This National Tree Week (22nd–30th November), Affinity Water is celebrating the start of the winter planting season by preparing to plant nearly 19,000 native trees across its regions.
The trees will be planted across a mix of Affinity Water-owned sites and third-party land in partnership with local farmers and landowners. The species will consist of a mix of hedgerow trees such as Goat Willow, Wild Cherry and Dogwood and singular trees such as Silver Birch, Field Maple and Pedunculate Oak. Together, these efforts will help create healthier landscapes, protect wildlife, and reduce flood risk.
This winter’s planting is part of a wider effort to restore and reconnect natural landscapes across the region.
The water company says that planting trees in carefully chosen areas is allowing land to hold water in its catchments for longer, reducing downstream flood risk, replenishing groundwater, and creating wetland habitats that filter and purify water naturally.
“Tree planting is a vital part of our work to create healthier, more resilient catchments,” said Charlotte Johnson, Senior Asset Scientist at Affinity Water. “By planting thousands of trees across our region, we’re helping to create cleaner water and soils from the source, reduce flood risk and provide thriving habitats for local wildlife.”
Earlier this year, Affinity Water teams planted over 7,000 trees at sites including the River Brett, Rye Hill Tower and Oughtonhead Pumping Station. Native species such as oak, hazel, crab apple and silver birch were chosen for their ability to support local ecosystems and increase biodiversity.
The utility is committed to planting 110,000 trees by 2030, as part of the water industry’s national pledge to plant 11 million trees and create a more sustainable, climate-resilient future.
Part of this work is being delivered in collaboration with Affinity Water’s ‘Water in the Landscape’ scheme, which supports farmers and landowners to introduce natural solutions that improve biodiversity, enhance soil health and increase water resilience across the regions.
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