A team of Scottish Water volunteers joined forces with Friends of the Pentlands, a local environmental charity, to plant hundreds of trees near Glencorse Reservoir.

Approximately 20 Scottish Water staff participated in the event, planting around 400 native broadleaf saplings, including oak and birch, across a 0.5-hectare area above the reservoir. Friends of the Pentlands provided equipment and expertise for the project.

This initiative is part of Scottish Water's broader woodland creation program, aimed at protecting water quality at reservoirs, enhancing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon emissions.

"Ensuring that we work together with local organisations and charities is a key part of our woodland creation programme and it was great to link up with Friends of the Pentlands to organise this event," said Steve Garbett, Scottish Water project manager. "Together we planted a mix of around 400 native broadleaf trees which will complement the existing native ancient woodland at the site, while also tying in with the University of Edinburgh's Rullion Green Wood scheme, creating that valuable wildlife corridor between the two woodlands and making sure they are joined up and not separate."


Elise Cartmell, General Manager Zero Emissions at Scottish Water, added, "Through our woodland creation programme we want to ensure we are protecting the water quality in our reservoirs by stabilising the soil on the surrounding land, improving biodiversity and helping to lock up those carbon emissions that we can't entirely reduce from our essential processes. It was great to get hands on as part of the planting team at Glencorse and brilliant to see more of our projects being delivered at a local level across Scotland."

Scottish Water staff are granted two volunteer days annually.

Hamish Clark, a volunteer with Friends of the Pentlands, said, "Friends of the Pentlands were very pleased to join Scottish Water planting these trees. The main Scottish Water objectives of the woodland creation programme in relation to carbon reduction, response to climate change, and improvement of biodiversity and water quality align with those of Friends of the Pentlands. In years to come, these trees will further enhance the very attractive view above Glencorse reservoir enjoyed by the many visitors to this popular part of the Pentlands."