Armed with shovels, wellington boots and warm clothes, an army of volunteers, including adults, children and even dogs, braved the January weather to plant hundreds of trees.

More than 50 volunteers joined representatives from the Forest of Bradford to create an acre of new woodland and 50 meters of hedgerow in East Morton, Keighley, on Saturday.

And after five hours of digging and planting, High Cliffe, a field off Carr Lane, next to East Morton Primary School, was full of a thousand 2ft high saplings, which will make a permanent difference to the environment.

Bradford is short on woodland cover - the district has an average of just 4.2 per cent, against the UK average of 12 per cent.

But the shortfall is gradually being reduced, thanks to the success of the Forest of Bradford project, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

The group was set up to increase woodland cover through the district by working in partnership with communities, schools and businesses.

Since 1998, 300,000 trees have been planted in the Bradford district, which is about 130 hectares of new woodland and about three miles of new hedgerow.

Sites are in urban areas, including public open spaces and private land, school grounds, farmland and streets.

Most of the trees are grown by Forest of Bradford, from locally collected seeds, while others are bought from nursery.

Project manager Ian Butterfield, who was co-ordinating the planting day, said the two-year-old saplings, which are protected by recyclable plastic guards to protect them from grazing animals, include oak, ash, silver birch and rowan trees. And the hedgerow around the edge comprised of hawthorn, blackthorn, guelder-rose and field maple.

"It will attract more wildlife to the area and it will make the area look more aesthetic, said Ian.

"Since we started the Forest of Bradford project, there has been a big landscape improvement in the area.

"It will be about five to six years before these trees grow to a reasonable height and the full benefit of the woodland will be seen."

"Also one of the problems we have, particularly in the Aire Valley, is flooding - and planting the trees can help to reduce flooding" he said.

He said the tree canopy catches the rain, which slows the whole process down and the roots of the trees mean the soil is porous and takes more water.

In recent years scientists have discovered that simple strips of newly planted woodland could play a crucial role in halting the floods that have devastated British towns in recent years.

They found that land with trees can hold vast amounts of water that would otherwise stream down hills and surge along rivers into towns.

Thanks to an £8,000 grant from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the Telegraph & Argus's parent company, Gannett, they will be able to plant around 20,000 new trees and shrubs up to the end of March.

The grant, one of many awarded to projects across the country in the Gannett Foundation's twice-yearly award scheme will also pay for the protective guards and fencing.

Mr Butterfield said: "The grant will pay for everything we are doing this season. We have about 35 different projects taking place before the end of March."

He said a plaque stating that the T&A had sponsored the project would be put up next to the trees in due course.

Robert Fisher, who owns the land and the house at the top adjacent to it, was helping out with the planting.

He said: "When we bought the house 12 months ago we wanted to build a woodland on the land and we inquired around at Bradford Council to see if anyone could put us in touch with someone doing carbon offset projects. They put us in touch with Ian at the Forest of Bradford.

"Planted trees absorb carbon dioxide and so the more trees planted the more carbon dioxide will be absorbed, and the less of the gas goes into the atmosphere."

Mr Fisher, who teaches part time, enlisted the help of parents and children from neighbouring East Morton Primary School to help with the planting day.

He said: "The carbon offset project will help improve the environment and the location is part of green-belt area, so the woodland will improve the area visually as well."

Green-fingered Emily Brook, nine, was also lending a hand.

She said: "I'm enjoying putting the sticks in the ground. It's hard work and it's a bit cold, but it will look nice in the end."

Dad Richard Brook, 40, from the East Morton area, said: "It's important to be involved in projects like this, because this is part of the environment."

Practical work on planting schemes takes place every Saturday until the end of March and most Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

And for some volunteers, tree planting contributes towards NVQ level 1 and 2 qualifications in environmental conservation.

Mr Butterfield said: "We work with many different volunteer groups, including special schools, probation service, social services, businesses and staff training days.

"There are all kinds of benefits for people coming out and getting involved in these projects. Apart from the obvious health benefits, there are opportunities to meet people.

"And there is more evidence that work like this can benefit both your metal and physical health"

For more information about how to be involved with the Forest of Bradford contact (01274) 718 420 or e-mail: ian.forestofbradford@beat.org.uk or log on to www.beat.org.uk and click on the link to Forest of Bradford.

e-mail:ali.davies@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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Planting planned

This year's planting season includes:

Saturday, January 26, from 10am to 3pm at Redcar Wood Farm, off Redcar Lane, Steeton, between Keighley Tarn and Steeton.

Grid Reference: SE032428

Saturday, February 9, 10am to 3pm at Hill Top Works, off Walsh Lane, near Bingley Park near the junction with Heights Lane.

Grid Reference: SE 111413

Saturday, February 23, 10am to 3pm at Myddleton Grange, off Langbar Road, Ilkley Grid Reference: SE 111490

Saturday, March 8, 10am to 3pm at Redcar Wood Farm, off Redcar Lane, Steeton, between Keighley Tarn and Steeton.

Grid Reference: SE 016388

Saturday, March 15, 10am to 3pm at Marsh Top Farm, off Marsh Lane, near Oxenhope.

Grid reference: SE 031359

  • All planting scheme sites will be signposted but a location map is available on request from the telephone number shown below. Volunteers are reminded to bring a packed lunch and warm, waterproof clothing.
  • For further details contact Ian Butterfield on 01274 718420.