A PIONEERING project to promote healthy living in the North-East by sending people to the woods for a range of activities was unveiled yesterday.

The scheme will be piloted at Chopwell Woodland Park, near Gateshead.

Partners in the £50,000 project include Gateshead Primary Care Trust (PCT), Derwentside PCT, the Friends of Chopwell Wood and the Forestry Commission.

The 15-month scheme, spearheaded by health development worker Nick Powell, was launched with the help of pupils from Burnopfield Primary School.

Inactivity and poor diet are significant factors in obesity and illnesses such as diabetes and heart and kidney problems. Research has shown that exercising in natural environments can help reduce stress and speed recovery from illness.

Mr Powell, a former semi-professional rugby player and part-time lecturer from Sunderland, said: "This project is covering new ground and the real aim is to see whether we can make it work and have an impact on people's lifestyle choices.

"The benchmark of success is whether we have more youngsters and adults taking physical exercise and eating the right foods and whether patients referred through GPs sustain the benefit they get from woodland exercise."

Individual patients who are at risk of high blood pressure, obesity and stress will be referred to Mr Powell by health professionals to improve general fitness.

He will also work with Derwentside PCT in schools as part of the County Durham and Darlington Healthy School Standard.

Children and staff from five primary schools will be offered a health promotion activity programme which will include indoor and outdoor activities.

Other aims of the project include establishing walking groups, staging workshops and overseeing the publication of a regional "woods for health" leaflet.