Phoenix Energy has celebrated planting its 40,000th tree, marking the halfway point towards its commitment to plant 80,000 trees by 2031.

The achievement was marked earlier this month at NICCA Fishery in Newtownards during the final planting day of the fifth year of Phoenix Energy’s partnership with The Conservation Volunteers. Native species, including willow and birch, were put in the ground. The 40,000th tree was planted by Denver Wasson, Director of Engineering at Phoenix Energy, alongside a team of staff volunteers and Edele Feenan from The Conservation Volunteers.

As well as enhancing the local environment, the partnership has delivered educational activities for primary school pupils on positive climate action, encouraging children to become 'Planet Protectors' and to take part in biodiversity and conservation projects in their schools and communities.

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At NICCA Fishery, Denver Wasson said: "At Phoenix Energy, ‘Environmental Responsibility’ is one of four core pillars of our Responsible Business Programme. We are delighted to be planting our 40k tree today alongside The Conservation Volunteers, marking the halfway milestone to our 2031 commitment. Our long-standing partnership with TCV goes beyond planting trees; helping local primary school students to understand the positive steps they can take to reduce their carbon footprint as well as how they can enhance our local environment.

"From an operational perspective, at Phoenix, while we continue to actively work with industry partners to bring about the advancement of renewable gas solutions into our network, I believe it is so important that we all take the time to give back to our local environment, as small steps make for big changes."

Edele Feenan, Production Horticulture Lead at The Conservation Volunteers added: "We are delighted to have reached this milestone of 40,000 trees planted as part of our partnership with Phoenix Energy. This initiative is such an excellent way to promote the benefits of increasing native tree cover in our woodlands and to engage the environmentalists of the future through schools and community groups. Having reached the half-way mark, we are already growing next year's saplings and are looking forward to our next volunteering day with the help of Phoenix staff."