TREE lovers are being urged to sign up to help create a new forest for the next century.

Burnley Council hope to collect 10,000 signatures in support of their £1.3 million bid to the Millennium Commission. If successful, the money will be used to plant one million trees throughout the borough to celebrate the arrival of a new century.

This is the second time the bid has been considered, it was originally turned down last year. Now, the council is hoping for backing from the people of Burnley to give them an extra chance of success.

Project co-ordinator Simon Goff, explained: "Public support for this project is very important. We are hoping to collect 10,000 signatures to present to the Millennium Commission - so far we have got 5,500. "Our aim is to plant a total of one million trees throughout the borough, including 2,000 in the town centre itself to celebrate the year 2000. The total cost of the project is £2.7 million and we have asked the Millennium Commission for half of that.

"We are also looking for £58,000 in sponsorship from local businesses. The rest will come from North West Water, the Forest Authority, Lancashire County Council and Burnley Borough Council.

As well as creating over 1,250 acres of new woodland, the council have also got plans to preserve existing woodland areas.

Simon added: "Burnley has got several areas of woodland that are 200-300 years old and are in danger of being lost forever.

"If the bid is successful we will have five years to plant a million trees so we will have to start work right away - we have already identified the areas we want to target."

If anyone wants to add their name to the petition, it can be signed at Burnley library, Towneley Hall, Burnley Town Hall and any council office before Easter.

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