Volunteers and students at Llanfyllin High School have planted a thousand trees to help protect the river Cain.

The work carried out by the Severn Rivers Trust’s Roots and Water Project, funded by Natural Resources Wales, uses mapping software to choose sites in North Powys for new hedgerows and woodland, by comparing areas on soil type, slope and land use.

Project organisers say the scheme will help with flood management processes, as well as providing valuable wildlife habitats.

"Hedgerows are valuable in our landscapes, providing shelter and a source of food for wildlife," said Lisa Barlow from the Severn Rivers Trust.

"Recent studies have shown that planting trees can also help rain water to soak into the ground. Natural Flood Management protects homes and businesses from flooding, slows down riverbank erosion and halts the flow of pollution into our rivers."

The work will eventually see 15,000 native trees planted as new hedgerows or to repair existing hedgerows, protected by 450m of stock fencing, which will be installed by professional contractors and farmers in preparation for the tree planting with volunteers.

Land management students from Llanfyllin High School were also involved with the tree planting effort, working on new hedgerow and woodland at Y Parc, Bodfach, which the school says contributes towards the students agriculture and land management studies.

"The year 10 and 11 Landbased students at the school enjoy actively taking part in such projects," said Landbased tutur Emyr Jones.

"As well as teaching them the importance of habitat management and environmental sustainability it provides a hands-on experience of how they can integrate this into agriculture whilst positively contributing to the health of our environment.

"Such habitat work provides invaluable evidence for their BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Agriculture course."

The Woodland Trust have supplied native trees to the project, which will also increase the local population of the iconic and threatened Black Poplar, as a species of floodplains in the area.