THE first part of a scheme to breathe new life into former agricultural land in Lowerhouses has begun.

The old grazing land – known historically as Hey Green – has been given by Kirklees Council for community use.

Pupils at Newsome High School came up with many ideas for the site, including seats, an orchard and a woodland walk.

The first part of the scheme got under way with a bilberry-cutting day on Castle Hill.

The work is being organised by the Environmental Alliance, the Newsome Community Forum and the Coalfield Heathland Project, which aims to restore heathland across South and West Yorkshire.

The Environmental Alliance is an independent, not-for-profit company that supports community environmental projects in Kirklees.

People from two social care centres in Huddersfield – Briar Court and Swallow Court – took cuttings of bilberries and heather which they will propagate over the winter, ready to plant in the spring.

Next Tuesday people can join pupils from Newsome High who will be doing a harvesting and survival day at Hey Green.

They will be learning survival skills such as building a shelter, making a fire pit, foraging for wild food – such as nuts, berries and edible fungi – making tools and campfire games.

All will be run by Kirklees Young People's Service Community Play Development Team.

Anyone wanting to take part in the free harvesting and survival day, which runs from 10am to 3pm should phone Clare Christian on 01484 533422.