West Dunbartonshire Council is part of an ambitious pledge which will see around 18 million trees planted throughout the area and Glasgow City region in the next decade.

The plan, part of the new Clyde Climate Forest initiative from Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network, aims to create an urban forest to tackle climate change.

Ten trees for every man, woman and child will be planted, increasing woodland cover across the region from 17 per cent to 20 per cent.

In West Dunbartonshire, the project has kick-started with 600 trees planted along the southern edge of Faifley Knowes providing additional wildlife habitat and screening from the A810.

Further planting will take place over the course of the next year.

Council leader Jonathan McColl said: “West Dunbartonshire is proud to be working with eight other authorities on such an important initiative.

“The planting of these trees will not only benefit our residents and the environment, but also encourage and boost biodiversity in the area.”

The new planting aims to connect woodlands and help restore nature and boost biodiversity.

Working to the principle of “the right tree in the right place”, the project team aims to plant trees in areas of deprivation, former coal mining sites, vacant and derelict land, urban streets and other civic places.

As part of the long-term plans, Clyde Climate Forest is also calling on community groups and land managers to help them identify places to plant new trees, or replace ones that have been lost in the past.

Work is also beginning to encourage smaller land owners and local authorities to gear up for tree planting, with the offer of free woodland assessments to help them identify potential new areas to plant trees.