COMMUNITY groups from across Menston will discuss plans for a new Nature Trail when they meet next week.

The idea has grown out of a scheme to create 30 bird and bat boxes for the village.

Those boxes, built by pupils at Menston Primary School, will be unveiled at 6.30pm on Wednesday, February 28.

The invite-only meeting at the school will be attended by teachers, children and parents along with bird and bat experts, who will give a short talk.

Local senior Scouts and Guides, who will be placing the numbered boxes on trees around Menston, will also be taking part along with several community groups.

The event is being supported by the three ward councillors, Menston Parish Council and Menston Community Association (MCA).

MCA Chair Steve Ellams says the boxes will form the backbone of a proposed Village Nature Trail.

He said: "The whole aim of the evening is to bring together as many village groups as possible under one activity, to provide a nature trail for future generations.

"I'll be giving everybody a big map of the village and asking them where they would like the route to go.

"This has really become a 'global' local community effort, with the primary school children building these fantastic bird-bat boxes and the local Co-op agreeing to support us*.

"The children will be given a numbered disc to be placed on the bird-bat boxes before they are put in place, so they can 'claim ownership' of them for many years.

"Menston in Bloom have an existing tree trail map which will be modified and adapted, depending on the outcome of submissions made on the night on the new maps that are issued.

"And members of Friends of Highroyds Memorial Gardens will also be available to discuss the siting of some boxes, as the woods will be part of the nature trail too."

*Co-op representatives will present MCA with a cheque for £1,641.70 at the event.