Yorkshire Water progressing to 1m trees pledge

Yorkshire Water has planted more than 200,000 trees in the first phase of its ambitious pledge to plant one million trees across its land by 2028.

The planting aims to reduce flood risk, offset carbon emissions and support the creation of a Northern Forest, as well as delivering excellent land for the people of Yorkshire to enjoy.

A total of 213,556 have been planted, with major schemes taking place across the region, including:

• 116,665 at Gorpley Reservoir
• 33,075 planted by a Yorkshire Water tenant at Ovenden, near Halifax
• 18,275 at Underbank Reservoir
• 14,654 at Thornton Moor

Hazel Earnshaw, countryside and woodland advisor at Yorkshire Water, said: “We’re committed to ensuring our land protects the management of water, but also benefits the environment by delivering exceptional land for the people of Yorkshire. We’ve committed to planting one million trees on our land by 2028.

“Planting trees in the right place can reduce flood risk, mitigate carbon emissions and boost wildlife. Putting nature-based solutions in the ground now means long term benefits to our customers and society, and tree planting forms part of our aim of becoming carbon net zero by 2030.

“Crucially we also want new woodlands to provide opportunities for people to get out and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that spending time in the natural environment can provide.”

Yorkshire Water is supporting National Tree Week, which runs from 28 November – 6 December and marks the start of the winter tree planting season.