Camphill School Aberdeen has planted 2,500 mixed-species trees to support its flood defences following a donation from the Apache Corporation Tree Grant Programme.
The charity, which supports children and young people with learning disabilities and complex additional support needs, is based over three estates in the west of Aberdeen.
Two of these estates, Murtle and Camphill, are situated alongside the scenic River Dee which is susceptible to flooding.
Young people who are supported by the charity, along with volunteers from Apache, planted the donated trees along the stretch of the Dee that runs alongside Murtle Estate in Bieldside.
The addition of the trees will stabilise the ground and help divert rainwater, working as a flood risk prevention. Populating the area with more trees will also encourage more wildlife to inhabit the riverbank, improving biodiversity.
Alex Busch, executive director at Camphill School Aberdeen, said: “Thanks to Apache’s donation, we can further strengthen our flood defences, protecting our beautiful surroundings from the river. We are also hugely grateful for the support we have received in the past from Apache towards our capital appeal.”
'Sustainability has been a core value'
Alex continued: “It was great to see such a large volunteer group from the Apache team to help plant the trees. Our young people will be involved in maintaining and caring for the trees as they continue to flourish, supporting their development, health and wellbeing.”
This donation is part of Apache’s Tree Grant Programme which focuses on large-scale conservation, protecting habitats for wildlife and native species, and restoring green spaces. The rollout of this programme in the UK expands on the success of the initiative in the USA, where more than five million trees have been planted since its launch in 2005.
“The Apache Tree Grant Programme is a fantastic initiative to help restore Scotland’s beautiful landscape with trees that are native to the region,” said Fiona Brett, environment and sustainability manager and tree grant committee member.
“More than 20 Apache volunteers took time out of the office to support Camphill School Aberdeen plant their trees on World Mental Health Day. It was very rewarding to see everyone working together as a team to help Camphill protect their grounds from future potential flooding.”
Alex added: “Sustainability has been a core value for Camphill School Aberdeen for over 80 years. We continuously strive to have a positive impact on our environment, and the support from local businesses is crucial in helping us achieve this goal.”