Pictured (L-R): Michael Chung, Madalin Bunda, Suzie Golding-Lynch, Bailey Thoresby, Alessandro Tasselli and Natalie Adams.
Last week, our UK team joined Leeds City Council for a volunteering day at Wykebeck Woods, near Roundhay Park, where they rolled up their sleeves to coppice willow trees before using the offcuts, together with foraged foliage, to craft woodland wreaths – the perfect winter creations to deck the halls this Christmas.
The 'Green Team Away Day' event formed part of Leeds City Council's Parks and Green Spaces Strategy, which sets out their commitment to making the city’s parks, woodlands and green spaces among the best in the UK over the next 10 years.
What is coppicing?
Coppicing is a traditional woodland management technique that involves carefully cutting trees back to near-ground level for conservation purposes. Encouraging new growth in willows around sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) ponds is particularly beneficial because as they regenerate, the trees begin to absorb greater volumes of water, which boosts the overall effectiveness of the water management system, helping to reduce flood risk and create a more stable habitat for local wildlife.
Benefits
We were delighted with the opportunity to work hands-on in one of the city’s stunning parks and green spaces while supporting the council in their conservation efforts. Playing a small part in improving Wykebeck Woods for wildlife and the community was a great bonding experience for our team and aligns with our corporate social responsibility and sustainability goals.
