A major project to plant 10,000 new trees around the Tendring District has been completed.

The final batch of 50 was put in place on land near the Dovercourt boating lake today (Friday April 3).

Tendring District Council (TDC) Chairman Roy Smith went along to take part in the final planting session which saw the number of trees total about 10,500 on eight sites.

He was joined by children from All Saints Primary School, Dovercourt.

TDC received £30,000 following a successful bid for funding from Essex County Council (ECC) and the money was used to pay for the saplings.

The County Council pledged to provide 250,000 new trees for the whole of Essex and invited applications for cash from all areas.

Pierre Oxley, Portfolio Holder for Leisure at TDC, said it had been a huge effort from all concerned.

"We are very grateful for the money from ECC which made this whole initiative possible," he said.

"But there has been a great deal of hard work on the part of TDC staff, as well as groups, organisations, schools and individuals who have joined in to make this a real community affair."

Trees have also been planted at Eastcliff Playing Field, Clacton; Rush Green Recreation Ground, Clacton; Valley Walk, Frinton; Park Playing Field, Frinton; Low Road, Dovercourt; Weeley Crematorium, Dunthorpe Road, Clacton.

"Unfortunately we did suffer one incident of vandalism in Frinton where some of the saplings were pulled up which was very distressing for all those who had taken part in the work there," added Cllr Oxley.

"However, there has been a great deal of interest in the scheme generally and we hope that those who have joined in will feel these new woodland sites belong to their communities and will watch them grow over the years."

3/4/09