MORE than 20 trees are to be planted at Crowndale near Tavistock this autumn, as part of an enhancement scheme for the £1.8-million development of sporting facilities at the site.

Work on the new changing rooms, club room and stand is proceeding and the new football pitches for junior teams are being laid this summer.

Tavistock Community Football Club last month approached the town council to see if it could help with the project to plant 21 trees, mainly along the banks of the River Tavy but also outside the new building and around the new parking area. The trees chosen are to be oaks, birch and mountain ash.

The council's properties committee last week considered the request for manpower, which was put forward by Tavistock resident Dick Eberlie on behalf of the club.

Mr Eberlie said: 'I am very conscious that the autumn is a very busy period for your grounds and maintenance staff and that these things are never as straightforward as one hopes, but even so, I know we would all greatly appreciate it if the town council could accept this job.'

The committee heard the request amounted to some 60 man hours of work, or effectively a grant of £900.

Cllr Robin Pike, town mayor, pointed out that the council had always expected that any help it gave to Crowndale would be 'in kind'.

Cllr Ted Sherrell said: 'This is certainly a worthwhile project and now that the Crowndale development is finally happening, if our man hours can be found, it's a way forward.'

Cllr Mandy Govier, who is the council's representative for the club, said: 'They don't want any maintenance from us, they just want help with planting. I don't want people to be concerned that we will suddenly be responsible for the maintenance of these trees.'

Wayne Southall, the council's works superintendent, said as far as his department was concerned, the tree planting would not be a problem.

And Cllr Philip Sanders suggested that perhaps young people from the town could be invited to take part in the project.

'I don't think it would necessarily save any man hours, but it would be an opportunity for the youngsters to develop a sense of ownership of them,' he said.

The committee agreed the request — the decision was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday night.