A farmer-led charity has reached a major milestone, planting more than 500,000 native trees across south-east Wales.

Stump Up For Trees, a community-focused woodland creation initiative based in the Bannau Brycheiniog area, works with local farmers, volunteers and communities to restore degraded landscapes and build resilient ecosystems for the future. The charity aims to plant one million trees, transforming poor agricultural and ecological land into thriving, carefully designed treescapes.

From upland farms to river valleys, these new woodlands are already providing vital biodiversity corridors, improving habitats for wildlife, and contributing to natural flood management on a catchment scale. In addition, they are helping to sequester carbon, improve soil health, and enhance water and air quality.

Dr Keith Powell, sixth-generation Black Mountains farmer, vet and co-founder of the charity, said: “Working with the farming community is in our DNA. Everything we do is about supporting farmers to integrate trees in ways that strengthen both the environment and agricultural productivity. Reaching half a million trees shows what’s possible when farmers are part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crises.”

Unlike many tree-planting initiatives, Stump Up For Trees places a strong emphasis on long-term success, not just planting numbers. Ongoing maintenance and monitoring ensure that the trees become established and continue to thrive, creating a lasting legacy for future generations.

The charity’s work is powered by a dedicated network of volunteers and landowners. To date, trees have been planted across dozens of sites, with people of all ages taking part in hands-on planting sessions and helping to shape the landscape.

Dr Jenny Knight, General Manager, said: “This milestone belongs to our volunteers and our farmers. It shows that local, community-driven action can deliver real, measurable impact. Half a million trees is not just a number - it represents habitats restored, flood risks reduced, and a more resilient landscape for the future.”

Rob Penn, author and co-founder, added: “What started as a conversation in a local pub has grown into something far bigger than we imagined. Reaching this milestone is incredibly rewarding—but it’s also just the beginning.”

Stump Up For Trees is working towards an ambitious target of planting one million native broadleaf trees, continuing to expand its impact across the region through collaboration, innovation and a deep commitment to place-based solutions.

More information about Stump Up For Trees, its projects, and volunteering opportunities can be found on the charity’s website at stumpupfortrees.org

The site also features case studies, including Great Tre Rhew Farm, a traditional Monmouthshire farm overlooking the ‘holy mountain’ Skirrid Fawr. Owners Kate and Jim have planted over 1.1km of hedgerows and shelterbelts, creating new habitat corridors and livestock shelter, alongside running a 16th-century cider house and campsite. Another example is Pentwyn Farm, where in winter 2023/24 family, friends, and volunteers planted more than 22,000 native broadleaf trees, restoring nearly 21ha of uplands in Bannau Brycheiniog, including new woodland near the farmhouse and 16ha of Coedcae restoration on the slopes of Fan Y Big above Nant Menascin.