The award-winning Bolton Family, a group of public and private sector organisations working to improve the lives of local residents, teamed up with the Woodland Trust last month to help plant 8,000 trees.
In the last two weeks of November, 800 people visited the Smithills Estate in Bolton to assist in the Woodland Trust’s Big Climate Fightback. As part of the Big Climate Fightback, the Woodland Trust is campaigning for 1 million people across the UK to pledge to plant a tree.
The Bolton Family, along with other local businesses, schools and community groups, worked with the Woodland Trust’s staff and volunteers to plant trees across 1,700 acres of land on the estate.
Supported by the National Lottery Heritage fund, the Woodland Trust has been planting trees on the Smithill Estate for almost two years. In March 2019, 26,000 trees were planted, with the Bolton Family and Seddon among others volunteering to help.
Planting trees helps combat two major environmental emergencies facing our planet: climate change and biodiversity loss. The creation of woods, hedges and green spaces buffers existing habitats, tackles climate change and reverses wildlife decline simultaneously.
The estate, owned and managed by the Woodland Trust, currently has 10% tree coverage. By planting a diverse range of over 20 different tree species, the Woodland Trust hopes to increase tree coverage to over 20% in the next three years.
Jonathan Seddon, CEO of Seddon, said: “Each tree planted by volunteers from the Bolton community will help fight global warming and air pollution, reduce flood risks and create beautiful woodlands for local people and wildlife to enjoy.”
Tony Oakman, CEO of Bolton Council said: “I am really pleased to take part in this exciting initiative. Trees are one of the best ways to tackle climate change and it is great to see communities, landowners and volunteers creating a new woodland in the wonderful countryside of Bolton.”
Noel Sharpe, deputy chief executive of Bolton at Home, part of the Bolton Family, said: “It’s inspiring to see the incredible support shown by the Bolton community for this year’s tree-planting scheme.
“We were keen to join Bolton Family colleagues in volunteering our time to help protect the local environment. It’s the actions and commitment of individuals that put social responsibility into practice. Thanks to all involved.”