Aerospace engineering firm Leonardo has teamed up with veterans to plant 4,000 saplings in the Usk Valley to improve biodiversity.

Staff from the company's Bristol and Yeovil sites joined the initiative, which involves creating hedgerows to support ecological diversity for years to come.

The benefits of trees in capturing CO2 are well-acknowledged, leading to a UK government target of 30,000 hectares of forestation by March 2025.

Ben Knight, head of sustainability at Leonardo, said: "We are all interconnected with nature, but in the UK we have seen a 65 per cent decline in priority species since 1970, so any action that can help restore nature is crucial.

"Working with Carma and The Green Task Force also ensures that skills and employment are available to veterans when they leave service – whilst access to nature is well known to be so important for wellbeing."

The sapling planting scheme was organised with Carma and the Green Task Force.

The collaboration has provided employment opportunities for veterans while enhancing local biodiversity.

The chosen trees for the hedgerows, hawthorn, field maple and hazel, are biodiversity boosters, operating like mini urban areas for a variety of species.

In addition to planting 4,000 saplings, the veterans are set to plant another 2,000, bringing the total to 6,000.