Can trees help to prevent flooding?

According to a charity, trees might be the best way to help combat climate change and the flooding that comes with it.

The Woodland Trust say we need to plant more trees. In 2012 they planted 300,000 trees, and they say this will have helped by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and soaking up water.

The Midlands has faced terrible flooding in the past few weeks, and the charity says that trees could make the risk of flooding smaller in the future.

This comes as one in five people in the Midlands say they've already been personally affected by climate change.

One in five people in the Midlands say they've already been personally affected by climate change. Credit: Des Gardner

The charity say that trees won't replace man-made flood defences, like flood walls and temporary structures but they are a sustainable and low maintenance way to make the risk of flooding smaller.

They add that trees can reduce pressure on our drainage systems and lower the risk of surface water flooding.

3.8 million homes in England are at risk of surface water flooding.

The charity says that trees can lower the risk of surface water flooding. Credit: Julie Carlton

The Woodland Trust say the country can expect more frequent 'extreme' weather events in the future - including more frequent flooding.

In 2012 The Woodland Trust planted 300,000 trees Credit: Paul Wilde

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