Environment Agency plants hundreds of trees in South Ribble

Hundreds of trees have been planted along a South Ribble public footpath by the Environment Agency.

As part of the £54.7m Preston & South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme, 600 saplings have been planted in public space by the side of A582 Golden Way.

This project offsets trees which had to be removed as part of £54.7m flood defence scheme and when the project is finished, 12 trees will have been planted for each one that was removed.

Oak, birch, willow and hazel trees have been planted, with the Environment Agency continuing to plant more trees in the area including in a new wetland created at Ribble Sidings and at the re-landscaped Broadgate Gardens.

Mia Hanson, Environment Agency Area Flood Risk and Coastal Manager, said: “We are committed to improving the local environment through better public access, landscaping and planting species that will enrich the habitat.

“We also make sure to reuse some of the removed trees – in this project, some have been driven into the riverbank at Ribble Sidings to create refuge and habitat for fish and other aquatic species.”