THOUSANDS of trees have been planted by one of forestry's biggest names as part of the ongoing legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Tilhill contributed 39,400 cell-grown trees to Severn Trent Water’s B2022 Commonwealth Forests initiative, which will see 2,022 acres of woodland created in honour of last year's sporting showpiece in Birmingham.
The trees were planted across nearly 60 acres at Stoke Bardolph and Beeston Sewage Works, but the project did not come without challenges.
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Matthew Harrison, forest manager at Tilhill, said: “Due to tight timings, many of the trees were cell grown to try and maximise the chances of success.
"In the end it all came together with the Severn Trent team doing all they could to move things on, as well as the farm team, who helped with unloading materials and moving them to the various planting sites.”
Simon Marrington, chartered forester and Tilhill’s business development manager for England, added: “Tilhill was delighted with the success of our bid to undertake the consultancy and grant funding applications underpinning Severn Trent’s commitment to making Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games the most sustainable yet.
"This commitment, combined with Tilhill’s expertise, will ensure the project provides a pleasing legacy, generating multiple benefits including biodiversity, landscape enhancement and carbon sequestration through native woodland and habitat creation at scale across a number of Severn Trent sites.”
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