Campaign to save rare tree species painted by Constable

Captured by John Constable in one of his most celebrated paintings, the black poplar tree was once as common as oak and beech in Britain.

- Jamie Grierson

Now it is the rarest and most threatened native species in the country and the National Trust is creating a living gene bank to ensure Constable's The Hay Wain does not become a tribute to an extinct breed.

The conservation charity has planted a new breeding population of male and female black poplar trees on a restored area of flood plain at Killerton estate in east Devon.

Working in partnership with Forest Research and other community groups to locate and collect a diverse selection of cuttings, a total of 80 trees have been planted along the River Culm flood plain with hopes that cuttings will go to planting projects across Britain.