An animal charity is hoping to develop a wild woodland for the community.

Oak Tree Animals’ Charity was awarded £14,872 from Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, to help it further develop Blackburn Woods.

The wooded area is 2.4 hectares and is withing the charity's Oak Tree Farm site in Wetheral.

The grant will allow staff to create accessible pathways for all users, educational nature trails and run community sessions within the woodland to discover the native animals and plants within the woodland.

The grant will also create a viewing platform and memory garden. It is hoped that people will visit the garden and spend time enjoying the view, relaxing and remembering loved ones - both human and animal - past and present.

Oak Tree general manager Caroline Johnson said: “We are extremely grateful to Postcode Local Trust, and players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, for providing us with the resources to develop this wonderful woodland further.

"Since the re-opening of Blackburn Woods earlier this year, we have seen a great number of our community taking advantage of the peace and tranquillity this woodland provides for dog-walking and recreation.

"As we develop the woodland further, we are looking to create a great community space for people of all ages to enjoy our native wildlife and taking part in conservation."

She continued: "We are establishing the ‘Friends of Blackburn Woods’, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting and helping managing this community woodland.

"We would like to thank all of the volunteers who have given their time to this project so far, from path-laying, species identification, bracken clearing to drainage, this thriving woodland is testament to their dedication and hard-work.”

For more information about Blackburn Woods or how to become involved in the Friends of Blackburn Woods, visit www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk or call 01228 560082.