VULNERABLE residents will help create a hectare of woodland in Bury after a £10,000 cash injection.

A total of 2,600 trees will be planted in the Bury area after Greenwood Twiggs was awarded a grant for its urban scheme.

The social enterprise, which manages several woodlands across the region, won the funding pot from TD Green Streets after developing an idea for a forestry project.

Greenwood Twiggs will work alongside community groups and schools to create new woodland for coppicing across two sites.

The ancient woodland management technique involves harvesting the ground on rotation every seven years to boost diversity and encourage new flora among other benefits.

Natalie Twiggs, who runs Greenwood Twiggs, said: "We are really excited about showing people how wonderful our woodlands are.

"It's always great to see the possibilities of what you can make and involve people in the creative process."

She added: "We are looking forward to working with different local groups and seeing the positive impact it has on them, the woodlands and the environment."

Funding will be used to plant 600 trees at Mount Sion Road, Radcliffe, and 2,000 trees at Waterdale, which is part of City Forest Park.

Greenwood Twiggs will coppice existing woodland, using harvested wood to make rustic furniture, and run sessions to teach people green woodworking skills.

As part of the programme, vulnerable people from arts and wellbeing centre Start in Salford, will source wood for their workshops.

Others from Achieve Salford Recovery Services - a service for drug and alcohol recovery - will teach people new skills to develop their confidence and unlock employment opportunities.

The grant scheme was launched last year by TD Securities and City of Trees, which aims to plant one tree per person living in a city region.

Communities across Greater Manchester and Greater London were invited to develop ideas for urban forestry projects aimed at bringing nature to towns and cities.

Kevin Wigley, from the City of Trees team, said: "This unique project recognises and celebrates the importance of our urban woodlands realising their huge potential and involving people of all ages and abilities in taking care of our trees and woods from start to finish."