BAM hits target to plant 150,000 trees

James Wimpenny, CEO of BAM Construct UK

Dutch-based construction firm Royal BAM Group has planted its 150,000th tree around the world after making the pledge at the start of its 150th anniversary year.

CEO Rob van Wingerden will plant the final tree himself at Boz Park, Bury, Greater Manchester today (Tuesday 10 December).

The company chose the UK for its final tree because it has the least forest coverage in Europe (around 13% compared to an average of 35%). BAM is also supporting City of Trees project to create a new 3,000-tree broadleaf woodland in Bury.

Van Wingerden said the company had chosen to plant 150,000 tress because “future generations matter to us. We need to help preserve the planet for them. That’s why BAM chose to celebrate its 150th anniversary by planting 150,000 trees around the world, instead of, for example, organising a party. Forests are key to restraining climate change and restoring biodiversity. Trees provide clean air to breathe and so much more.”

Beth Kelsall, delivery co-ordinator for City of Trees, said: "We aim to plant half a million trees by March 2020, which marks the end of tree planting season. The trees also form part of the Northern Forest, an ambitious initiative aiming to plant 50 million trees in 25 years, stretching from Liverpool to Hull.

She added: “The private sector is critical to this, bringing in both funding and volunteer support. Tree planting is a great way people can connect to nature and it’s not a mechanised process. Planting the right tree in the right place is also crucial for their long-term survival.”

Throughout the year, BAM has planted trees in areas of the world in need of reforestation, such as 50,000 trees each in Bolivia and Uganda. The 50,000 remaining have been allocated to Europe and spread between its home markets in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Denmark and the UK.

Royal BAM Group has teamed up in its tree planting initiative with Trees for All. Simone Groenendijk, managing director of Trees for All said: “We are proud to be working alongside BAM. Together we will realise the planting of 150,000 new trees in 2019. The initiative has also inspired other organisations to team up with our foundation in their own tree planting programmes, for which we are grateful to BAM. BAM’s initiative to celebrate its 150th anniversary this way is a wonderful gift to the planet and to the many generations who will live on it after us.”

James Wimpenny, CEO of BAM Construct UK, which alongside BAM Nuttall and BAM PPP, is one of the BAM companies in the UK, said: “We all know this won’t solve the need to reforest our world. But it shows how private companies working with the charitable sector can make a genuine difference and give something back that is well worth doing.”