Birthday presents come in all shapes and sizes but this group of Scouts have received a rather unique gift to celebrate their 20th anniversary - their own woodland.

The 1st Wigton Baden-Powell Scouts have bought their own two-acre mini-forest opposite their current base off West Road, thanks to a generous £19,000 grant.

The group bought their own plot of land on the edge of the town more than three years ago, transforming it into a space where all kinds of scouting activities such as camping and conservation work take place.

Always looking to expand their offering, group leaders seized an opportunity to acquire the woodland next door.

Leader Julie Bryceson said: “The woodland came up for sale and leaders said it would be great for scouting activities, however, when we found out the price, £20,000, we knew we couldn’t afford it.

"The Cumbria Community Foundation suggested we apply to the Joyce Wilkinson Trust, we did and we were successful, we are only now starting to believe it.”

The other £1,000 came from the group themselves.

Julie said she doesn't know of any other local Scouts group which have their own plots of land on this scale.

The woodland will be used for forest school activities and with Black Beck running alongside, there will be plenty of dam building and splashing about by the Beavers.

"The Cubs are looking forward to den building and wide games and the Scouts will be able to have much more room for their badge work and fire lighting," Julie added.

“I know we’re lucky to have the land we already own but our numbers continue to grow and we now have two Beaver colonies, two Cub packs, two Scout troops and a senior Scout troop, when they are all together, there are 120 children, so we need a considerable amount of room.

"This year we are celebrating our 20th birthday and we couldn’t have asked for a better present, we will be eternally grateful to Joyce Wilkinson and the trustees of her fund.”

The children have now began using the woodland.

The trust was created by Joyce Wilkinson who lived in Rosley and Westward, near Wigton, all her life. Community groups and charities. in the Rosley and Westward area, and neighbouring parishes, are invited to apply to the fund. Applications should be made through Cumbria Community Foundation.