South Gloucestershire Council has defended its tree planting project in the wake of complaints by residents who say the saplings have stopped children playing sports in a field.

Around 1,400 trees will be planted in Thornbury in the next three years, as part of 15,000 that will be installed across the district.

While the project is designed to help the district become carbon neutral, concerns were raised after trees were planted on an area of land used by children to play football and cricket.

Part of the land off Grovesend Road, near Trent Drive and Dovedale, was covered in tree whips earlier this month.

Trent Drive resident Martyn Hall used to use the area to walk his dog.

“In the summer the kids will play there. It’s quite well used if they cut the grass.

“If they planted around the edges I could understand it. All I want really is the ones in the middle removed.”

Other residents took to social media to vent their frustration, with one saying: “We moan about lads having nothing to do and then plant trees on the community green.”

However, others were in support of the project, with one resident quipping: “Trees equal oxygen. I’d rather oxygen then cricket any day.”

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said: “Last July we declared a climate emergency and pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030.

“To achieve this we need to double our tree cover.

“The project in Thornbury followed site meetings with the parish tree warden and local councillors to identify suitable locations. The newly planted trees cover approximately three per cent of the site so the vast majority is unaffected and remains available for recreational purposes.”

A Thornbury Town Council spokesman said South Gloucestershire Council did not consult them on that particular site.