Scottish Water has successfully completed the planting of a new native broadleaf woodland at its Dalderse Waste Water Treatment Works. Situated on a two-hectare site near the Kelpies at Helix Park, the project involved the planting of 3,300 oak, birch, and rowan saplings.

This scheme is part of a broader woodland creation programme that the utility is rolling out across its landholdings to support Scotland's environmental and climate targets.

The Dalderse project is designed to serve as a high-value habitat within an industrial setting, providing essential resources for local wildlife. Beyond biodiversity gains, the woodland is projected to sequester approximately 1,340 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over the next 60 years. This technical approach to land management is a key component of Scottish Water's strategy to mitigate its environmental impact while managing its vast estate more sustainably.

From a strategic perspective, the "wee woodland" concept allows for the integration of green infrastructure into functional utility sites. The programme has seen a significant ramp-up in scale, with the company reporting that it planted nearly three times the amount of new woodland in the most recent season compared to the previous year.

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Steve Garbett, Project Manager at Scottish Water, commented on the industrial relevance of the scheme: "We have significantly increased the scale of our woodland creation programme across Scotland over the last couple of years, ensuring that we are managing our land responsibly in the face of increasing biodiversity and climate change crises. These smaller woodland schemes – or 'wee woodlands' as we are calling them – can be sited in more industrial areas and we hope they will act as a critical habitat, providing food, shelter, and breeding sites for a variety of species, and acting as a stepping stone for wildlife movement."

The initiative supports the organisation's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. While the utility continues to focus on reducing operational emissions through its capital investment programme, these nature-based solutions provide a necessary carbon sink to offset harder-to-abate activities.

Elise Cartmell, General Manager Zero Emissions at Scottish Water, added: "While we are doing all we can across the business to reduce our carbon emissions through our operational activities and capital investment programme, these woodlands will be key in helping to lock up carbon within our landholding and support our journey towards net zero by 2040. It is brilliant to see these new woodlands – both small and large – being brought to life at various Scottish Water sites."

The completion of the Dalderse site marks a milestone in the utility's efforts to blend essential water infrastructure with environmental stewardship, creating resilient landscapes for the future.