Schoolchildren in Bradford will become foresters for the day when they complete an unusual Millennium project.

Around 5,000 trees have been planted to create a Children's Forest at a Yorkshire Water sewage site in Esholt.

More than 1,000 pupils took part in the initiative set up by Yorkshire Water. Its aim is to improve the quality of life for future generations and teach people about the importance of the environment.

The company plans to host educational Teddy Bear's Picnics and Enchanted Walks at the seven-acre site to keep youngsters interested in the world environment. There are also plans for a water feature and public footpaths.

Karen O'Rourke, a Yorkshire Water spokesman, said: "We wanted a Millennium project which wasn't just for one day or one year.

"By creating a forest we have got one which will last for hundreds of years. It's a wonderful idea."

Christina Briggs, headteacher at Buttershaw Primary School, said: "The children thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a valuable experience and one which they are never likely to repeat again.

"They have kept up the interest and planted some trees in the grounds of the school.

"We are very keen on teaching them about the environment and have an organic garden and nature trail. Learning about the environment is an important part of everybody's education and it is a great project."

Around 270 schools have taken part in the scheme, including Buttershaw Primary, and many are introducing their own forest projects.

Pupils from St Matthew's C of E Primary School, Hutton Middle School and Grove House First School will plant the final trees on Tuesday and Wednesday next week with help from Yorkshire Water volunteers.

After a talk on the importance of the forest and how to plant the trees, the children will take part in a short nature trail.

The seeds of the project were sown in 1988 and some of the children from the 270 schools which have taken part began planting last summer.

Yorkshire Water said it wanted the forest to be a place where the children would continue to visit and bring their children and grandchildren, and has teamed up with the Countryside Agency to maintain its upkeep.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.