A SWATHE of land between Nelson and Colne is to be considered as a site for a Millennium wood.

Labour councillors who campaigned with local residents to stop the area, known as Gibhill, from being turned over to housing were delighted with the decision by Pendle Council.

The move to consider the land as a site for a Millennium woodland project, part of a national tree-planting scheme, was welcomed by Labour's Dorothy Ormrod.

"It will involve local schools and provide a focus for community activities," she said. "It will have an educational value, promote wildlife and contribute towards pollution reduction, as well as providing recreational use."

Labour group leader Councillor Azhar Ali, added: "This land is already designated as an area of special landscape. It would be ideal for local schools to work together to plant a community woodland.

"As an environmentally-friendly council, we should have environmentally-friendly policies."

The site will be included in the EL:Wood strategy, of which the council is a member, which aims to create woodland areas across East Lancashire.

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