.7kms of footpaths and tracks created.

Dave Baxter, the Forestry Commission's community ranger, said: "The local community has rallied round and created a Friends of Byrom Wood group to take an active role in the maintenance and on-going development of the site.

"They've been involved right from the start through the consultation meetings and had their say about how the site should look and now they're keen to

have a hands-on involvement in the upkeep of the site.

"We're planning more sessions with them including tree planting and other work for the site over the coming months."

The area, which is situated between Byrom Hall and the Lightshaw water treatment works on Lightshaw Lane, is an important habitat for wildlife. The wetlands of the Hey Brook corridor borders the site to the north and part of the area has been designated a Site of Biological Importance for its wildfowl and amphibians.