A Bradford tree-planting group is celebrating its fifth birthday - and aims to plant a million trees in the next 20 years.

Forest of Bradford was set up in 1998 and since then has boosted the number of trees in the district by about 200,000.

The group is now aiming to increase the amount of woodland cover in the area, which currently stands at less than half the national average.

Ian Butterfield, project manager, said cover in Bradford was four and a half per cent, compared with about 11 per cent nationwide.

"We want to get Bradford up to about six and a half per cent which means planting a million trees," he said.

"At the rate we are planting that is going to take 20 or 25 years."

The group works in both urban and rural areas and will plant on private land as long as there is public access or the trees are visible.

Forest of Bradford began from an offshoot from the Bradford Environmental Action Trust.

Their woodland group planted at Bolton Woods and after the success of the scheme, looked for ways to take it further.

Funding was obtained through Landfill Tax, which still funds the project today, and a manager appointed.

Mr Butterfield, who was initially the scheme's forester, is now the manager and co-ordinates planting.

"About 95 per cent of the planting is done by volunteers."

The work is carried out by two regular groups, which includes a special needs group from a day care centre.

Forest of Bradford played a key part in creating the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research Appeal Commemorative Wood at St Ives, near Bingley.

Mr Butterfield said: "There is a lot of interest from businesses in negating carbon dioxide. Schools have also been really keen because of the need for shade and to create wildlife areas."

The group has just completed two of it biggest schemes - of 6,000 trees each - at Hainworth near Keighley and at Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Forest of Bradford is celebrating the anniversary with a woodland fun day at Judy Woods on August 30 between 10am and 3pm.

The group is always looking for volunteers and for businesses to help with the cost.

For more information, contact (01274) 718420.

The Forest of Bradford is running two six-mile guided walks through some of the areas planted. They are on June 19 and August 2, beginning at Oxenhope Millennium Green at 10.30am.