Trees and rivers go together like strawberries and cream.

When people think of The Rivers Trust, they often assume we only dabble in freshwater—but many of our local Trusts plant trees each and every year. Last year alone, they planted a breathtaking 223,990 trees! Just imagine the impact this has on local communities, wildlife, and the global climate.

This National Tree Week, we'll be highlighting some of the fantastic work our local Trusts are carrying out on social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date. Interested in finding out more about what trees can do for rivers? Keep scrolling!

Bank stabilisation

When the right trees are planted in the right place, it can contribute towards the stabilisation of river banks
Tree roots can help to bind the soil together, reducing the chances of bank collapse
Wood from local trees can also be used to help reverse erosion; brash bundles can be installed along the bank to help stretches of river recover from years of erosion

Natural Flood Management

Trees planted along rivers can mitigate flooding through greater water use
Trees can intercept heavy rainfall, reducing the speed at which surface runoff reaches the river
Felled trees form a vital component of 'leaky dams', and trees which naturally fall into the watercourse can deliver a similar impact
The underground networks created by tree roots contribute to higher infiltration rates of soils, meaning that is absorbed into the earth rather than running into rivers and potentially causing floods

Carbon sequestration

Trees are the ultimate nature-based solution to climate change
They lock up atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis
This reduces the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, effectively tackling global warming

Habitat creation

Trees and wooded areas form vital habitats for wildlife
As we are living through a global biodiversity crisis, creating habitats for wildlife is more important than ever