The people of Heaton are to be congratulated for supporting their nearby woodland to the tune of £2,300 - the amount raised locally to help to keep the woods for which the township is famous in good order. It is a remarkable achievement by the Heaton Woodlands Trust to have persuaded the population to part with such a chunk of money at a time when there are so many other calls on their pockets.

As a result, the trust will not have to go through the time-consuming process of applying for grant aid to fund important thinning, planting and path work - and perhaps getting turned down in the end. Its decision to meet 100 per cent of the costs involved in kick-starting its long-term maintenance programme shows a commendable determination to be self-sufficient - at least for the time being.

Unfortunately, the committee of Wade House Youth and Community Centre at Shelf doesn't seem to be in such a fortunate position. It has raised £5,000 locally to keep the centre open (another remarkable effort for a small village) but needs a further £25,000 for repairs to meet safety standards.

If it can't get hold of the money, the community centre might have to close - a serious matter as it is the hub of social life for young people in Shelf which, like so many other places around Bradford, needs every facility it can muster to keep its younger generation occupied and off the streets.

It is to be hoped that, having made such an effort to raise its own money, the committee is able to secure the balance from elsewhere and preserve this important local amenity.