DPD UK has partnered with UK government agency Forestry England to plant and restore woodlands across England to tackle climate change and foster wildlife.
The four-year partnership will focus on four separate woodland sites where DPD will support Forestry England’s tree-planting to create new woodland areas and carry out work restoring established woodlands. DPD’s donation will be made from its Eco Fund, part of the company’s sustainability program, which is funded by the firm’s circular economy initiatives.
The partnership chose Colliers Wood, near Manchester, as its first site. This urban woodland covering just over 136ha is a community green space on the site of a former coal mine. More than 4,000 new trees will be planted to increase the biodiversity of the woodland and expand the existing tree cover. Students of St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School joined Forestry England and DPD representatives to plant the first saplings, and the rest of the new trees will be planted during the winter of 2022. Forestry England will create opportunities for the local community to get involved with the planting and ongoing work to look after the woodland as the new trees mature.
The other sites are: Pleasant Forest in Kent, a new 119ha woodland which Forestry England is creating; Dimmingsdale in Staffordshire, where restoration work will be carried out to replace trees affected by disease; and Hamsterley Forest, County Durham, where a new woodland for well-being will be created, with 100 ornamental oak trees, a timber shelter and seating to provide a new accessible space for visitors.
Since 2020, DPD has worked with Forestry England to restore Dorset’s Wareham Forest following a devastating fire. The partnership will include DPD staff engagement opportunities, offering well-being benefits to the company’s workforce and access to Forestry England resources. In addition, DPD staff will have the chance to volunteer at some of Forestry England’s sites close to where they live and work.
Josephine Lavelle, director of marketing and engagement at Forestry England, said, “We’re delighted to continue our work with DPD and together we’re set to make a tangible difference in the urgent fight against climate change and the stark decline in biodiversity. Over the next four years, this partnership will enable us to create flourishing wildlife habitats, increase carbon storage and plant a woodland for well-being to allow people decades ahead to benefit from a positive connection with nature. Working with a company like DPD with clear environmental values and a commitment to putting those in action means we can work at scale, plan for the long-term and do more to ensure our forest landscapes thrive.”
Tim Jones, director of marketing, communications and sustainability at DPDgroup UK, commented, “At DPD we challenge ourselves to be greener and more sustainable at every level, from delivering clean and green to 25 of the largest towns and cities in the UK with our rapidly growing fleet of EVs, to changing our own parcel bags to 80% reclaimed material and 100% recyclable. Having our own circular economy means we can generate eco funds to directly back initiatives like this. Working with Forestry England has given us an insight into the challenges they face, and we are very proud to support them and work alongside them in this way.”