GRANT funding has been secured to grow more trees in St Helens.

St Helens will join towns and cities across the North of England in creating a new Northern Forest, where 50 million new trees are to be planted.

The Grow Back Greener programme is being led by the Woodland Trust in partnership with regional trusts, including The Mersey Forest.

In St Helens Borough funding has been granted to plant 246 heavy standard trees (roughly 3m in height) in the initial phase and a further 8,325 smaller trees during the current winter period, in a variety of sites across the borough.

The council is working with local horticultural and community groups such as Rainford In Bloom to deliver new trees in their areas, guided by their local knowledge and goals.

The initial planting phase of larger trees will be carried out in what remains of the ideal planting season – typically November to March when the roots are in a dormant state.

Cllr Andy Bowden, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Climate Change, said: “Planting new trees and creating new woodland stands across our borough will enhance biodiversity and protect existing woodland areas, helping them to recover from ash dieback tree loss.

"The Grow Back Greener programme will complement our past and future efforts to increase biodiversity across the borough.”