Green dream

Lucy Holland, of the City of Trees team, at Snipe Clough.

A FORMER landfill site is to be converted into a community woodland after winning a competition to plant thousands of trees.

Snipe Clough in Fitton Hill will be transformed from an under-used and unloved area into an urban oasis that will create a green space for walkers and cyclists and will even help prevent flooding.

The project involves transforming two hectares of the site into native woodland by planting a mixture of over 4,000 native broadleaf deciduous trees. The introduction of woodland wildflowers will also improve biodiversity, aid pollinators such as bees and act as a haven for local wildlife, flora and fauna.

The project secured a £10,000 grant from TD Green Streets ­- a grant programme launched last year by TD Direct Investing and Red Rose Forest.

Communities across Greater Manchester were invited to develop ideas for urban forestry projects, aiming to bring a touch of nature to our towns and cities, with applications received from across the region. An award scheme was also run across West Yorkshire.

Snipe Clough was chosen as the winner, with the first round of planting to take place in November.

Nik Anderson, Senior Arboricultural and Countryside Officer at Oldham Council, said: "We are absolutely delighted to secure this funding, which will make a massive difference to the residents of Oldham.

"Creating new woodland is a great way to engage the community and our aim is to involve as many local residents and school children as possible."

Community activists have long campaigned for its transformation and as part of the plans residents will be asked to input into the development of the site. Local schools will also be involved in tree planting and using the space for outdoor learning.

There are also proposals for further community planting days, woodland management training and workshops to help people learn about the nature on their doorstep and empower them to take ownership and maintain the site.

As well as the range of community benefits the new woodland will also aid the area's resilience to flooding.

Hilary Wood, from Red Rose Forest, said: "In Oldham town centre, the primary flood risk is from surface water, and the secondary source is from Snipe Clough.

"Tree planting would provide a number of benefits in relation to slowing down the flow of water, and have implications for Oldham town centre and beyond.

"Red Rose Forest is part of a new movement ­- Manchester City of Trees. Spearheaded by a number of committed partners it aims to plant three million trees in the next two decades ­- one for each man, woman and children in Greater Manchester.

"We hope that this project will help to inspire the people of Greater Manchester to contribute to the vision of planting a tree for every man, woman and child across the city region".

Carl Howard, Commercial Director of TD Direct Investing (Europe), said: "We are thrilled for Snipe Clough ­- an important local scheme that will have excellent local community and environmental benefits.

"The intention of TD Green Streets is to promote and invest in innovative projects that use urban forestry to help address community and environmental challenges ­- making places greener and healthier.

"This exciting initiative works to help strengthen and sustain our local communities - by giving people the confidence to develop and implement their own projects - and underscores TD's global commitment to growing and protecting forests and green spaces."