Volunteer tree planters aiming to prevent flooding

The group in Somerset has planted more than 120,000 trees so far

An environmental group which plants 20,000 trees and hedgerows a year across Somerset is on the lookout for more volunteers to offer their land.

Reimagining the Levels (RtL) was borne out of the 2014 floods in the county and tries to reduce the impact of flooding by slowing the flow of waters.

The group has planted more than 120,000 trees so far, helping private land owners to provide shelter and diversity.

Kate Towers, from Compton Dundon, said the scheme was "good for people, good for nature, good for the whole of the community".

Ms Towers added: "All the trees will take up water but they will help to slow the flow, they'll help to stop the soil erosion as well.

"When you've got large areas of agriculture, you might have fields of maize or fields that are ploughed and the water then just runs off... so the trees will help to slow that down."

George Middleton, who has a smallholding near Wellington, had 560 trees and shrubs planted on his land by the RtL.

Mr Middleton said two plots of trees were planted against the bank running down to a nearby road to help with "run off".

Some of the trees on Mr Middleton's land were planted in 2018 while others were planted more recently

Mr Middleton said he would encourage others with land prone to flooding to consider the scheme.

He said that aside from the trees being a "visual joy" and good for wildlife, he thinks they have "definitely stabilised the land".