Nearly 80 trees will be planted across Derker and Littlemoor this winter after First Choice Homes Oldham secured £43,000 from a Greater Manchester green scheme.

The housing provider said 78 trees will go into the ground over the coming months, paid for by the City of Trees project. It is the 5th year running that First Choice Homes has received funding from the initiative.

Species being planted include European beech, hornbeam, golden alder, maple, red-leaved sycamore and whitebeam. First Choice Homes is putting an extra £7,000 towards the planting costs, and the work will be carried out by Limb2Limb Tree Services.

The organisation said the planting helps with climate change and biodiversity, as well as improving communities across Oldham.

Arboriculture Officer Tim Simpson said: "Trees make a huge difference to our customers' quality of life, they help attract and home wildlife and they make our community spaces inviting, so we're delighted to secure this funding."

He added that the tree work sits alongside other environmental projects, with bulb planting and wildflower turf installation continuing in the coming months.

Residents are being asked to volunteer as Tree Guardians to keep an eye on the young trees. Mr Simpson said 314 trees have been planted since 2022, and that saplings can be vulnerable in their early years.

"We would like to recruit more Tree Guardians to help keep an eye on them so they get the best start in life. It is a vital role and will do much to help local communities and wildlife," he said.