Learn more about our Climate Change Strategy
Read bookletPictured L-R:Jo Aston, Chair at NI Water; Matt Huddlestone, Senior Outreach Manager for the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland; DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir and Dr Sara Venning, CEO NI Water.
Ambitious plans by NI Water to plant 1 million trees across Northern Ireland by 2030 have almost reached the halfway mark.
An amazing c.250,000 trees were put in the ground at Woodburn reservoir, Carrickfergus, which doubled the amount of trees planted by NI Water since last summer and made it the biggest woodland creation site in Northern Ireland for three decades.
More than 450,000 trees are growing across its sites from Carrickfergus, to Stoneyford and out to Newcastle.
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said: “I want to commend NI Water for reaching the halfway point towards realising its ambitions of planting a million trees on its lands by 2030. This is exactly the type of vision and action that is needed to help reduce our carbon footprint and tackle climate change.
“Climate change is a global issue and we can all learn by this example as we go about our daily lives. This initiative is literally laying the roots for a cleaner, greener society.”
Jo Aston, Chair at NI Water said, “This is a great moment – almost half a million trees planted in less than 4 years!
“Nature in Northern Ireland is in crisis, ranking 12th worst globally for biodiversity loss, making it one of the most nature-depleted places in the world. As Northern Ireland’s second largest landowner, this means NI Water has a big responsibility.
“This initiative has many benefits. Planted trees help water quality, carbon capture, flood prevention and enhance the natural environment. We’re also proud that the native trees planted are mostly broadleaved deciduous, which also boosts flowers and fauna. Trees are nature’s powerful carbon sinks and in the face of the worsening climate crisis, this is not just a ‘nice to do’ – it is becoming essential.
“Regreening our lands will have long lasting benefits for our local communities, future generations, and the planet itself. We are passionate about the strategically important role we can play in helping society to tackle climate change, build the green economy and restore biodiversity.”
DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir commented: “I am pleased that my Department is able to provide grant support of £800k under the Forest Expansion Scheme for the establishment of this substantial new native woodland at Woodburn of 139 hectares with over 250,000 trees planted. I want to congratulate everyone involved in this fantastic outcome for tree planting in Northern Ireland, thanks to the positive and collaborative approach between NI Water, The Woodland Trust and Forest Service.
“Increasing the area of forests and woodlands is a key challenge and focus for the Department. We need to significantly accelerate annual planting rates to reach 12% of land area by 2050 - currently 8.6%. I see afforestation as an essential element of DAERA’s contribution to climate change mitigation and legislative obligations for a balanced pathway to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
NI Water has been working in partnership with The Woodland Trust Northern Ireland and the Forest Service to deliver its 1 million trees regreening programme.
Matt Huddlestone, Senior Outreach Manager for the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland commented: “One of the Woodland Trust’s main objectives is to create new native woodlands. In Northern Ireland this is urgent considering we live in the least wooded area in Europe with under 9% tree cover. Thanks to our partnership with Northern Ireland Water, we now have access to large areas of land within their care, and this is a huge opportunity for us to increase tree cover here on a landscape scale. The Woodland Trust wants to see a world where woods and trees thrive for nature and people. We create quality native woods and get native trees growing to benefit nature, climate and people into the future.”
Ends
Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com
For further information please visit: www.niwater.com/climatechange
Link to Woodburn Tree Planting video here: https://youtu.be/PURU1bbwCSI
Pictured L-R:(Back row) Jo Aston, Chair at NI Water; Matt Huddlestone, Senior Outreach Manager for the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland; DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir and Dr Sara Venning, CEO NI Water.
(Front row) Local schoolchildren from Woodburn and Oakfield Primary Schools.Notes to editors
- In 2020, NI Water pledged to plant 1 million trees over 500 hectares of its land by 2030 as part of its Regreening Programme.
- Over the past four years NI Water has planted c.475,812. The company recently planted 248,952 trees across c.140 hectares at Woodburn reservoir in County Antrim. The composition of trees planted at Woodburn includes a diverse range of local native species which are UK and Ireland Sourced and Grown (UKISG).
- As part of the Regreening Programme NI Water has planted trees across several of its sites:
- NI Water is the second biggest landowner in Northern Ireland, after the Forest Service, owning around 11,000 hectares of land. This is made up of 990 hectares of water, 1,210 hectares of forest, 1,540 hectares of peat bogs and 7,260 hectares is agriculture.
- NI Water produces c.90,000 tonnes of operational CO2 per year in the treatment of water and wastewater.
- Fofanny – 23,150 trees.
- Dunore – 28,950 trees.
- Annalong – 87,010 trees.
- Stoneyford - 87,750 trees.