A trust set up to help maintain new woodland on the edge of the city is among nominations in the Bradford’s Best Awards.

Heaton Woods Trust, which helped establish an area of woodland between Heaton and Shipley following the purchase of land in 1977, is up for the Bradford’s Best Community Environmental Project.

The organisation, which has more than 400 members, has overseen the planting of thousands of trees by community volunteers and is responsible for tracks, bridleways and footpaths through the woodland.

The trust, led by a 16-strong committee, has also created a guide to the woods, which has been given to residents in the area, and encouraged schoolchildren to help maintain its infrastructure.

The woodland is also used by schools and societies for outdoor education, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award projects and orienteering.

Each year a tree is planted by Bradford’s Lord Mayor and others are donated as memorials to friends and relatives who have died.

David Astley, the trust’s secretary, said: “We are beginning a scheme whereby immigrant minorities will be encouraged to donate trees from their homelands to mark their presence, trees from the Himalayas are already growing.

“As a consequence of one remembrance act two wildlife ponds were built and rustic seating provides opportunity to observe the ever-increasing wildlife.

“For example deer have established themselves in these woods just two miles from the city centre.”

The trust was awarded first prize in the Royal Forestry Society’s Community Forestry Award for Yorkshire and the North East at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show.

Forestry experts Rodney Helliwell and Roderick Leslie, who judged the competition, said: “It is beautifully designed and well managed, with stunning views over the very pleasant partly-wooded landscape on the northern edge of Bradford.

“Heaton is bringing people together across income and race in one of England’s most culturally diverse cities.”