Local businesses showing support for the Clyde Climate Forest

Neighbourhood planting projects are springing up across Glasgow City Region as part of the Clyde Climate Forest’s ‘1000 Trees’ Campaign and local businesses are keen to get involved.

The most recent plantings, supported by East Renfrewshire Council, happened this weekend in the Barrhead community where children from Carlibar Primary School worked with staff from environmental charity Trees for Cities, who are a Clyde Climate Forest delivery partner, to help plant 542 trees across the Dunterlie area. 

Groups including the 1st Barrhead Boys Brigade, St Andrew's Church, and local businesses also dug in to get the trees in the ground. Businesses are being encouraged to take part in local projects by volunteering staff time to help plant trees, contribute through sponsorship or make a donation.

Max Hislop, Director of Clyde Climate Forest, said “Delivery of these local projects is crucial if we are to connect up existing woodlands, plant new forests and target urban tree plantings in areas vulnerable to climate impacts.

“We plan to work with multiple local communities across 2023 with an aim to plant up to 1000 trees in each of our target neighbourhoods as part of our ‘1000 Trees’ Campaign and we’re really keen for local businesses to play their part.

“Community woodlands and trees bring many benefits to urban neighbourhoods, they help soak up excess rainwater in heavy downpours, create cooling effects in heatwaves, and provide vital carbon storage and wildlife habitat.”

The council have also committed to supporting delivery of the Clyde Climate Forest and to embed CCF targets into their own plans and policies by signing a Concordat, helping toward the authorities own Net Zero ambitions.

Councillor Owen O’Donnell, Leader of East Renfrewshire Council, said: “We are committed to tackling climate change across the area and signing this agreement with the Clyde Climate Forest signals our real intent. I was delighted to have the opportunity to plant a number of trees at this project in Dunterlie and look forward to seeing this community woodland develop in the years ahead. As well as creating a fantastic new space for nature within Dunterlie, this initiative will contribute to our ambitions to reduce our carbon emissions as we target net zero by 2045.”

The Clyde Climate Forest is delivering part of the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network, with support from Green Action Trust, TCV, Glasgow City Region, Trees for Cities, Scottish Forestry and Woodland Trust Scotland.