Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111

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PHS Direct and The National Forest: Families plant trees in a new woodland.

Staffordshire-based business PHS Direct recently held a Family Day planting trees in a new National Forest woodland at Overseal in Derbyshire.

The day was part of PHS Direct's sponsorship of The National Forest and staff and their families attacked their task with gusto - despite very cold and windy January weather - and planted 150 trees. Around 650 trees have now been planted at the site by PHS Direct from two very successful planting days which has allowed customers, suppliers, employees and their families to literally get their hands dirty supporting this scheme.

The National Forest is a forest in the making, transforming 200 square miles of central England. Nearly eight million trees have been planted since the early 1990s when the creation of the Forest began. Woodland cover has been increased from 6% to 18.8% and the eventual aim is that a third of the forest area will be woodland. The National Forest landscape will be a patchwork of towns, villages, farmland, open space, transport corridors and industrial use - all framed by woodland.

PHS Direct is supporting The National Forest by planting 20,000 trees to create a valuable 10 hectare woodland over three years. With every box of paper and low energy hand dryer sold a contribution is made, helping build the forest for the future.

PHS Direct has developed this project as part of its corporate and social responsibility, demonstrating that it has an ethical approach to its business. The National Forest was chosen as it is relevant to what the company does and is local to its operations centre in Staffordshire. Staff can see the tangible difference that the company is making to the environment, become directly involved and feel pride in that achievement.

"It was a great day," enthuses James Clark, Managing Director of PHS Direct. "Everyone enjoyed themselves - especially the little kids - which really brought the inclusive nature of this family event to life. An important part of the scheme is for our employees to see the work that we do in a different light.

"I can't believe how much we achieved in just one morning. Now, in years to come we can visit this part of the forest and say 'we did this'."

The National Forest area covers 200 square miles of the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Its objective is to increase woodland cover within its boundaries from an initial six per cent to about a third. No multi-purpose forest on this scale has been created in the UK for one thousand years. To date the proportion of woodland cover in the Forest has already trebled to 18.8 per cent and 7.8 million trees have been planted.

Year by year, The National Forest has been steadily turning what was once one of the least wooded areas of England into a multi-purpose, sustainable forest. The National Forest provides environmental, social and economic benefits, including landscape enhancement, creation of new wildlife habitats and major new access and leisure opportunities. It is an excellent example of sustainable development - with environmental improvement providing a stimulus both to economic regeneration and to community pride and activity.

To achieve these objectives, the National Forest Company leads the creation of The National Forest, working in partnership with landowners, local authorities, private business, voluntary organisations and local communities and has strong support from Government, politicians and the public. The Company receives grant in aid from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

In 2008 the National Forest Company and partners won the Sustainable Development UK Award, for their work in Ashby Woulds, at the heart of The National Forest.

Photograph taken by Jacqui Rock; copyright the National Forest Company

T: 01827 255500,
F: 01827 259997
E: [email protected]
W: www.phs.co.uk

23rd February 2012