THE Tees Forest project celebrated its tenth anniversary yesterday with a planting ceremony at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park.

The blueprint of the community forest was set out in the early 1990s by the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Agency, which were joined by the area's local authorities in a successful bid to improve the environment of the Tees Valley.

The Tees Forest was first known as the Cleveland Community Forest, but changed its name in 1997 when Darlington became part of the forest area.

A professional team, based at Stewart Park in Middlesbrough, spearheads the work of developing the forest.

The partnership has already created more than 850 hectares of woodlands in an area equivalent to Redcar.

The Tees Forest Partnership is not only concerned about woodland creation and supports a myriad of community involvement, recreation and countryside access initiatives and has recently turned its attention to public health and economic regeneration projects.

Clive Davies, forest director, who has been with the project from the start, said: "We wish to celebrate ten years of success but also wish the community to know there are many exiting new initiatives in the pipeline.

"In 2002 we plan to launch an innovative project called PlayWoods to improve the opportunities for pre-school children to play safely in woodland environments."

The new forest plan launched last year lays out a blueprint for work continuing for at least another 25 years.

Mr Davies said: "When our work is substantially finished, this region will be one of the greenest in Europe."