HRH the Prince of Wales is backing a major project to make Herefordshire's woodlands a catalyst for jobs, health and education.

Prince Charles hosted a meeting of the Herefordshire Sustain Project (HSP) at Highgrove last week during which the objectives of the initiative were outlined.

They include the establishment of a Woodland Produce Centre at Holme Lacy College, the creation of local employment and the promotion of the value of woodlands to the wider community.

The prince has a particular interest in the project as the Duchy of Cornwall has recently purchased 1,500 acres of woodland at Aconbury, just outside Hereford.

Still in its embryonic stages, HSP could eventually become a replicable model for the rest of the UK.

"To many people woodlands have a fairly narrow definition meaning trees or forestry," explained Russell Rowley, chairman of HSP.

"This project sees woodlands instead as catalysts for jobs, health, sustainable building, education, biodiversity, sustainable forestry, recycling and community."

Around 30 partner organisations and individuals are involved in HSP including the National Trust, the Forestry Commission, the Small Woods Association and the Countryside Agency.

On a local front, Herefordshire Council, Whitney Sawmill, the Bulmer Foundation and Holme Lacy College are taking lead roles.

HSP is intended to be a 'practical doing' initiative and will tie in with plans to create a leading college for sustainable land management at Holme Lacy, dubbed 'Project Carrot'.

Its aims include researching the provision of additional wood fuel boilers to Recover Enterprises in Hereford, Herefordshire Council and the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.

If successful the wood fuel initiative could eventually be extended to local hospitals, schools, libraries, churches, community centres and other public buildings.

In addition, HSP will look to establish a Woodland Produce Centre at Holme Lacy College to educate and inform the public and landowners about woodland produce and sustainable management practices.

One of the key aspects of the project will be to promote the value of woodlands to the wider community and to make the local forestry industry in Herefordshire more sustainable through, for example, providing more markets for lower, mid and high value timber.

"Although still in its early stages, we believe this will be an innovative practical project that could be a useful example of really making things happen," added Mr Rowley.