CONSERVATIONISTS in the borough are anything but wilting when it comes to enhancing their environment.

For the area is at the forefront of a key North West-wide campaign to preserve under-threat woodland wild flowers.

The initiative has been launched by Red Rose Forest with the aim of maintaining and establishing colonies of native woodland wild flowers. Research shows that roughly ten flower species are being lost from each county in the North West every ten years.

Now, Red Rose Forest aims to nurture and preserve what it is left.

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) Bury and Rochdale have launched the woodland wild flower project in the borough. This involved a seed collection at Philips Park in Whitefield. Local conservation volunteers took part in the event, during which a range of seeds was collected. These included the native British bluebell, along with several other species, including red campion, wood avens and foxglove.

The seeds collected will now be sown in new woodland areas in Bury to re-create the flora and fauna of a true forest floor.

A Red Rose spokesman said: "Our woodland wildflowers are slowly disappearing with the changes in land use and land development.

"Although tree planting to establish new areas of woodland can contribute to new wildlife habitats, woodland ecosystems require more than just trees to reach their full potential.

"This project will enhance new woodlands as a balanced natural feature of supporting diverse fauna, including butterflies."

Red Rose Forest is working with the community to carry out special seed collection days where half the seed collected will be sown directly into woodlands in the forest and half for preservation and cultivation by landfill.

Through the project, a new sustainable source of seeds and bulbs will be produced to enable planting of native wildflowers in newly-created and existing woodlands.

The funds for the project have been awarded from the Local Heritage initiative, a scheme run by the Countryside Agency, with funding of £8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and more than £1 million from the Nationwide Building Society.

Meanwhile, the Forest team has appealed for the help of people, schools and community groups in Prestwich and Whitefield to help with seed sowing, propagation, planting and ground preparation. For details telephone 872 1660 and ask for Anton.