South Warwickshire farmers could be given trees to plant on unproductive parts of land in new scheme

But there was a warning that community help might be needed to ensure the saplings thrive, particularly in extreme weather.

Stratford District Council’s climate change panel gave their backing to the Heart of England Forest-backed proposal last month and there was further backing from the overview and scrutiny committee on Friday (February 3).

Deputy chief executive Tony Perks explained: “In terms of tree planting, it has proved a little more difficult than we thought to find suitable sites and locations and trees.

"But one area where we have had some positive feedback with the Heart of England Forest is a scheme they are operating with farmers where they offer tree packs for use in parts of fields that are unproductive or have flooding issues.

“To me it seems to have a lot of merit.”

Cllr Kate Rolfe said there was also a Warwickshire County Council scheme offering thousands of trees while Cllr Mark Cargill said that after speaking to a number of farmers in his area, very few were willing to lose good agricultural land.

Mr Perks added: “We are aware of the county council scheme and the tree nursery they have set up. What’s attractive about this particular scheme is that it's quite easy to say we will plant trees but more difficult to deliver it - finding the trees and making sure it is sustainable and not just whither or removed.

“This is specific intervention in an area where we can deliver. This is working with farmers rather than them feeling we are working against them.”

Cllr Chris Mills said 600 trees had been planted alongside the River Dene in Kineton but some had failed to take.

Committee chairman Cllr Andy Crump said: “In the past I think it was a fair criticism that trees were planted in a rush and the ongoing maintenance of them wasn’t considered but that now seems to be high on the agenda so I think we can take some confidence from that.”

The matter will go to the council’s cabinet who will decide whether £30,000 should be allocated to the scheme.