A TEAM of 40 volunteers and school pupils have planted 3,000 shrubs and trees as part of a scheme to transform a former mining site.

The greenery has been put in place at Bickershaw Country Park, the site of the old Bickershaw Colliery in Westleigh.

It is part of the Bickershaw Project, which was launched last year by Lancashire Wildlife Trust in partnership with City of Trees and Wigan Council’s The Deal.

Assistant engagement officer with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust Hamish Jeffreson said: “This planting season has been a really positive step for Bickershaw.

“Getting members of the community involved as well as local school children will make a big difference to the health and longevity of the site.

“I cannot thank our partners enough for their hard work.”

Work being carried out is also part of the Greenheart project, which aims to create nature havens at old industrial sites

The planting will make a more diverse woodland to provide a new place for species such as Britain’s fastest declining bird, the willow tit, to live.

The restoration will make sure large open areas develop and improve grass and wetland habitats.

This will maintain areas of quality woodland near the periphery that links up with the existing trees.

When the trees mature they will build up a variety of insects, fungi and plants and there will be opportunities for woodland species such as woodpeckers and tree roosting bats to live.