VOLUNTEERS helped members of a conservation charity begin their final year of tree planting in a community woodland.

The event, staged by the Woodland Trust, was held in White Hill Woods, near the former mining community of Easington Lane, Wearside.

Part of the site was planted with wildflowers in summer 2008, while the first saplings in what will become a 100,000-tree wood were planted on the White Hill site a year ago.

The bulk of the site will consist of new native broadleaved woodland, with ash then oak being the most dominant species.

Some less common species are also included to reflect the unique nature of the magnesian limestone that can accommodate species more usually associated with southern England White Hill Woods, along with Elemore Woods, will create 376 acres of publicly accessible woodland stretching continuously for about 2.5 miles between Easington Lane, and Littletown, in County Durham.