Inverclyde Council has announced the successful completion of a large-scale tree planting project to boost biodiversity.

A total of 10,600 trees have been planted at Coves Local Nature Reserve (LNR), which borders Greenock and Gourock.

Work began in late February to plant the trees, which are all native Scottish species, as part of a £200,000 investment.

Inverclyde Council received the money from the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund and commissioned Green Action Trust to carry out the work.

As well as the project in Coves LNR, the money has been spent on planting 135 urban trees across all towns and villages across Inverclyde, as well as forming plans to develop the former St Ninian's School site.

Inverclyde's convener of Environment and Regeneration, Councillor Michael McCormick, said: "This is a huge piece of work and will make a fantastic difference to the Coves Local Nature Reserve. I look forward to seeing how it grows and develops over the years.


"Planting more trees in urban areas is of vital importance to cutting our carbon footprint and ensuring we meet the council's environmental commitments and ambitions.

"We want to make Inverclyde an even better place to live and for people to visit and this project will certainly do that."

Alongside the tree planting at Coves LNR, work has been done to manage the existing woodland blocks and to remove invasive and non-native plants. Works to create new large sections of paths at the LNR are almost complete.

Mike Batley, Development Officer for delivery partner Green Action Trust, said: "We were delighted to be commissioned by Inverclyde Council to deliver this project.

"Not only do the tree planting and grassland habitats deliver on biodiversity and climate change mitigation, the path improvements mean that more people can access this wonderful nature reserve.

"Projects like the ones we've been involved in at Coves LNR and across Inverclyde also play a vital part in delivering the aims of the wider Central Scotland Green Network."

This project delivers the objectives of Inverclyde Council's climate adaptation strategy and aims to address the global and national biodiversity emergency and climate change challenge.

It has been supported by the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.