The public could help shape North Ayrshire's environmental efforts after plans to plant 100,000 new trees were previously agreed.

Councillors agreed a budget proposal from the SNP group earlier in the year to fund the planting of 100,000 trees in North Ayrshire to assist with carbon sequestration and support its net zero emissions by 2030 target.

SNP group leader and Irvine East Cllr Marie Burns questioned what steps had since been taken with the plans, with the Cabinet Member for Green New Deal Cllr Jim Montgomerie confirming officers were drafting a strategy after £500,000 was ringfenced by cabinet.

He added the large-scale woodland tree planting programme would aim to plant around 108,000 trees across 40 hectares, in order to provide the anticipated level of carbon sequestration required.

Cllr Marie Burns asked: “I know many of our constituents are concerned about climate change and would like to play a part in supporting our efforts.

"Would the portfolio holder consider how we might make the tree planting work a collective endeavour and people can see progress as its made and how they are contributing to it?”

The cabinet member for Green New Deal said he was happy to discuss taking that forward.