A popular tree warden scheme is continuing to flourish and bloom throughout Tendring - and has received a welcome injection of cash.

The initiative, which was set up 17 years ago, now has 27 wardens representing the areas in which they live.

The volunteer wardens work tirelessly to promote the importance of looking after existing tress and woodlands, as well as looking to plant new trees in the District to help to keep it a green and pleasant land.

The scheme is co-ordinated by Tendring District Council (TDC) and each year the Council provides a tree planting grant of up to half the cost of planting new trees.

The money is provided to Town and Parish Councils and has proved extremely popular with both them and the wardens.

District Councillors have been so delighted with the success of the initiative that they have upped the overall budget from £1,500 to £5,000.

Clive Dawson, TDC's Principal Tree and Landscape Officer, said the extra money was a welcome boost.

"This will result in hundreds of new trees being planted each year across Tendring," he said.

"The volunteers are a very committed team of people who are playing a vital role in their communities to improve the environment."

One project this year resulted in more than 100 new hedgerow trees being planted in Great Bromley having been 'grown on' in a tree nursery owned by the local warden.

Other wardens have helped local businesses with planting schemes and worked in partnership with landowners to care for trees.

Iris Johnson, Planning Portfolio Holder at TDC, said that the tree warden scheme in Tendring has been a great success and it has gone from strength to strength.

"With the apparent onset of climate change and CO2's we should be encouraging tree planting across the District," she added. "We are also losing many trees to development and we need to offset this."

Wardens are appointed by their local Town and Parish Council or other community groups and anyone interested in getting involved should contact Mr Dawson on 01255 686155. Training sessions are provided.