LOCAL people will be digging in to help improve the environment for themselves and future generations on November 19 by planting trees in a new wood at Bondleigh.

It's all part of a project called 'Woods on your Doorstep' — a nation-wide initiative conceived and run by the Woodland Trust, the UK's woodland conservation charity.

The planting event at Bondleigh is part of the last leg of this ambitious project which has already seen a million trees planted across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to create over 2,500 acres of new woodland.

Locals will help plant hundreds of trees on the 4.2 acre site at Bondleigh which they have named 'Clapper Mead Wood.' The project has been made possible thanks to a successful fund-raising campaign by residents plus generous funding from a number of local groups and organisations — notably South West Forest, Pennon Environmental Trust and Bondleigh Parish Council.

Dominic Driver of the Woodland Trust said everyone was welcome at the event.

'People simply need to turn up at any time between 1pm and 3pm with a spade, wellies and warm clothing,' he said. 'It's a chance to make a lasting mark on the landscape for the new millennium.'

Project supporter Cath Pettyfer from Bondleigh said: 'The wood will be a fantastic amenity for people to enjoy for generations to come and is being created for the benefit of everyone in the area.

'We are also going to plant a few trees on November 25 to coincide with St Catherine's day to capitalise on the French proverb which says that 'trees planted on St Catherine's Day take root' and as a thank you to Catherine Lethbridge who started it all off by planting Lethbridge Wood next door.'

A special 'Millennium feature' will be installed in the site to mark it as a celebration woodland and this will consist of a stone bench in the style of a clapper bridge. It is expected to be constructed next spring.

People are being advised to use alternative transport to get to the site on the tree planting day because there are only one or two car parking spaces available.

The event is free but tree-planting dedication certificates can be purchased for £10 each and the money raised will go towards the future care of 'Woods on Your Doorstep' sites.