On Monday 8th July, 18 LRG employees joined GreenTheUK and the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) at Battram Wood for a day of learning, creating, team building and planting.

After tea and coffee on arrival, the volunteers joined a guided walk of the woodland, led by Jen Turner. The team was fascinated to learn about this young, experimental woodland which only twenty years ago was a carrot farm.

This woodland was created with biodiversity in mind and as we walked, the teams learnt to identify tree species and how to tell if an ash tree was suffering from ash dieback disease. LRG learnt about the challenges our woodlands are facing due to climate change and why it's important for businesses like theirs to act to protect them.

Next, teams worked together to transform an overgrown area into a new educational space. Within an hour, the group had cleared the woodland floor and layed down pathways that led to a circular area where children can sit on logs under the tree canopy. Educational groups that use this woodland will enjoy this space in the coming months.

After a picnic lunch, LRG learnt how to safely light a fire in the wild, using a flint and striker. The team enjoyed learning woodland skills and toasting marshmallows. In the afternoon, we planted a Malice Fiesta apple tree along the bridleway which will fruit in years to come. The woodland is accessible by the public so we hope LRG employees will return to see their tree grow over the years. Thank you LRG for joining us for another fantastic day in nature!