06 October 2006 00:00 Central Networks helps Shropshire community group plant a new neighbourhood woodland

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, has awarded a grant of £2,500 to the International Tree Federation (ITF) to plant a new woodland area in Admaston near Telford.

The grant comes from the company’s £70,000 Safer Environment Fund which was launched earlier this year.

The ITF is working with the Borough of Telford and Wrekin Council to turn seven acres of land off Wellington Road in Admaston into an area of natural beauty for the whole community to enjoy. The money from Central Networks will help fund the planting of over 2,000 trees in the area.

Customer Operations Manager Phil Wilson said: “The area will now be transformed into a wonderful nature spot for visitors and wildlife to enjoy.

“We were impressed with the International Tree Federation’s application. We asked local groups to come up with ideas that would have a lasting and positive effect on the local environment and that’s just what they did. The project will make a real difference to the community and we’re delighted to be able to help.”

Tony Knapp from the local branch of the International Tree Federation said: “We’ll be planting native species and the new trees will join to the existing woodland. It will be open to the public to enjoy and be of benefit to the local wildlife too.”

The fund is still open to all local community groups and not for profit organisations with their own bank account located in the Central Networks distribution region, which covers central England. For more information and to download an application form visit www.central-networks.co.uk/sef.

Ends
Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Jamee Majid 024 7618 3679
Ellie King 024 7618 3678
A selection of Central Networks images are available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under the Distribution section