A CONSERVATION group in Boston is appealing for public support in its bid to increase the amount of woodland in the borough.

Boston Woods Trust is looking to expand the established Sir Joseph Banks Park in Wyberton and has applied to Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN) for a grant of up to £50,000 to help pay for the development.

As part of the grant application the trust needs to show it has community support and in an effort to do this it has launched a petition which it is urging residents to sign.

A Trust spokesman told the Target: "We are pleased to say that Westgate Wood, the first part of Sir Joseph Banks Park, the meadow and the woods off Fenside Road are regularly used and enjoyed by residents and visitors.

"We hope you will sign our petition to show you support the work of the Boston Woods Trust.

"This will enable us to get funding to develop and extend the park land for all to use."

The expansion to the park will be on a 16.28 acre field which joins Five House Lane to West End Road and is owned by the trust.

It is planned to include two ponds, a small area of woodland to be called Jenny's Wood at the West End Road end and wide all-weather paths allowing for good access.

The trust's petition can be signed at the Boston Target offices in Wide Bargate, Elwood and Briggs veterinary surgery in Kirton and the reception at Westwood Lakes in Wyberton.

The petition will be included in the trust's grant application which has to be submitted by April 23.

For more information about the Boston Woods Trust log onto http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/thebostonwoodstrust