A Croesyceiliog man is walking hundreds of miles to map every tree on Torfaen Council-owned land.

Rob Richards, 49, is an agricultural officer who is recording the species, size and age of each of the tens of thousands of trees on the council’s land.

He will have to walk more than 400 miles and record the information on a handheld computer, which will also help identify which trees need to be removed for safety reasons.

Mr Richards is also mapping trees on the council's former housing estates, which are now the responsibility of Bron Afon Community Housing.

He has currently mapped around 4,000 trees since he begun the task three months ago.

Many dying and diseased trees have been removed and the survey would help the council obtain funding to replant them.

Mr Richards said: “I’m really enjoying it and finding it very interesting. The only downside is the cold and wet weather, but it’s actually the ideal time of year to do this because it’s easy to see the dead parts of the trees and examine the branches.”

He started working for the council 32 years as an assistant gardener and has worked his way up since to his current position as an agricultural officer.