Water workers plant thousands of new trees

Workers have planted 2,000 trees as part of their plan to leave a green legacy along the route of a major project. 
 
Anglian Water is currently building a multi-million-pound water main network across the east of England. 
 
Hundreds of kilometres of underground, interconnecting pipelines, stretching from North Lincolnshire to Essex, will move water from wetter to drier areas of the region.  
 
But as well as ensuring the water supply, the water company is committed to doing more for the communities in which it works and the environment. 
 
So far, they have donated 2,000 books to 11 primary schools along the route of the new water main network, placed dozens of boxes for barn owls, planted hundreds of thousands of wildflowers and donated a life-saving defibrillator. 
 
The trees were planted at a water treatment works at Elsham, North Lincolnshire – the starting point of the new water main network.  
 
They are a mix of hawthorn; hazel; blackthorn; spindle and dog rose and will form a hedge that will connect with other hedgerows nearby to give wildlife a safe passage around the site and wider countryside, and somewhere to nest and feed. 
 
Mike Drew, Biodiversity Advisor for Anglian Water, said: “It is marvellous to see our employees come together to make this area better for everyone. 
 
“Their hard work will leave a lasting legacy for wildlife and for the region.” 
 
The new network is being built in sections. A 34-kilometre stretch between Lincoln and Grantham is due to be complete this year. The new grid is expected to go into service in 2025.  
 
Craig Snow, who is overseeing the construction of the 57km section of the new network between Elsham and Lincoln, said last summer’s unprecedented heatwave highlighted the need for the water company’s work: "The east of England is one of the driest regions in the UK and has a rapidly growing population, which is why we've spent many years developing and now implementing our plans to combat water shortages and increase resilience.    
   
“Simply put, without the new water main, demand for water could outstrip supply in parts of the east of England as soon as 2030.   
  
“The importance of our work really cannot be underestimated.”