Historic woodland near school to get a facelift

AN historic woodland is to get a new lease of life.

Kirklees Council plans to improve Sparrow Wood, a nature reserve on the Savile Town and Thornhill Lees boundary in Dewsbury.

It plans to allocate £20,000 from its Cleaner Safer Greener fund.

The woodland is used by children from Headfield J and I School for outdoor education and active play, including orienteering.

The project will include work to clear an old 'green lane' linking Caledonian Road and Vicarage Road, creating a safe route to school for children.

Drystone walls will be repaired and some trees will be selectively felled to improve the structure and diversity of the woods.

Pupils will work with sculptor Lewis Morgan to design a feature for the woods, reflecting how they feel about the place.

Clr Masood Ahmed, Dewsbury Area Committee member with responsibility for young people, was a pupil at Headfield. Like today's pupils he visited the woods - which he knew as Spoogy Woods - from school. He also used the lane to walk home.

He said: "The children will benefit hugely from the work. It is wonderful they will be involved in it and creating a piece of art.

"But the project will also make the woods into a community space to be enjoyed by everyone," he added.