McAndrew Martin Ltd – Sponsored Tree Planting Event

McAndrew Martin Ltd is always looking for opportunities to get involved with local projects to improve sustainability and diversity in the natural and built environment. An excellent opportunity presented itself recently through contact with a local family woodland trust.

The Crosby Family Woodland Trust owns and manages a 32-acre Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) in the South Downs National Park. This is a very special designation for this oak and maple woodland, a rare environment accounting for less than 2% of all woodlands in the UK. It has hazel understory covering much of the wood with significant wet areas and many ash and birch standards in the mix. It is carefully managed for the sustainability and diversity of all flora and fauna within the woods.  Unfortunately, a significant portion of the ash trees are suffering from dieback, a chronic fungal disease, and therefore alternatives to replace them are an important consideration.

McAndrew Martin Ltd was keen to support the management and sustainability of this unique environment, through the sponsored planting of 120 tree slips.  In time, the wild cherry, cherry plum, small-leafed lime and sweet chestnut trees planted will provide alternative species to the ash, and the fragrant blossoms will encourage invertebrate pollinators.

Not only did McAndrew Martin provide the finance for the planting event but supplied graduate volunteers from the company on the day itself. Muhammad Shahid, Max Marshall and Yamin Ahmed did many hours of spade work in sub-zero, but fortunately, dry conditions.  The support was greatly appreciated by Richard Crosby, from the family trust, who was also heavily involved with Dave Kennedy in clearing spaces and planting. This was a great team effort resulting in a very satisfying and worthwhile day, topped off by a well-deserved pub lunch courtesy of Chief Executive, Bill McAndrew.