FRIENDS of the late York environmentalist John Lally are marking the anniversary of his death 13 years ago by expanding a community woodland as a living memorial.

Thirteen trees are being planted this weekend to commemorate those years by members of the two organisations set up in memory of his life and work.

The planting will take place after a meeting of both groups, the Friends of John Lally Wood and the John Lally International Foundation, at York Environmental Community Centre, St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve on Saturday, March 8 at 1.30pm.

After John's death, his friends came together and created the five-acre community woodland with thousands of trees on the then newly-established St Nicholas Fields Urban Nature Park.

This woodland was made possible with generous help from the Forestry Commission, with new trees being added over the years.

The wood - now a part of St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve - is managed by the Friends of St Nicholas Fields.

Not content with just creating the woodland, some of John's friends went on to set up the John Lally International Foundation in 2003.

This registered charity wanted to "export" the green and sustainable ideas that were so dear to John's heart.

In 2007, the Foundation secured £10,000 funding from the BIG Lottery fund to do a feasibility study in Goa, India, on the possibility of setting up proper garbage disposal facilities in Calangute, Goa.

The funding has now ceased, but the work in Calangute continues.

Project manager Gordon Campbell-Thomas said: "We have been trying hard to make a difference, but it is an uphill struggle.

"People are still rooted to the unsustainable practices of just dumping garbage which is contaminating the land and groundwater, but there is a big groundswell of public opinion that is making itself heard.

"I believe that with continued effort things will change for the better. I am pleased that John Lally International Foundation is still part of the process.

"Also, in a nearby village removed from the tourist areas, John Lally International Foundation now has a branch with local people adopting the sustainable ideas the foundation has been putting forward".

"As recently as January this year the Goa State Pollution Control Board praised a scheme we put forward as a model scheme for garbage disposal that should be adopted by every village in Goa immediately'."

If anyone has a spare deciduous tree that needs to be "liberated" from a plant pot, please contact John Lally International Foundation on gordonct@gmail.com