Over 20 volunteers from across the group headed to Towneley Park for a community tree planting event.
Organised by the Going Green Team, the volunteers worked alongside Burnley Council’s Green Spaces & Amenities team to successfully add 100 established oak trees to the park’s landscape up near Brunshaw.
Mark Ashworth, who heads up the Going Green Team, said: “It was great to see so many people join from across the group. It’s an amazing achievement and a great boost for biodiversity, providing a natural food source for wild animals and insects”.
Although the trees are only two metres tall right now, each has the potential to live for 900 years and grow up to 40 metres tall.
Mark continued: “Deforestation is the leading human induced contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere.
“Events such as this one is great to promote awareness of worldwide issues that impact our local communities”.
Even at their current size, the trees will absorb approximately 750 kg (0.75 tonnes) of CO₂ per year. As they grow, their CO₂ absorption will increase significantly, potentially reaching 2.2 tonnes per year when all 100 are fully mature.
The Calico Group have committed to becoming a net zero carbon organisation by 2050. As a group, they are already making positive steps to reducing their environmental impact, including community events like tree planting and litter picking.
Catherine Hartley, GDPR Administrator at The Calico Group, was one of the day’s volunteers. Talking about her experience, she said: “I thought it was a brilliant day, and we all worked so well as a team!
“It was so satisfying when the final few trees were planted. It’s wonderful to think that we did that, and that the trees will be there for decades to come”.
To find out more about upcoming Going Green events, please contact mashworth@ringstones.org.uk
