A MASSIVE three-year project to survey and promote the woodlands of the South Pennines – which include areas of the Worth Valley – has been launched.

And the public is being encouraged to get involved in the Heritage Lottery-funded initiative.

A launch event, featuring displays and family activities, was attended by hundreds of people.

Chris Atkinson, who is helping spearhead the Celebrating Our Woodland Heritage Project, said the venture got off to a "tremendous" start.

"We had a lot interest from families and individuals – recruiting a number of volunteers on the day," he said.

"Over the next three years we are hoping to get a wide range of people involved and I'm interested in hearing from groups and organisations in the area – everyone from local history groups to young archaeologists.

"There are so many different ways to get involved. For example, Cubs and Scouts can use the project to work towards their heritage badge."

Mr Atkinson, who was recently appointed South Pennines woodland heritage officer, worked on similar projects in Herefordshire before moving to Yorkshire.

He added: "With our volunteers, we'll be carrying out archaeological surveys in ancient woodlands.

"There'll be on-the-job training looking at past woodland use and any evidence of pre-woodland use, such as quarries, settlements and field markers.

"Even in the smaller woodlands, which predominate in this area, there's still evidence to be found.

"We're hoping that by surveying the woodlands, people will gain increased understanding of their importance and they'll have a greater respect for them.

"This is vital if we are to protect the woodlands for future generations."

Among those involved in the scheme, which is being managed by rural regeneration company Pennine Prospects, is Yorkshire Water.

The company's recreation manager, Geoff Lomas, said: "We are delighted to partner with Pennine Prospects so we can combine our expertise.

"Together we can improve our knowledge relating to the heritage of ancient woodland in the South Pennines so these special places can be fully appreciated and carefully conserved from a cultural, as well as an environmental, point of view.

"There are over 250 hectares of woodlands in the Pennine Prospects area, some of which is ancient woodland on our land.

"Within these woodlands we want to identify, record and celebrate the archaeology, heritage and cultural past so we can protect it and inspire people to visit a woodland near them and learn more about it.

"The part woodlands have played in people's lives is currently under-recorded."

As well as surveying the woodlands, the project will use new techniques to tell their story, working with forest schools and training 'woodland heritage champions'.

And Hywel Lewis, a researcher at the University of Bradford’s School of Archaeological Sciences, will examine the interaction between human industry and woodland ecology.

For more information about the project, visit celebrate-our-woodland.co.uk or contact Mr Atkinson on chris.atkinson@pennineprospects.co.uk or 07582 101691.