THE first sapling in a new wood will be planted during a ceremony in a North-East city next week.
The start of Foster Care Fortnight will be marked in Sunderland on Monday with a planting ceremony in the grounds of one of its children's homes.
A sapling will be planted for each child in need of a foster carer, about 50, to create a wood.
The event has been arranged with Durham Wildlife Trust, the council's Countryside Team, which has donated the saplings, and Asda.
Barbara Williams, head of children's services, said: "Each tree represents a child, and just like trees, we want to protect them, nurture them, give them somewhere to establish roots and watch them thrive."
Social services director Glenys Jones said: "Foster carers have a vital role to play in helping children to thrive by giving them the best possible start in life."
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