CARING Citizen readers made a tree-mendous effort to support an environmental project in Blackpool's Stanley Park to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Festival of Britain.

The Blackpool Civic Trust teamed up with Blackpool Council's Parks Department to launch a tree sponsorship appeal and all 50 were soon snapped up.

Your favourite weekly newspaper was quick to support the initiative and we have sponsored one of the trees.

The idea was to plant the trees in the 75 anniversary year of the park's opening.

Various firms and organisation backed a similar project in 1951, but time and man has taken its toll and many of the original trees have now been lost. Parks development officer Justine Hall said: "We had a great response to the appeal, especially from Citizen readers. "Many people wanted to buy a tree in remembrance of a loved one or as a special gift."

Alec Stuttard, editor of The Citizen, said: "It was particularly pleasing to learn that a lot of our readers responded. It shows how much they care about the park and the environment. We were only too happy as a company to support the scheme ourselves." The official planting ceremony is planned for November or the beginning of December, which is the best time of year for tree planting.

The Civic Trust decided that plaques would not be placed on individual trees because of the possibility of vandalism, but a scroll of remembrance will be on show in the Central Library with all names upon it and certificates of honour will be presented to each subscriber.