THE WEST Cumbria Rivers Trust is making good on it promise to plant 51,000 trees and hedge plants to help with natural flood management and river habitat improvement.

The trust announced the ambitious target in December to create more than 10 hectares of woodland and 5.6 km of hedgerows

So far 2,400 trees have been planted along the River Keekle near Whitehaven as part of a river restoration project, 1,100 trees have also been planted at Corney.

There are also plans to plant 26,000 trees and hedge plants as part of the River Glenderamackin catchment natural flood management and restoration project.

At Troutbeck near Matterdale, 1.4 km of hedgerow has been restored and 1,600 trees will soon be planted with 135 metres of new hedgerow will be planted near Threlkeld on Saturday.

Trees help reduce flooding in a number of ways by slowing the rate at which rainfall reaches rivers. For example, surface run-off is reduced as water can penetrate soil under and around trees better than on compacted grasslands.

Tree-planting will also take place as part of the trust’s work to improve the habitat for the endangered freshwater mussel.

Vikki Salas, assistant director at the West Cumbria Rivers Trust, said: “Tree-planting is a major part of what we do.

"Trees, and their roots, provide the right habitats for aquatic species to thrive, and they’re also a vital tool in our natural flood management work with benefits for both people and wildlife.

"We’re excited to be planting more tree than ever before.”

For information: westcumbriariverstrust.org