A PROJECT that aims to protect hundreds of trees along the River Kent in Kendal needs help from residents to plant and house tree cuttings.

On Friday, October 1 the Aynam Road Tree Preservation Project will be holding an open day in conjunction with The Environment Agency and South Lakeland District Council and are seeking volunteers who are able to house-in a small garden space-50 tree cuttings to preserve the tree species that are due to be removed to build Kendal’s flood defence wall.

Resident Paul Wilson began the project last year when he took 600 cuttings ahead of the Environment Agency’s planned tree removals along Aynam Road, as part of Kendal’s Flood Risk Management Scheme.

Work began on the £76million scheme in February and Mr Wilson hopes the cuttings can be replanted to create an urban forest once the flood work has been completed.

The first phase of the scheme will see 6km of earth embankments and flood walls built with glass panels at key viewpoints along the River Kent, as well as the planting of more than 3,000 trees to replace those lost during preparation works.

"We are looking to replace the removed trees with these cuttings which will eventually create a miniature communal forest," said Mr Wilson.

"This is very much a long term ongoing project."

In April hundreds more cuttings were taken as children from The Queen Katherine School, scout groups, as well as Woodland Trust staff members and residents gathered at Little Aynam to help the project.

In order to remain Covid safe and to limit numbers organisers will run three sessions throughout the day, with the first at 10, second at 13:30 and third at 17:00, and are asking people to come and lend a hand.

All equipment such as pots and compost etc will be provided as well as the cuttings themselves.

And each of the volunteers will receive a bag of seeds, including acorns and conkers to plant.

Volunteers are needed to help put the cuttings in pots.

For more information and to book a time slot email paulwilsonbonner@gmail.com