ECO-FRIENDLY steps are continuing to be made to make Colchester a greener place to live.

Colchester Council is planting trees across the area for the second year, as part of the Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project.

This includes supplying many trees for parish and town councils to plant, and replacing trees lost in last year's exceptionally dry spring.

In December, the council provided 1,460 whips to Stanway Parish Council, 180 whips to Wivenhoe Town Council and eight standard trees for West Mersea Town Council.

This month 35 whips were supplied to Chappel Parish Council and 224 whips for Langham Parish Council.

Further trees will be supplied to parish and town councils once lockdown restrictions are eased.

Colchester Council's staff have also been planting at some of the borough's famous green spaces, including 2,365 whips for hedging across Castle Park, High Woods Country Park, Cymbeline Meadows and Salary Brook.

The council had to postpone several planned public planting events earlier this month, due to take place through until March, after the latest period of national lockdown was announced.

They plan to reschedule planting days in the Autumn, should restrictions allow.

Council staff, along with Together We Grow, will plant the trees being supplied by the Woodland Trust over a number of identified sites in the coming weeks.

David King, portfolio holder for businesses and resources, said: “Trees and woodlands are a vital part of our eco-system. We are committed to preserving them, helping them to flourish and planting more each year.

“We do so sensitive to location and landscape, listening to residents and consulting with experts as we go. We are especially pleased this year to be able to support parish and town councils with greening their areas, by supplying them with trees to plant.

“We know that tree planting overall is widely supported by residents across Colchester. It was great to have had hundreds of residents take part last year with our community planting. We know that many were looking forward to joining us to do so again this year, and whilst it is disappointing not to be able to carry out these events as planned, the safety of our residents and volunteers is of paramount importance to us."

You can keep up to date on the project at colchester.gov.uk/better-colchester/colchesterwoodlandbiodiversity.