Ceremony to mark end of Millennium scheme

The projects ... were intended to create a lasting celebration

FLASHBACK: Sculptor Richard Caink is pictured (above) working to create his oak tree sculpture called Through the Wood in the grounds of Towneley Hall, Burnley, as part of the Arts in the Forest project.

Left: How Burnley's wooded areas will look, now that 750,000 new trees have been planted

A SIX-year lottery-funded project which has involved the planting of 750,000 trees in Burnley will reach its finale in just over a week.

There will be a special ceremony to plant a Tree of Heaven in Thompson Park on Friday, May 2, at 2pm, to mark the end of the Millennium Commission-funded activities carried out by the Forest of Burnley.

This will be followed by a six-mile walk in the woods from Padiham Town Hall, on Sunday, May 4, at 2pm.

During the last six years, thousands of trees have been planted on public and private land, almost doubling the woodland area throughout the borough from 3.5 per cent to six per cent.

This area, including the 350 hectares of new woodland, is the equivalent of 700 football pitches or 8.5 trees for every resident in the borough.

Two hundred hectares of existing neglected woodlands were restored, 32 kilometres of new paths, bridleways and cycleways were created and 2,700 specimen trees were planted around the town.

Thousands of school pupils and community groups, such as Trees for Burnley, have helped with the environmental work and sculpture trails have been created in Towneley Park and in Grove Lane, Padiham.

There have also been six woodland festivals held at Towneley Park.

Simon Goff, the council's parks services manager, said: "The Forest of Burnley project has achieved an enormous amount in the last six years thanks to the huge support that we have received from the many organisations and individuals involved, who are too numerous to mention individually.

"The projects funded by the Millennium Commission were intended to create a lasting celebration of the Millennium. The Forest of Burnley has done this. During the next 50 years the trees and woodland planted by the project will grow to maturity and provide future generations with a legacy of woodlands and trees that everyone can enjoy."

The Forest of Burnley will continue to be supported by grants from the Forestry Commission and the Elwood Project, which plans to carry on woodland expansion and management on appropriate sites throughout East Lancashire, and will aim to reach its original target of planting one million trees.

The £3.7million Forest of Burnley project was funded by the Millennium Commission, along with the Forestry Commission, Burnley Council and North West Water.

Anyone wanting to take part in the Forest of Burnley's walk on May 4 can contact 01282 664636 for further details.