On Friday the 19^th May, The Senator Group joined forces with the Ribble Rivers Trust to initiate a woodland planting project – we worked together over five days to plant a staggering 15,000 trees!

“Biodiversity is a key focus for us in 2023, and this woodland planting project is our flagship initiative. Over the life span of this project The Senator Group will offset carbon; provide habitat to local wildlife; purify the air and water streams running through the River Ribble; and support flood mitigation in the local area. The benefits are enormous and long reaching, and we have worked closely with the Ribble Rivers Trust to make sure we are supporting the environmental needs of our local area. Through this initiative, we are very proud to be able to support our employees and our local schools by getting them involved.” Lianne Smith – Group Head of Sustainability

This was just Season one of an ambitious two phase planting project that saw the planting of 15,000 trees across 30 acres of land. Season two will be planted in January 2024, consisting of a further c.17,000 trees over 34 acres of land. 

Our focus is to not only enhance biodiversity, but to also halt the decline of biodiversity wherever possible. Part of this strategy involves local school engagement– we want to make sure that every single one of our projects has a wider impact, where we educate and inspire young people to think more carefully about the environment, and to understand the routes they have to truly make a difference.

The Senator Group is in a unique position to raise awareness in our local area. So many of our sustainability projects are being undertaken locally, on our own land and buildings, which gives us a great platform to engage with local businesses and education providers. We aim to have a positive influence in both the projects we implement, and by using our platform to raise awareness on topics such as wellbeing, biodiversity, and sustainability.

The children were absolutely wonderful – their curiosity and enthusiasm being just what we needed to make this project a success (pizza and ice cream were a small way for us to say ‘thank you’ for all of their hard work!)

Planting 15,000 trees needed a lot of support, and employees from The Senator Group also used volunteering days to help out. For once the Lancashire weather was glorious and the days spent planting trees were well attended with colleagues from the shopfloor, from the charity committee, and from the senior management team.

Ribble Rivers Trust were the perfect partner for this project. In addition to providing much needed practical guidance and tree planting manpower, they led the schools engagement and education element with ease. We are very fortunate to have a partner that understands the local area and how our tree planting initiative can protect and improve biodiversity of both the woodland and the rivers.

A big, big thank you to everyone that helped out – we will continue to share stories about our fantastic new woodland as it grows.