March 5, 2004 - Bolton Council Awarded Exclusive Woodland Certification Award

Bolton Council has become the first local authority in the Northwest to have any of its woodlands certified to a globally recognised standard, thanks to the help of Red Rose Forest.

The UK Woodland Assurance Standard means that the 18-hectare site at Hacken Lane meets strict environmental and social management criteria.

Hacken Lane Wood’s participation also had national significance because the award was granted as part of a trial project run by the Soil Association.

The trial took sites from three certification pilot areas, including Red Rose Forest. Red Rose’s Woodland Officer, Andy Long, nominated Bolton Council.
Andy said: “It is a credit to Bolton Council and their woodlands team that they passed with flying colours.”

And Councillor Guy Harkin, Bolton Council Executive Member for the Environment said: ”Bolton is one of the most heavily wooded boroughs in the Northwest. The Council has always treated trees as an important asset of the townscape and I’m delighted that the borough should be the first to win this globally-recognised accreditation. It’s very appropriate too because Bolton has a long tradition of tree preservation. These green areas are vital to the overall look and attractiveness of the town and the award reflects great credit on our woodlands team and the partnership working with the Red Rose Forest initiative.”
For any further enquiries please contact Andy Long or Faith Ashworth on 0161 872 1660.

Notes to the editor
The Certification Pilot project in The Red Rose and Mersey Forest is one of three in England funded by the Forestry Commission. The project will run for three years and makes up part of the long-term work of the two Community Forests to create economic, social and environmental benefits through an increase in woodland cover and active management of existing woodland.

Red Rose Forest is an environmental regeneration initiative in Greater Manchester and one of 12 Community Forests being developed on England. We are a partnership of the Countryside agency, the Forestry Commission and six Greater Manchester authorities. Over 40 years we planting over 25 million trees, across 292 square miles of the area, as the framework for a programme of regeneration and renewal that will make Greater Manchester a greener and more satisfying place to live. At the heart of our strategy is the involvement of local people and local businesses in the social, economic and environmental regeneration of the area though land development and enhancement for the enjoyment of communities and individuals.

The Mersey Forest Project is a partnership that is creating the largest of England's twelve 'Community Forests' - forests created within, around, for and by local communities. It covers a total of 110,000 ha of land, across Merseyside and North Cheshire and involves nine local authorities, the Countryside Agency, The Forestry Commission and a wide range of private, public and environmental organisations.