Sprucing Up the River Ribble

We are wholeheartedly committed to doing our bit for the environment and playing a fundamental role in sustainability here at Glasdon. To demonstrate this commitment, we teamed up with the Ribble Rivers Trust to plant a variety of British trees.

Ribble Rivers Trust is a Lancashire based charity working to improve the River Ribble and all its tributaries for both people and wildlife. For over 20 years, they have been working with the people who live in the area and dozens of partner organisations to deliver improvements across the entire Ribble catchment.

They aim to improve the water environments of the area, restoring and protecting the river to make sure current and future generations can enjoy the beauty of its wildlife and fauna. Their amazing and dedicated team of employees all possess in-depth knowledge, covering a huge range of specialist subjects to organise hundreds of impressive and varied projects.

On Tuesday 7th February, a team of 18 green-thumbed employees from various departments across the Company ventured to the site in Barrowford. The day was led by the Trust’s Community Project and Activities Officer, Helen Smith and Volunteer Supervisor, Rob Cooper. After a brief introduction to the task and, with shovels in hand, our enthusiastic team branched out to designated areas. In groups of three, a well-organised system of digging, planting and refilling was soon implemented in order to maximise efficiency and productivity.

Regardless of the gloomy weather and brisk winds, our red-cheeked volunteers breezed through the day, effectively planting the saplings in a structured formation, allowing 2-3 metres in between to allow for sufficient growth.

We are delighted to announce that by the end of a long day, the team managed to plant around 800 trees, including species of Holly, Elder, Blackthorn and Hawthorn. These trees will provide excellent habitats for the local wildlife and are a vital means of carbon sequestration.

Yasmin Shepherd commented on the day, saying:

From start to finish, the day was really enjoyable. It was a great opportunity to learn some new skills whilst also giving back to the community and our environment, I would fully recommend it to anyone.

At Glasdon we encourage our employees to volunteer their time to local causes. Volunteering brings great personal reward to our staff – enabling our colleagues to develop new skills, build connections and generally feel good about doing something to help our communities.

Unlike many other conservation charities, the Trust receives no government funding, relying entirely on donations and grants. Please visit their website for more information on the charity and how you can volunteer or donate.

The DJ Sidebottom/Glasdon Charitable Programme provides support for charities and community projects with donations, grants and fundraising initiatives. All activities are funded by Glasdon Group Limited, with the full support of our Founder and Chairman, Donald J Sidebottom MBE, FCIHT and the Board of Directors. Applications for grants and support can be made on our grant application page.