NEXT week Darlington school pupils will celebrate the best anti-pollution device known to man - the tree.

Their focus will be South Burdon Community Woodland, which is being created on farmland opposite the Brick Train sculpture on the A66 bypass in Darlington.

Forest Enterprise, The Tees Forest group and Darlington Borough Council hope to help people realise that trees are important because they support wildlife, reduce global warming by trapping carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, bind soil to prevent erosion, and lower the water table, which counteracts flooding.

South Burdon Woodland lies on either side of the trackbed of the original Stockton and Darlington railway, a site acquired by Forest Enterprise, and 120,000 trees are being planted on 80 hectares.

The majority are broadleaf with some conifer to provide all-year-round colour.

Clare Lowe, of The Tees Forest, said: "Trees are important because they offer great benefits and South Burdon is a new and exciting project for Darlington. Not only will it boost tree cover around the town, but will also offer a host of opportunities for conservation and recreation."

To mark National Tree Week, children from two schools will plant trees on the site: Red Hall Primary School next Wednesday, and Middleton St George Primary on Thursday, November 28.

At present, public access is possible only by foot, cycle and horse on public rights of way and the railway trackbed, but the rest of the site will be opened up.

The Darlington to Stockton section of the National Cycle Network will run across the site and is being developed by Darlington Borough Council in partnership with community transport charity Sustrans.

Peter Green, of Forest Enterprise, said: "We envisage that by the tail-end of next year all the site will be under trees, and visitors will have the freedom to roam over the whole area. As access to South Burdon improves, we will offer opportunities for public tree planting events and provide opportunities for local people to be involved in activities on the site."

Alastair Cumming, beat forester for Forest Enterprise, said: "South Burdon will help bring the woodland to people so that they can enjoy the multiple benefits of a woodland environment."

Rob George, countryside officer with Darlington Borough Council, said: "It will help people gain a better understanding of nature and provide superb new habitats for the areas wildlife.