10 Feb 2020
NIE Networks has partnered with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) to host a community tree planting event at Botanic Primary School, which saw both a fruit tree and hedging planted, as well as an edible hedge.
The partnership between NIE Networks and TCV, which began during National Tree Week, sees NIE Networks commit to planting native trees across Northern Ireland with staff volunteering alongside those from TCV.
This project is the latest commitment from NIE Networks to ensure its work has minimal impact on the local landscape and natural habitats. It comes as the organisation recently announced they had been accredited as a Wildlife Aware organisation by Ulster Wildlife.
Leonie Rae, Safety Officer at NIE Networks, said:
"Our partnership with TCV is a crucial milestone in our ongoing commitment to protecting the landscape and environment we are working in every day."
"This partnership has opened up the opportunity for us to plant trees and renew native species for future generations just like the wonderful pupils we have been working alongside here at Botanic Primary School."
NIE Networks is further supporting the growth of native trees by training staff to identify and collect locally sourced seeds that will then be grown at the TCV Tree Nursery in Clandeboye Estate.
Helen Tomb, Operations Leader at The Conservation Volunteers in Northern Ireland, said:
"Our partnership with NIE Networks is a significant example of how major businesses in Northern Ireland can make a contribution to renewing and conserving the environment in which they operate."
"TCV has been bringing communities in Northern Ireland together to plant native trees for almost 30 years and are part of a national charity which is celebrating 60 years of environmental volunteering in 2019, so it’s very encouraging to be rolling out a project of this magnitude at this time."
Later this month, NIE Networks will be hosting another tree planting event in the area at Cranmore Primary School and also have one taking place at the Crawfordsburn Scout Association in Crawfordsburn Country Park on Sunday 16 February at 11am.
With events running through to March, communities across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to put forward their projects for new trees to be planted under the scheme.