WIRRAL people are being called upon to help create a new community woodland on a 36-acre site they campaigned to save against the threat of development.

They are being urged to turn up on Sunday (December 7) to take part in a special tree planting event at Upton Meadow (11am-4pm).

Main objective of the event - part of National Tree Week celebrations, the Tree Council's annual initiative to encourage greater awareness and understanding of the importance of trees - is to create a new community woodland designed to celebrate the millennium.

Upton Meadow was given to national tree charity, The Woodland Trust, last March by Wirral Borough Council, after years of campaigning by local people against the threat of development.

Now, the Trust's aim is to improve the whole area for people and wildlife and to create a new community wood of up to 10 acres.

This will form part of the charity's nationwide 'Woods on your Doorstep' initiative, which is backed by the Millennium Commission.

The site at Upton Meadow will be the very first in Wirral and among the first in England to be included in this important celebration.

Local people have been actively involved in raising many thousands of pounds towards the project and have also participated in designing and naming the new wood, which is to be known as Upton Meadow Wood.

Sunday's planting event is to celebrate the success of the project and the Trust's woodland officer, Simon Mageean, is urging local people to come along and join in.

"It's a chance for everyone who cares about Upton Meadow to leave a lasting mark on the landscape by planting trees," he said. "No experience is necessary; all people have to do is turn up at any time between 11am and 4pm, bringing a spade and wellies with them!"

Local Scouts and Girl Guides will join local residents on the day to help plant hundreds of trees on the site, which will eventually hold 100,000 new broadleaved trees.

The Trust undertook an extensive public consultation exercise to ensure the design of the woodland would reflect the wishes and views of the local community.

A guided walk and open day were held on the site and more than 100 questionnaires were completed by local people.

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