People are being urged to buy a living gift to mark a special occasion and help cancer research.

A Commemorative Wood, in aid of the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research Appeal, is being set up on Bradford Council-owned land on the St Ives Estate, Harden.

A 1.5 hectare site - equivalent to just over two Valley Parade football pitches - has been set aside for the wood where oak, birch and rowan trees will be planted later in the year.

The beautiful site is next to Bingley St Ives Golf Club and the aim is to plant 1,000 trees of mixed species in the wood, which has been set up with the Council's Arts, Heritage and Leisure Department.

Tish Burton, Bradford Can... Appeal manager, said people could buy trees for whatever reason they wished - to commemorate a loved one who had died or instead of sending flowers to a funeral. Happier occasions, such as a birthday, anniversary or the birth of a baby could also be marked.

They are also encouraging schools, businesses and community groups to sponsor a plot of land in the wood.

Mrs Burton said when a tree was bought the purchaser would receive a special certificate including the name of the person it is for and a message.

In November, January and March there will be special planting days where tree buyers can come to St Ives and plant the tree themselves or watch it being planted by a group of volunteers.

And a plaque will be put up showing the location of all the trees, so buyers will be able to go and identify their own.

Mrs Burton said: "If you want a special gift for someone, whether it's for a birthday or a memorable occasion, why not buy them their own personal tree which can be visited whenever they want. At the same time they are helping the environment for future generations."

Bradford Council's executive member for the environment, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: "It's very exciting and we are very pleased about it. It's doing something for the environment and providing funds for the Bradford Can... Appeal."

The scheme has been supported by the husband of an environmental campaigner who died from cancer earlier this year and planned her own eco-friendly funeral.

Muriel Thompson lost her long battle with cancer in January and had a woodland burial at Thornton cemetery. Mrs Thompson, who was 69, had a biodegradable bamboo coffin and instead of a headstone, a tree was planted on her grave.

Her husband Keith said the wood was a good way of replacing the trees being lost in the world.

"It's for a particularly good cause and it's also doing the environment good," Mr Thompson said.

Trees in the Commemorative Wood cost £50 each. For more information, contact the Bradford Can... Appeal office on (01274) 235482.

The Bradford Can...Appeal is aiming to raise £1 million for cancer research at the city's university and Bradford Royal Infirmary. The appeal stands at about £500,000 and once the £1 million target is reached it will trigger another £5 million funding from Cancer Research UK.

Special section on the Bradford Can... appeal