ORGANISERS behind a scheme set up to make Burnley a greener place to live are celebrating after planting one million trees.

Burnley Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Najib planted the one millionth tree as part of the Forest of Burnley initiative.

The planting of the golden maple by the Deer Pond in Towneley Park also marked the hundredth new wooded area to be created in the borough since the scheme took root in 1997.

Keith Wilson, the council's woodlands officer, said the scheme had played a major role in making the borough a nicer place to live.

He said: "The Forest of Burnley has established its 100th woodland which is quite a milestone. The woodlands are a great community asset and help make the borough a greener and more beautiful place to live and work."

The Royal Forestry Society attended the ceremony to see the progress the Forest of Burnley had made in its bid to make Burnley greener.

The scheme was set up to increase the amount of land in the town covered by woodland from three per cent to six per cent. The national average is eight per cent.

It was the first time the charity had visited Burnley since 1998 when a new wood at Thieveley, near Cliviger was just one year old. As part of their visit members dropped in at Offshoots, an environmental project based in Towneley Park.

Since then the Forest of Burnley has created 500 hectares of woodland as well as restoring another 200 hectares.

An arts and education programme has also been set up to encourage people to appreciate trees and understand their importance as well as a sculpture trial in Towneley Park.

Mr Wilson added: "The visit was quite an honour for Burnley. A lot of heritage restoration work on the mature woodlands at Towneley has taken place since the last visit and the sculpture and Wayside Arts trails developed.