A MILLION pound woodland landscape will ensure the area's cloth caps and clogs image is well and truly buried.

The Co-op Bank is joining forces with Wigan, Salford, Trafford and Manchester Councils, Groundwork, the Countryside Commission and other partners to mark the bank's 125th anniversary and its chairman Sir Terry Thomas's retirement.

A 395 acre site at Amberswood will make Hindley, Platt Bridge and Ince part of the strategic Forest Corridor from Haigh to Bickershaw.

Council planning chairman Cllr John Hilton said:"This project signifies the Co-op Bank's faith in the borough's ability to act as guardian of its environment as well as to work in partnership with others to deliver ambitious projects.

"Gone are the cloth cap and clogs days. Our modern image is responding ever positively to improve our environment and create new and improved habitats through our derelict land reclamation combined with our nature conservation strategy."

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