A DIFFERENT kind of bark is coming to Borders Pet Rescue this weekend.

The Earlston-based charity is holding its very own plant-a-tree day on Sunday.

Schoolchildren, scouts and a number of different companies are already pulling together to help improve the facilities at the centre.

Part of the improvements is a 10-acre fenced area used for exercising and training dogs.

And local company Tilhill Forestry agreed to supply tree shelters for the site with parent company Alba Trees offering 1300 saplings.

On Sunday the rescue centre is holding an open day for volunteers to come along and help plant the trees.

Laura Aitken from Borders Pet Rescue told us: “The trees being donated and planted will form a vital element in the development of a fantastic resource for the charity and the local community and will add significantly to the biodiversity of this former grazing land.

"Everyone has been very generous including supplying temporary toilets for the event.

"We need help to plant all of the trees so we are appealing to everyone who lives nearby to bring a spade and help us out.”

Borders Pet Rescue’s primary purpose is to find a secure and loving home for each animal that comes into its care.

Each year the charity re-homes in excess of 200 animals and aims to improve its capacity and facilities so it can better meet the needs of the local community.

Members of the local community of all ages are invited to get involved in the plant a tree day.

Each volunteer will be given their own patch to plant and boards will be put up after the event to acknowledge the contribution of the companies and groups involved.

Eddie Addis from Tilhill Forestry added: “We were contacted by local resident David Kennedy, who works as a woodland officer for the Forestry Commission and asked if we could help.

"We got in touch with our parent company, BSW and Alba Trees and, with their help, we are able to supply everything that is needed.

"All we need is some labour to help plant the trees. Borders Pet Rescue does some amazing work and we are delighted to be helping out in this way.”

Tilhill Forestry Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the BSW Timber Group, was established nearly 70 years ago.

It is a national company operating from a network of offices throughout the UK.