Native trees will be grown from Norfolk seed as part of a major rewilding project.

Westacre Estate is creating a mosaic of woodland pasture along the River Nar in west Norfolk.

Almost 2,000 acres will be returned to nature along a 10km stretch of the river.

West Norfolk Council has now rubber-stamped plans for two 75m polytunnels on land off Walton Road.

In a planning statement, the estate said rewilding involves "the enhancement of the biodiversity of the area by leaving nature to recover".

It adds: "To support this process, it is vitally important that the surrounding woodland does not conflict with the ethos of the rewilding but supports it.

"By growing trees locally from local seeds to be used in the processes of afforestation and reforestation Westacre Estate provides many advantages.

"It decreases the carbon footprint, prevents non-native invasion, provides certified healthy trees and promotes the maintenance and restoration of native woodlands."

The tunnels allow saplings to be grown in controlled conditions to maximise their growth.

The estate said that this will produce "a faster and larger yield of healthy trees" to be planted on the estate and offered for sale. It added growing trees locally will create at least two jobs.

The rewilding project is intended to create a corridor of "uncontrolled nature" along the river.

Semi-wild livestock including cattle, pigs and ponies will be re-introduced to the landscape.

Hundreds of small ponds will also be reinstated along with woodland and wetland habitats.

While land south of the south of the Gayton to Castle Acre road will be "ring-fenced" for the rewilding project, mixed farming of arable and livestock will continue on the remainder of the 8,500-acre estate, which grows blueberries and chick peas along with more familiar Norfolk crops like sugar beet, peas and barley.