A local councillor has said the public should be involved in a £5million tree planting project in the area.

Warwick District Council has committed to planting 160,000 trees across the region by 2030.

But Cllr Richard Hales said residents and businesses need to be consulted over the plans.

"There is a real area of interest here for people to get involved in this and engaged in this," he said at last week's cabinet meeting.

Adding: "The amount of trees that we see over in Kenilworth which HS2 have replaced, that aren't necessarily being watered to the same standards that they potentially should be, means that there needs to be that real public engagement.

"The only way there is to do that, is to open it up and really make sure that we engage not only with individuals but also with businesses who have a real desire to do something."

The council says it will have planted 5,000 trees by the end of March 2022, with a further 65,000 trees planned for Tachbrook Country Park and Newbold Comyn over the coming years.

With other smaller plantings planned, the council now needs to find space for a further 80,000 trees in order to reach its 2030 target.

A report presented to cabinet last Thursday said it could cost a further £4,187,0000 just to plant these 160,000 trees.

WDC leader Cllr Andrew Day (left) joins Professor Stuart Croft, vice-chancellor of the University of Warwick, in planting the latest tree to form part of The Queen's Green Canopy at the university

But Cllr Moira-Ann Granger said the costs would not stop after the planting.

"We know they have great benefits not only because of their beauty but also obviously their environmental benefit as well," she said.

"They also cost a fortune to maintain. Nowhere can I really see that we are really thinking about 20 years time.

"I'm the councillor for All Saints and Woodlows and the biggest complaint I get from residents are trees. Trees lifting up the pavements, trees blocking their internet.

"I have more complaints about trees than anything else, so I do think we really need to think as we put these trees in that we log them, we understand where they are, and they are maintained properly."

The cabinet agreed to continually monitor the progress and to produce a cost-benefit analysis of the project.

Council leader Cllr Andrew Day said: "The crucial piece is that this is the beginning. This report sets out a plan for putting trees in the right place and getting the right trees in the right place."

Adding: "We are fortunate that we are bringing forward as part of our local plan some of the most magnificent country parks that the next generation will be able to enjoy.

"Trees need to and should be well thought through and planned in those places so that our grandchildren and great grandchildren will be benefitting from them as well."

(Header image by DeFacto via wikimedia commons)