VOLUNTEERS in Immingham weren't afraid to get their hands dirty as they planted a forest for the future.
Immingham In Bloom, Keelby First Scouts, Grimsby Rotary Club and the Women's Institute were among the community groups who started planting 600 trees at Coomb Briggs Meadow, Immingham.
It was the second wood – the first being at Spring Road, in November – to be planted in the town as part of the Jubilee Wood Project – a scheme to plant six-million trees in the UK to celebrate the Queen's 60th year on the throne.
The Mayors of Immingham and North East Lincolnshire also lent a hand at the planting events, with another taking place next Sunday.
Councillor Mike Burton (Lab, Immingham), Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, said: "It's nice to see so many people here, giving their time to improve Immingham.
"Most of these probably won't be here to see their hard work come to fruition, but in 30, 40 or 50 years time, it will be somewhere our children, and their children, can enjoy."
Neil Castle, Mayor of Immingham, said: "Today is part of a wider plan to make Immingham a better place to live, work and visit in the future.
"Last year, we won our first In Bloom gold award and Best Kept Town in the area, but it's an ongoing process. In years to come, future generations will be able to appreciate and enjoy this wood."
Mike Sleight, ecology officer for North East Lincolnshire, said the wood will be the perfect habitat for many species such as squirrels, jays and deer.
It is just one of many woodland areas planned that will see up to 100,000 new trees planted in the coming years.
Mr Sleight added: "Northern Lincolnshire is an area with very little woodland, so we are making the effort to change that.
"Woods like this one will improve the populations of all sorts of creatures, from the tiny invertebrates up to large mammals such as deer."
Grimsby Rotary Club chairman Mike Carr, who was planting with other Rotarians, said: "Every tree absorbs carbon dioxide, so 600 more of them could improve the air quality in the local area."
