2022/23 planting season kicks off
National Grid, in partnership with its carbon-neutral landscaping partners, Ground Control Ltd, have kicked off the 2022/23 planting season on the Hinkley Connection Project.
As part of National Grid’s commitment to reducing the visual impact of construction works and the permanent structures being built along the route, the team have committed to planting 2,551 trees, 8,500 linear metres of hedgerow, and 50,000 m2 of woodland during the 2022/23 planting season.
The planting season runs from November to March each year and by March 2025 National Grid has committed to planting a total of 6,019 trees, 35,807 linear metres of hedgerow and 261,301 m2 of woodland planting.
While over the summer, the team worked through the hot weather to tend and water the thousands of trees that had been planted on the project to date.
The warmer weather posed a real challenge for the team as the young trees required ongoing nurturing. National Grid is responsible for maintaining trees and hedgerows for five years, to ensure successful establishment.
Since Ground Control Ltd began planting on behalf of National Grid in January 2020, over 17,826 linear metres of hedges, 114,546 m2 of woodland and 2,595 trees have been planted along the route of the Hinkley Connection Project.
Gareth Emberton, Senior Project Manager at Ground Control Ltd, said: “Over the course of the 2022/23 planting season, we have committed to planting the largest amount of landscaping in any year to date. While this is a sizable commitment, our extensive experience on the Hinkley Connection Project means that we are in a position to work efficiently across the whole route.”
Steve Haskayne, Project Director on the Hinkley Connection Project, commented: “2022 has been a busy year for the landscaping team. They’ve planted over 2,000 trees and nurtured thousands of newly planted trees, hedges, and woodland through the heat of the summer, all while prepping for what is set to be a mammoth start to the 2022/23 planting season.
“We’re delighted with the landscaping progress that is being made across the Project route and are fully committed to leaving a lasting environmental legacy, while minimising the visual impact of our works. We’re on track and excited to plant our 3,000th tree during this planting season.”
