THINGS are changing down in the forest that is the Great Western Community Forest which is springing up around Swindon. From the end of March one of the project's principal sponsors the Countryside Agency is pulling out.

But Alison Bruce said they were expecting this to happen and the Government has put up money to allow it to continue until more cash sources can be identified.

She said: "We are one of 12 community forests throughout the country and it was always understood that after ten years the funding from the Countryside Agency would come to an end and we would all have to find other ways to finance the project.

"The agency and Swindon Council have been our two main funders but we knew the agency support would end this year.

"They have given us several hundred thousand pounds over the years and now we have to find alternatives. The Government has put up cash for a two-year transitional period which will be overseen by the Forestry Commission.

"But we do need to find alternative funding for the future."

The people running the GWCF project are optimistic about receiving a big Heritage Lottery Fund grant towards a major scheme they want to carry out in the forest. The GWCF covers 168 sq miles from Lechlade to Kennet and from Wootton Bassett to Faringdon. During the past ten years more than one million trees have been planted, 250,000 children have taken part in environmental education projects and 200 community groups have been involved in planning, managing and using green spaces close to where they live.