Thousands of trees to help curb flooding

Up to 15,000 trees, including ash and oak, are being introduced around Pickering and Sinnington, which have been repeatedly hit by floods. The work, which is due to be finished by March, is part of a scheme launched last year to turn the clock back to techniques such as the planting of new woodland to slow run-off.

The North York Moors project, dubbed Slowing the Flow, is one of only three pilots launched nationally and represents a major shift from engineering solutions.

The national 1m project is also fundng similar trials in the Upper Derwent Valley in Derbyshire and at Holnicote Estate, near Minehead in Somerset.

Other elements of the North Yorkshire scheme include the introduction of 150 natural "wood debris" dams along both Pickering Beck and the nearby River Seven.

Slowing the Flow programme manager Simon Marrington said: "What we are doing could prove to be of national significance.

"We are working with nature and turning back the clock in some respects."

The two-year project is involving Forest Research, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission as well as the North York Moors National Park Authority, Ryedale District Council and Durham University.

A drop-in session will be held at Pickering Memorial Hall between 2pm and 7pm tomorrow to allow the public to find out how the project is progressing.