A new initiative is up and running across the Somer Valley - but the seed was originally planted thirty years ago.

Mike Boulton has a simple plan - to plant as many trees as possible in and around Radstock and Midsomer Norton.

Mike is asking anyone local either to join in his planting spree or suggest places where trees would thrive.

He told Nub News that he is following in the - sometimes muddy - footsteps of a local band of tree planters in the 1980s.

He said: "Back in the '80s there used to be a group in Norton Radstock area called "The Tree People" - where you see a row of same species of trees lining a road they probably planted them."

That group folded because they did not manage to get their hands on enough land to grow trees. But Mike is confident that space can be found, in part by choosing areas that have previously been neglected in some cases alongside main roads.

He has in fact already been a bit of a tree planting guerrilla, confessing "I have planted an unofficial tree here and there. If we can get a group to progress the idea we might achieve a more pleasant area. We have the climate emergency as a spur."

He has founded a group on Facebook the Somer Valley Tree Group to grow the idea.

Mike said it is an ideal time to get some collective thinking on tree planting. He told Nub News: " This is a time to plan, discuss what types of tree aim and such. The coming autumn will be well spent collecting and preparing planting material.

"I used to emulate a 19th century gent who carried acorns in his coat pocket and whenever he thought the aspect could be improved by a tree he would plant an acorn. I have grown out of this but .. "

And once the trees are in Mike hopes to include bug hotels and nest boxes to amplify the wildlife benefits.

You can contact and join the group here: the Facebook page for the Tree Group