MORE than 30 tots and their parents got together for the official opening of Hyndburn's unique Millennium Baby Wood.
The woodland, next to St Mary's burial ground off Burnley Road, Altham, was the result of three years of hard work by the Prospects Foundation to plant a tree in honour of every Hyndburn baby born in 2000.
A total of 288 parents registered their millennium babies through the Observer and the trees - including oak, birch, hazel, ash and hawthorn - were finally planted in February 2002.
The idea was that there would be a tree for every baby registered at the special forest and both would mature together.
Catherine Ackroyd, of the Prospects Foundation, said around 35 millennium babies and their parents braved the cold for the opening day on Saturday, during which a display board listing all the babies and their dates of birth was unveiled.
She added that since the trees were planted, a kissing gate, four picnic tables, an easy-access ramp and a footpath had been installed at the site. She said: "We were very pleased with the turnout, especially as it was so cold. We put together a mini-treasure hunt for the children and gave them all certificates for taking part."
The wood, which was originally the idea of the Oswaldtwistle Prospects Panel, received around £21,000 from various sources.
These included the New Opportunities Fund, BCTV's People's Places, Cheshire Building Society, Lancashire Environmental Fund, the Forestry Commission's Woodland Grants Scheme and East Lancashire Woodland.
