THE final touches to a lockdown project are to take place in Westwood near Bradford on Avon on Sunday.

Residents will lay wood chip on Sunday morning from 10am to 12 noon in a Tunnel of Light as the final stage of a community effort to turn the Covid-19 pandemic into something positive for the village in these difficult times.

The Tunnel of Light was an idea proposed by Sue Field, 75, who has lived in Westwood for the past 12 years.

The community initiative was accepted by Westwood Parish Council as part of their contribution to increase biodiversity.

Sue said: “This Tunnel of Light 2021 demonstrates how a community-led project can bring people together and give a positive light of hope for the future.”

The Tunnel of Light is a willow structure that now sits in a damp and unused part of the parish council’s football field in Lower Westwood, close to Westwood with Iford Primary School’s woodland.

It will be available for experiential play for children, whilst also increasing the biodiversity of the area.

Mrs Field said: “Willow has many benefits; it is able to sustain 200 different types of insects and by so doing will increase the local bird population, it will redress the bogginess of the area and most importantly of all at this time of Climate Emergency, it is one of the best carbon-capturing native trees in Britain.”

The project volunteers have worked hard, cutting, collecting and transporting the willow from the Labyrinth area at Bradford on Avon and formulating the structure.

Mrs Field's local neighbours, Helen Lewes and Chris Humphries created the Tunnel’s unique design.

Mrs Field added: “Thanks go to all who took part and to Bradford on Avon Council who allowed the harvesting of the willow from their land.

"As the wood chip for the pathway was donated to the project, this has been a cost-free initiative for the Parish of Westwood.”

The Parish Council has been asked to consider a proposal to erect sensitive signage to assist parishioners in locating their Tunnel of Light 2021.