TIMBER could provide heat and power for local schools, hospitals and houses under Conservative plans to breathe new life into the British woodland.

The move has already received the backing of wildlife charities, farmers and green energy experts.

Broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh hailed the scheme as a way to reconnect communities with where their power came from in the same way as "Buy Local" food initiatives raised awareness of what we ate.

Under plans drawn up by Shadow climate change minister Greg Barker, a Tory government would guarantee to pay anyone who installed wood-fired generators for the electricity they produced for up to 20 years.

Mr Barker used a conference in Devon to kick-start the idea in the Westcountry and said he had been "overwhelmed" by the level of enthusiasm in the region.

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The wood-fired power not used on-site would be fed in to the national grid, adding to the proportion of green energy that Britain produced.

The money paid out through the tariffs would be expected to cover the cost of installing and running the equipment over the long-term, meaning those who ran the generators could benefit from "free" power.

The scheme is based on a German model, where around six times more money was made available in feed-in tariffs for small-scale solar panels than large-scale wind farms. It led to an explosion in domestic energy generation.

Labour ministers agreed to include provisions for the introduction of feed-in tariffs when the Energy Act was passed last year, but have yet to set out details of how they would make it work.

Under the Tory plans, farmers and foresters would be encouraged to team up with individual schemes run by NHS trusts, education authorities or private business to grow trees to produce wood fuel.

Mr Titchmarsh said: "Creating local energy markets for wood fuel – in the same way that we have tried in recent years to reconnect local food producers with local consumers – is a terrific idea." The TV host, who is also a supporter of the Woodland Trust, added that by "actively managing and nurturing our woodland, we not only help preserve it for future generations but help it play a part in fighting climate change too".

"British woodland is a much-loved but undervalued part of the countryside," said Mr Titchmarsh. "Anyone walking in the woods this weekend will appreciate the beauty and tranquility of these special places. Not only are our woods and coppices a wonderful sanctuary for flowers, plants, birds and animals but if properly managed, using traditional coppicing methods, they can also be sources of green, sustainable energy too."

The RSPB backs the idea of small-scale coppicing, with trees planted for the long-term – around 10-12 years – to ensure wildlife can benefit from well-managed woodland.

While insects and plants would thrive on the forest floor, more hazel trees could also bring about an increase in the numbers of dormice and nightingales.

RSPB spokesman Peter Exley said: "Locally, sustainable energy means people are much more in touch with what their local environment can do for them." However, the charity has cautioned against the scheme developing into large-scale, commercial harvesting of fast-growing trees which could cause more damage to wildlife habitats.

The Conservatives are now planning to spend the next year generating support for the plan in an attempt to lay the foundations of networks of woodland owners and potential customers.

Mr Barker recently promoted the scheme at a conference at Roadford Lake, near Launceston, where he spoke to dozens of local farmers, builders, architects, councillors, local government officers, businessmen and conservationists.

Mr Barker said: "I was really overwhelmed by the interest and enthusiasm for this campaign in the Westcountry. Many people will be venturing into their local woods this month to see the bluebells or hear the birds but not everyone appreciates that an actively managed woodland produces far more benefits for flowers, birds and other animals than areas which are just left untouched.

"Like so many of the solutions to climate change which are local and just involve common sense, re-investing in our woodland could not only help cut CO2 emissions but improve our quality of life as well.

"Local farmers' markets have helped reinvigorate local food economies across the Westcountry. The creation of local energy economy would be a great next step."