ON behalf of everyone who attended, I would like to thank Hyndburn Borough Council for hosting a meeting to discuss the potential for developing a tree warden scheme for the borough.

The idea is to develop a team of people who can act as the 'eyes and ears' to help protect local trees and give advance warning of any potential problem areas.

The group agreed that it would be better to have a Hyndburn Trees Forum rather than a tree warden scheme so that more people could become involved and that the tree forum should be linked to the recently formed Green Spaces Forum.

A variety of activities will be arranged to encourage others to join the forum and these could include guided walks on tree identification, how to spot diseases and other problems affecting trees, talks and presentations on the law, the effects of environmental change and the value of tree preservation orders plus outdoor classrooms including practical workshops and training days where the keenest members can study to become tree wardens.

Anyone wishing to know more about trees or the Hyndburn Tree Forum should contact Mark Cocks at Hyndburn Borough Council on 01254 388111.

BARBARA SHARPLES (Ms), Allsprings Drive, Great Harwood.