TREES will be planted across Wales over the next five years to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The Centenary Trees project announced by the Welsh Government is expected to get under way next year, and take between three and five years to complete.

Environment minister Hannah Blythyn said: “This year we mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, which tragically cost the lives of more than 40,000 Welsh soldiers.

“One of the other outcomes of the war was the impact on our tree population, which fell dramatically because of the need for timber for the war effort.

“In Wales, trees benefit our economy through our timber trade and provide recreational activities that are good for our health and well-being. They help reduce the risk of flooding, improve water quality, lock up carbon from the atmosphere and are home to much of our wildlife.

“Trees are also vital to human life, providing us with the oxygen we need to breathe. It is therefore fitting we mark the centenary of the First World War, which caused so much death and destruction, by planting many more new trees, which will help sustain life for generations to come.”

Chief executive of Natural Resources Wales Clare Pillman said: “Rebuilding the forests after the war took an army of people, many of whom returned from the war with the skills and knowledge of the land.

“The sacrifice of so many who did not return is something we should never forget. This is why we want to engage with the people of Wales so that future generations can benefit from a lasting act of thanksgiving and remembrance.

“Trees have a special place in the lives of communities now, just as they did in 1918, and will in 2118.”