THE Sunnyhurst Woods Visitor Centre is to be named in tribute to the founder of the Darwen beauty spot’s friends group.

The move to permanently remember Dennis Gillibrand, 82, who died in August has been revealed in advance of a series of key meetings about the woods’ future.

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The former Woodman’s Cottage will have two plates, one a street name-style black and white sign and one a blue heritage-style commemorative plaque, placed on its walls at Easter.

Sunnyhurst ward councillor and long-term friend of Mr Gillibrand Dave Smith said: “This is an fitting tribute to him and all the work he did for this beautiful area.

“I am delighted and just as he would have been.”

The centre will be renamed ‘Dennis Gillibrand Cottage’ with the blue memory plaque, similar to those used on houses associated with significant historic and literary figures, attached to the outside of the building.

Next week a series of meetings will take place to confirm the transfer of the building from Blackburn with Darwen Council to The Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods and to discuss the progress of the new masterplan for the beauty spot’s future.

Mr Gillibrand, born and bred in Darwen, set up the group in 2000 and continued as chairman until he became ill.

Partly in memory of Mr Gillibrand, the friends group has asked primary schoolchildren in the town, Lower Darwen and Hoddlesden to take part in a ‘Spring In The Wood’ Art Competition.

There will be two age groups, under the age of seven and eight to 11.

The closing date is Thursday, March 30, and the winners will be announced on Easter Sunday at a special ceremony at the centre when the renaming and plaque mounting takes place.

Friends group secretary Annette Sultana said: “We feel naming the cottage and mounting the two plaques to him is an appropriate tribute to everything Dennis did for Sunnyhurst Woods, especially with important announcements in the pipeline.

“The art competition and getting primary age children involved in the woods at the monthly volunteer groups, starting on Sunday, March 11, is something Dennis would approve of.”

Art competition entries should be sent to Mrs Sultana at 81 Argyle Street, Darwen, BB3 1EY before the deadline.