December 2016 – The Premier Paper Group, the UK’s largest independent paper merchant, has held the latest of its successful tree planting action days, where some 5,000 new sapling trees were planted by customers, staff and students at the Woodland Trust-owned Heartwood Forest in Hertfordshire.

The 5,000 saplings represented 1,000 trees planted for each year of Premier’s five-year association with The Woodland Trust.

The 160 volunteers, who braved bracing and chilling temperatures on the day, comprised of a mixture of Premier customers, their clients and also pupils from three local schools in the Hertfordshire area. To help maintain high spirits and keep the volunteers fueled, hot food and drink was supplied throughout the day.

Before they set off, armed with their spades, guidance was provided by staff members and volunteers of the Woodland Trust, along with Wilder Things’ Tim Kirwin, who was behind the Woodland Communities Project and an officer for the Woodland Trust.

A brief presentation was then given by the Woodland Trust, where Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust, Beccy Speight, presented Premier Paper’s Area Sales Director, Geoff Parnell, with a commemorative plaque celebrating Premier’s five years of partnership with the organisation.

The group was then split into five teams to embark on their day of helping to assist in the growth of native natural forest woodland.

The 160 participants helped to plant a variety of native tree species, including; Sessile Oak, Pedunculate Oak, Cherry and Hornbeam amongst others.

This latest tree planting feat is the third successive Premier tree planting event to take place at Heartwood Forest, which is set to become the UK’s largest continuous new native woodland.

The past year has seen in excess of 55,000 trees planted by Premier’s customers, all of whom have participated and engaged in Premier’s Carbon Capture scheme, which has helped to capture some 11,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, a unique environmental achievement.

Commenting on the recent tree planting day of action, and also the marking of its five-year association with The Woodland Trust, Premier Paper Group, Marketing Director, Dave Jones, stated, “5,000 Trees planted in one day is a fabulous achievement and I am delighted that we managed to meet our target. It was also good to receive the beautiful plaque from the Woodland Trust recognising the efforts and contribution made by Premier and our customers.”

Heartwood Forest:
Heartwood Forest, located near Sandbridge, just north of St Albans in Hertfordshire, is an 858-acre site and is the largest of The Woodland Trust’s woods in England and also the largest continuous new native woodland in the country. Already some 500,000 trees have been planted at the site, which contains some 44 acres of precious ancient woodland, our equivalent of the rainforest, which sadly now makes up just 2% of UK land cover, and dates back to at least 1600AD as well as containing newly planted woodland. The site is seeking to become the largest new continuous native forest in England.

The Woodland Trust
As the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, The Woodland Trust has been planting trees and standing up for woodland for over 40 years, planting an incredible 36m trees since 1972. This has helped to enhance its standing as a voice for woodland and the species that call it home. The Woodland Trust works tirelessly to create woodlands which can benefit our environment and be enjoyed and valued by everyone. Woodland not only provides a rich, bio diverse environment for wildlife but also provides us all with green, open space for rest and recreation. More than 1,200 woodlands throughout the UK are owned or managed by the Woodland Trust, covering in excess of 60,000 acres throughout the UK, with free and easy year round access for us all to enjoy. Trees improve our quality of life, making our local communities and neighbourhoods greener and more pleasant places to live.

The Woodland Trust has nearly 350 sites which contain ancient woodland of which 70% is semi-natural ancient woodland – land which has been under tree cover since at least 1600.  It also manages over 110 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and has created over 32 km² (12 sq. mi) of new woodland including 250 new community woods in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Woodland Trust believe that life is better with trees, as they improve the quality of the air that we breathe, provide the natural habitat for an array of UK wildlife (including 250 endangered species) and form nature’s magical playground for children and adults alike.

The Woodland Trust fights to protect our most wildlife-rich and unique ancient woods. Just 2% remain, as ancient woodlands aren’t afforded the protection many might imagine, and once lost they can’t be replaced. These woods are home to a variety of vulnerable species such as the dormouse. Every year The Woodland Trust helps to create over 1,500 hectares of new native woodland, many with the help of schools and communities to create urban green spaces.

The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No 294344) and in Scotland (No SC038885): To find out more go to www.woodlandtrust.org.uk.

Carbon Capture®
Premier Paper is offering its customers the opportunity to capture the CO₂ emissions from their paper purchases by planting and conserving native woodland right here in the UK. As a corporate partner of the Woodland Trust, Premier Paper signed up to its UK Woodland Carbon Code. This programme sets a new standard for Carbon Capture, removing it from the atmosphere through the creation of native woodland across the country.
The scheme operates under the Government’s Woodland Carbon Code, a voluntary standard for woodland creation projects in the UK. The independent certification to this standard provides assurance and clarity about the carbon benefits of these sustainably managed woodlands. It is calculated that 25m² of native UK woodland will capture and store one tonne of CO₂ and creating large areas of new native woodland, will, over time, remove hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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The Premier Paper Group is the UK’s leading independent paper merchant and through its business divisions and nationwide branch network, offers a great choice of products and services.

Premier Paper has 30,000 tonnes of paper held throughout its branch network, offering some 5,500 different product items, from many of the world’s leading paper manufacturers, including the UK market’s widest selection of media for digital printing.

The Premier Paper Group endeavours to be an integral and valuable part of its customers’ business providing first class services, sharing its extensive knowledge and information, offering advice and a choice of quality products.