THE newly created woodland in West Putford is in the running to be named the UK’s best.

The Woodland Trust has shortlisted four sites, created by members of the public, in its quest to find the best woodland created under its MOREwoods project.

The other three sites in Devon shortlisted for the award are Brendon, Crediton and Winkleigh — they will also be up against 17 other woods across the country so competition will be tough.

Creators of the West Putford wood are Jenni and Andrew Guy. They received help from local schoolchildren when they planted 1,175 trees over an eighth of a hectare at their beef farm in West Putford in 2013.

The children now benefit from their endeavours as the farm hosts educational visits and care farming sessions. In September they will be starting a new enterprise called ‘Wild Tribe’ as part of the survival days they have been running for the last three years.

Jenni said: “The trees mean an awful lot to us. They are helping us to create a better water quality to the stream below the trees, they are providing our bees with an amazing habitat and the woodland is now the home of our barn owl box.

“Our woods also provide a site for the survival days we host and we are creating a woodland walk leading to the site.”

There will be a prize for the winner of a professional photoshoot in their wood and a wooden bench or sculpture worth £500.

The competition judges will be BBC Countryfile Diaries presenter Paul Martin, Woodland Trust Chief Executive Beccy Speight and Director of Woodland Creation John Tucker. The winner will be announced on in July.