A worker has been rescuing and replanting trees that have been thrown away at a Darlington tip for more than a decade.

Jeff Bruce has worked at the Darlington Household Waste Recycling Centre for more than 14 years. He was previously part of the council’s horticultural team.

His green fingers have helped him rescue a number of trees from the skips over the years which he has replanted around the edge of the tip site.

The Northern Echo: Jeff with his first ever tree planted 14 years agoJeff with his first ever tree planted 14 years ago (Image: DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL)

He said: “I know exactly which trees are the ones I have planted.

"The first one I planted was about 14 years ago - and it’s still growing. There are some others that I just put in recently.

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“It feels good to rescue trees that people are throwing away and to give them a new lease of life.”

Jeff has also put an old dog kennel in the wooded area around the site which has become home to visiting foxes and other wildlife.

Libby McCollom, cabinet member for local services at Darlington Borough Council, said: “We encourage everyone to reduce, reuse and recycle and it’s great that Jeff is rescuing these trees and helping them to continue to grow.”