Laithwaites Wine – Leading on sustainability: Their Sequoia Planting Day

One of the lovely things about being on the Great Reserve team is getting to meet lots of wonderful people with shared values.  People plant trees for all sorts of reasons but what we have in common is the desire for positive action.  Last weekend we were delighted to welcome to site a planting crew from Laithwaites, who have been named Green Champion of the Year at the Decanter Retailer Awards.

Offsetting their carbon with us is only one part of their green strategy which includes reducing the amount of glass in each bottle, bottling in the UK to save on freight miles and introducing best selling wines in boxes.  In a box it stays fresh for months after opening, who knew?

The team had volunteered their Saturday to come and plant the Laithwaite Grove with us and there was an excited buzz in the air.  This was made all the greater as Dave, our team photographer, had brought a new camera drone allowing him to capture the site from the birds eye perspective. 

The day started with a talk from Henry and Bob about the aims and origins of the project and what makes Giant Sequoias so special.  Then everyone grabbed some spades, saplings and mycorrhizal fungi, to encourage the trees to form a supportive underground network, and we set off up the hill. 

There is something about putting a tree in the ground in the beautiful Welsh countryside that is uniquely satisfying.  The knowledge that it will be there in hundreds of years is simply very special and sun on your back doesn’t hurt.  Planting done, everyone was ready to tuck into a picnic lunch accompanied by some delicious English sparkling wine.  Thanks from us to everyone who took part.