Thanks a million – children help Dales charity hit key figure for tree planting

They were joined by former The Bill actor Simon Rouse, who planted a five-year-old oak in his role as an ambassador for the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

The celebration at Halton East was attended by 50 pupils from Christ Church Primary school in Skipton, who each planted saplings.

The trust sells around 2,000 trees a year for members of the public to plant across the Dales at a cost of £15 and also receives grants for its work. It plants trees during the winter and holds an open day in the summer to allow people to see how they are getting on.

Deputy director David Tayler said: “It is all about creating new native woodlands to the benefit of Yorkshire people.

“It has developed into quite a popular thing to do because it is something different and people think it is a nice thing to give as a birthday present for someone else or as a good way of remembering someone who has died.”

As well as the restoration of meadows and finding alternative uses for field barns, the group also runs a countryside trainee project.

Mr Tayler added: “Our work is all about helping people in the area and it is also a great chance to get some fresh country air.”

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