A team of community-spirited employees from Valda Energy has recently taken time away from their desks to trek across the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) all in the name of essential tree planting.
As part of the company’s on-going community and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments this year, restoring the natural beauty of UK habitats is firmly on the radar for the company, and in close collaboration with the charity Stump Up for Trees, a hardy team of seven volunteers travelled from the company’s headquarters in Bicester to the Beacons to take part.
Reaching the designated planting site, the volunteers – who work across all departments within the business – rolled up their sleeves to get to work.
Armed with shovels, gloves and waterproofs, they cleared away aggressive bracken growth to make room for native saplings, meticulously planting oak, silver birch, and wild apple trees.
Despite the challenging terrain, the team worked tirelessly, covering vast stretches of the hillside and planting over 1,150 trees in a single day. And Kat Smith, Pricing and Regulatory Data Manager, at Valda emerged as the champion planter, contributing an impressive 130 trees single-handedly.
Rob Penn, from Stump up for Trees, said: “The team from Valda made significant and vital strides to help revitalise the region's ecosystem and we couldn’t be more grateful for their time and efforts, especially in some tough conditions."
Rob continues “The challenge for us as a charity is to ensure that natural habitats are being maintained and ecological restoration is happening. Without organisations like Valda, which has contributed not just their time but a monetary donation too, we couldn’t make this happen.”
Reflecting on the day's efforts, Andy Dayus, Renewables Director, at Valda said: "It was a thoroughly enjoyable day with a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable team from the charity who hosted and directed us on the jobs that would bring most benefit.
“We were pleased to be able to support such an important cause that will be seen and enjoyed for generations to come and look forward to continuing our relationship with the charity as part of our wider ESG initiatives in order to witness the beautiful forestry of the Beacons restored."
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