A 'TREE of Hope' has been designed in a Netherton beauty spot to keep the community's spirits up during the coronavirus crisis.

Brenda Myers, who is a volunteer conservationist at Bumble Hole Nature Reserve, has created the tree out of recycled materials at the site to showcase uplifting and positive messages sent in from the community.

The messages, which are written on discs made from small logs to make 'leaves', show messages from people to their loved ones under lockdown and reminders to people that better times lie ahead.

Brenda, who lives in Netherton, said: "I wanted to do something in the reserve that people could visit during their walks.

"I put it up on April 1 and thought it wouldn't last a week, but it's still going a month and a half on.

"It's gone absolutely mad, I was shocked but pleased and it has given people a lot of pleasure. It's something we thought would give people comfort."

The tree is made entirely from recycled materials as the trunk is made from metal dredged from the nearby canal and the branches are crafted from dead wood.

Brenda has created the tree as part of her ongoing work at the reserve, where she and a team of 13 people volunteer their time to make it a safe and attractive place for visitors.

She said she has mainly been doing litter picks in recent days, as more people are walking around the site for their lockdown exercise.

The 60-year-old said: "We work really hard to make it an enjoyable place to visit."

People can get their message on the tree by texting it to the number written on the top disc of the tree, which Brenda receives and adds to the Tree of Hope.