A BURNLEY man who has spent 20 years turning wasteland outside his home into a wildlife garden and woodland is in the running for a top environmental award.

James Howlett, of Chislehurst Grove, started planting trees on disused land behind his council house in 1976.

His green-fingered work has even expanded into neighbours' gardens and extends a few hundred yards beyond his own land.

His latest project, which has taken two years, has seen him build a wildlife pond by the side of the footpath which runs behind his garden. With waterfall and surrounding shrubs, it's an impressive sight which improves the look of the whole area.

James, 46, is married with three children and works at Lucas in Burnley. He told the Citizen: "I have been planting trees for 20 years. This used to be bare land, and now it is like a little woodland."

His love of tree planting began in the early 1970s with the campaign to "plant a tree in '73." He followed that advice - and never stopped.

"I planted three lines of trees for a third of a mile on the fields at the back," he said. "When new houses were built, the builders agreed to keep the trees, so they are now in other people's gardens."

James made a video of his work and sent it off to BT, who are running a green competition for their environment week, which starts tomorrow (Friday, May 17).

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