THE deputy leader of Wyre Forest District Council went back to nature as he planted a tree thanks to residents' support for a recycling scheme.

Councillor Marcus Hart, who is also the council's member for commercial services, dug in to place the first of 17 trees - one each for every tonne of aluminium cans and foil recycled in Kidderminster - in Brinton Park.

The initiative is part of a nationwide drive, run by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation - Alupro - to promote recycling by members of the public.

The campaign has led to 35,000 trees being planted throughout the UK this autumn.

It is estimated that recycling aluminium saves 95 per cent of the energy used in its original production -equivalent to the power needed to run a television for three hours.