A step in the right direction

Insignificant when compared to the rainforest, nevertheless Ling Close Wood was acquired as part of the "Woods on your Doorstep" initiative by the Woodland Trust in 1999. The name was chosen by the local people and the site is said to have had a variety of uses over the years including allotments, cricket and football pitches pre-war and arable thereafter. Running through the wood is a network of paths and tracks which are cut regularly creating pleasant circular walks. To celebrate the year 2000 a pond was created as the millennium feature. In the region of 7,200 trees were planted including oak, ash, cherry, field maple, willow, alder, hazel, hawthorn and dog rose. It is situated on the western edge of the village of Ledston Luck, the next village to Kippax where we lived when Jonny was born. The Raleigh volunteers are doing great work for ecology and conservation in the rainforest and we are doing our bit by starting a monthly subscription to the Woodland Trust, and for that they have planted a tree for us in this wood. Sounds like a nice afternoon walk to try and find it. They have sent also a Woodland Trust "nature detectives CLUB" pack for Holly, Henry and Isla - they will be really excited - but it is a first step and a valuable one.