Northumbrian Water is supporting the UK's largest annual tree celebration, National Tree Week, and looking at its recent planting of tens of thousands of trees.
Organised by The Tree Council, National Tree Week started on Monday, November 25th, 2019 and encourages people to plant trees around the country.
One of Northumbrian Water's biggest ever tree planting projects was completed last year at Burnhope Reservoir which involved the re-planting of more than 68,000 trees and shrubs, encouraging new wildlife to the area.
The eight year project saw the removal of an ageing and mature conifer plantation, been replaced with native broad leaf trees.
Pupils from Wearhead Primary School and a local forester were involved in the hefty task and all mucked in to help Northumbrian Water out with the re-planting.
Eighteen months on from Northumbrian Water's tree planting efforts, the new habitat has created a whole new world, with an improved habitat diversity and wildlife thriving around the site.
Mark Morris, Conservation Advisor at Northumbrian Water, said: "It's been fantastic to be involved in this project from start to finish, working with the local school and now seeing the wildlife benefits the work has helped to deliver.
"The broad leaf trees which include oak, birch, hazel and alder certainly offer more light and space for wildlife to thrive. Whereas before, the conifer plantation was dark and dingy in some places, with very little undergrowth because of the lack of light.
"It's so rewarding to see an improved habitat benefitting the local wildlife and the difference the trees will help to make with tackling climate change, supporting our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2027."
Northumbrian Water have also recently turned some previously unused land at their Halton-lea-Gate Sewage Treatment Works in Northumberland and Croft Sewage Pumping Station in Croft-on-Tees into new important woodland habitat.
More than 300 broad leaf trees at Halton-le-Gate Sewage Treatment Works and 170 at Croft Sewage Pumping Station have been planted, which will help to improve the habitat diversity on site and provide benefits to the wildlife in the area.
Mark added, "While it's important to focus on the sustainability of the trees on our land and at our sites, we are always looking for opportunities for tree planting, where it can deliver mutual benefits for everyone."