Print Solutions Green Solutions
The Premier Paper Group has teamed up with customers, the Woodland Trust and TV’s Julia Bradbury to plant 3000 trees at Heartwood Forest.
On Thursday 27 November 2017, at 9:30 am, with a temperature just touching 3˚C and for most people it is ‘business as usual’. But 150 of Premier’s customers were ready and willing to plant trees in Heartwood Forest, Hertfordshire, as part of the company’s Carbon Capture programme.
Located just north of St Albans lies Heartwood Forest. Initially mixed farm land, Heartwood Forest was acquired by the Woodland Trust in 2008 and its vast 347 hectare (860 acre) estate is now home to pockets of existing ancient woodland and new plantations, combined with wild flower meadows and a serene community orchard.
After a much needed breakfast, introductory speeches were given by Premier Paper and TV’s Julia Bradbury before taking to the field with a shovel and a sapling for a special tree planting demonstration from The Woodland Trusts Tim Kirwin.
Premier’s customers worked tirelessly alongside the Woodland Trust to plant saplings of native trees such as cherry, hazel, oak and dog wood. The team of dedicated planters went above and beyond the Woodland Trust’s target of 2000 trees to ensure 3000 saplings in total were planted on the day.
This planting day will be one of the last at Heartwood as the Woodland Trust’s planting project at the site comes to a close; Premier and its customers have come together to plant trees at Heartwood Forest for the last four years. As the trees mature the new woodland will provide not only a stunning landscape with obvious environmental benefits but also habitats to an array of wildlife; from buzzards to woodpeckers, foxes to deer and countless species of butterfly and other insects native to the area.
Many of the guests were then treated to a guided walk through Heartwood Forest and all went away with Woodland Trust goody bags containing copies of Julia Bradbury’s latest book and DVD.
Reflecting on the day, Hussein Ismail, marketing executive for the Premier Paper Group, commented: ‘It has been an excellent event. The weather has been on our side, perfect for planting trees although the flint filled ground proved to be challenging. Our tree planting days provide a great platform for our customers and their clients to showcase their dedication to the environment by actually coming out, planting trees and helping to make a real difference.’
From its launch to beginning of 2017, Premier’s Carbon Capture programme has raised over £500,000 for the Woodland Trust.
