This 3 acre woodland and small pond were created with the help of prize money I received when I became Young Environment Champion of the Year 2001.

In the corner of a field we discovered a broken cundie, or field drain, which was fed by a natural spring. This was an ideal place to create a pond and plant my new woodland.

The stone drain was extended into a 1 metre deep pond and my Dad built a strong wooden jetty at one end. Next, with the help of the Belford Wildlife Watch Group and friends, we planted 2400 broad leafed and coniferous trees including beech, ash and scots pine. Thanks to Great Aunt Christine and Adam who helped my Dad when he was getting desperate!

To deflect the wind we’ve planted a new hedge on the east side of the wood. Behind this we’ve placed smaller shrub-like trees and the taller trees are concentrated in the middle of the woodland where they aren’t as exposed to storm damage.

I asked Belford Wildlife Watch Group to design and plant small glades in my wood to attract wildlife. The children researched which plants would be most beneficial for different species of wildlife and then met at my wood to create an insect glade, a wild bird and small mammal glade, a herb glade and a pond side glade.

When my Grandfather died, we felt Meg's Wood would be the right place for him to be buried. He spent all his adult life at Hunting Hall and from my wood you can see right across the farm to the sea. My Grandfather’s final resting place has an atmosphere of solitude and calm, which is very special to us all.

My wood has become a lovely place. People from the local village regularly walk through the ‘trees’ (they’re still in tree-tubes) and sit on the benches we have provided. In summer carpets of water cress with delicate white flowers edge the pond, dragonflies hover here and bats swoop low over the water at dusk.