Every tree we plant not only supports our carbon reduction goals, but also enhances biodiversity, protects local habitats, and helps communities become more resilient to the effects of climate change. Last planting season, we saw 11 named storms hit the UK, making the need for urgent action clearer than ever.
Since 2020, we’ve planted over 42,000 trees, keeping us on course to meet our 2030 target. We do this through a national partnership formed in 2023 with two leading organisations, GreenTheUK, and The Conservation Volunteers. Each partner will plant 15,000 trees on behalf of Willmott Dixon by 2026. During the 2023/24 planting season they have planted 12,500 trees in areas where they bring environmental and social benefits.
In collaboration with GreenTheUK we have planted 7,500 trees, with more than 60% located in publicly accessible spaces for local communities to enjoy.
Working with The Conservation Volunteers we have planted 5,000 trees across various regions, with a focus on community involvement. Around 20% of these trees were planted in schools, fostering environmental awareness among younger generations.
We chose to work with both national organisations because they follow the Forestry Commission principle of “right tree, right place, right reason.” This UK Forestry Standard ensures trees that are planted not only lock in carbon, but also provide flood mitigation, clean air, enhance biodiversity and create new green spaces to enjoy for community health and wellbeing.
With 41% of England’s woodlands either unmanaged or under-managed, there is a critical need to protect these areas from pests, disease, and the impacts of climate change. At Willmott Dixon, we follow expert recommendations and align our efforts with national targets contributing to the Committee on Climate Change’s goal to increase woodland cover in the UK from 14.5% now to 17% by 2050.
Key locations where our trees were planted in 2023/24 to make an impact include:
- County Durham: 4,117 trees were planted to replace those lost in Storm Arwen and provide resilience against future storms and gales.
- Cumbria: 2,733 trees were planted in an ancient woodland, focusing on habitat restoration for the endangered native red squirrel population.
- Cumbria: 400 trees were planted to create a multi-aged, diverse woodland used by a local scout group.
- Worcestershire: 250 trees were added around local sports fields and open woodland areas for local communities to enjoy.
