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If you're going to struggle with terrain, you could always incorporate craters into the polystyrene topper for instant cover. Also, when you buy your poly, buy an extra sheet and make gak loads of hills, the more levels the better! Remember, a hot wire cutter and two open windows/doors are your friends here
If you're putting trees on the board, I'd do as the book suggests and clump them together to make a mini wood or two, looks better than lots of stands of 2-3 trees IMO.
The river idea sounds ace by the way, good luck!