Council plans to grow more than 100,000 trees in North Ayrshire are underway with hopes to plant some saplings this financial year.
The council aims to spend £500,000 on the project to fight climate change.
So far 10 hectares of ground in Garnock Valley’s Lochshore have been identified for tree growing next year.
Officers are trying to find other suitable and available sites for about 108,000 trees, a full council meeting heard this week.
Councillor Jim Montgomerie told the meeting: “A draft strategy will be presented to cabinet imminently along with proposals for pilot planting projects for this current season, which runs until March 2021 to provide early progress towards our target. This will be subject to the availability of tree saplings for the work.”
The Saltcoats Labour politician presented the information after Irvine councillor Marie Burns asked about how work was progressing to establish the huge woodland areas.
After receiving an answer to her question, the local SNP leader said many constituents are very concerned about climate change and would like to play a part in supporting efforts.
Councillor Burns asked Councillor Montgomerie if tree planting could become a “collective endeavour” on the part of the people of North Ayrshire.
She raised the possibility of monitoring progress publicly.
Councillor Montgomerie, cabinet member for Green New Deal and sustainability, said they could have a discussion with the communications team to get people involved in the “massive, massive” project.
North Ayrshire Council has a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.
