BLACKPOOL'S premier park could be planted with 200 new trees to celebrate the millennium.

The Friends of Stanley Park - a newly-formed group of park users - is urging residents to donate a tree in memory of a loved one or to celebrate a new birth or marriage.

Spokesman Paul Davenport said: "Our aim is to improve the quality of the park, especially its trees and shrubs. We feel it's poorly planted-up at the moment and a lot of the trees are reaching the end of their lives.

"People who care about it can't rely on the council alone to do the job."

The group hopes the public will get behind its scheme to plant 200 trees before the millennium: "We want to capitalise on the fact that often people want to donate plants, shrubs or trees as memorials or celebrations," said Mr Davenport, a professional horticulturalist from North Shore.

The Friends are working in co-operation with the council which is preparing an application for lottery cash to restore the 1920s-built park to its original bloom.

Though its central Italian Gardens are a prize-winning glory, the remainder can look tired and shabby.

The Friends meet on the first Wednesday of every month at the Stanley Park Sports Centre and would warmly welcome new members. Call Mr Davenport on 01253 291598 for further details.

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