£72,000 given to our wood-lovers

Thousands of pounds have been awarded to woodland-loving communities across the north of England.

A Scout pack, a community farm and an urban woodland in the heart of Leeds are just some of 11 groups getting a share of a £72,000 grant from the Woodland Trust.

The groups, which all own or manage local woods, will use the funding in a variety of ways such as planting more trees, improving access, recruiting new volunteers or working with local schools. Gibside Community Farm near Gateshead, will receive £9,975 to set up a centre on its new 15-acre site to provide training for its volunteers. It comes as part of a £1.25million trust partnership with Nationwide Building Society.

Nearly £150,000 has been provided to applicants at almost 30 locations since the scheme launched last spring. Samantha Herbert