Leading South West law firm plants 1,200 new trees in Cornwall

Leading South West law firm Coodes has committed to plant more than 1,200 new trees in Cornwall, in celebration of its 275th milestone anniversary.

Volunteers from Coodes (pictured) have been busy putting the first trees in the ground at Fairview Farm near Helston.

Coodes, the longest established legal firm in the region, is aiming to create new habitats in the county and re-establish woodland areas in partnership the not-for-profit Community Interest Group (CIC) Plant One Cornwall.

Over 100 new saplings are going to be planted every year for the next ten years with the help of the woodland creation organisation, based in Helston. This will generate 0.8 acres of new woodland habitats.

Peter Lamble, Partner and Chairman of Coodes, said: “We wanted to mark our 275^th milestone anniversary in a special and meaningful way. It is important to us that we leave a longstanding legacy for the future of Cornwall’s natural habitats, support biodiversity and contribute towards sustaining and nurturing native wildlife.

“Coodes is at the heart of communities across the county and by helping Plant One Cornwall to get more trees in the ground, it means that we can increase woodland spaces for the benefit of everyone. Our team are delighted to be involved in this project and have really enjoyed rolling up their sleeves and planting the trees this week.”

According to Plant One Cornwall, the Duchy has the lowest average canopy cover when compared to other European countries, and the least amount of access to woodlands in the UK.

Rai Lewis, co-founder and director of Plant One Cornwall, added: “Without the invaluable help of firms like Coodes, we would not be able to reach our demanding and urgent targets for woodland creation in Cornwall. Having the support of Coodes is really important to the work that we do. Tree planting remains one of the most affordable and easily attainable solutions to climate change and emissions reduction. It is a tangible solution to help reduce carbon emissions on a local level through community action.”

She added: “Together with the team at Coodes, we are working hard to reinstate an upland oakwood habitat across Cornwall, replacing the long lost Celtic rainforest of South West England. Just one oak tree can support 2,300 species and working with landowners, providing that access to woodlands has proven health benefits to local communities, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Coodes and Plant One Cornwall will be getting the saplings or ‘whips’ in the ground at several sites in the county during the planting season between now and March, depending on weather conditions.

The native tree species planted will include Cornish and English Oak, Italian and Black Alder, as well as Wild Cherry and Willow. They will be planted at a low density, mimicking existing habitats to enable wildlife to thrive.

The saplings have a higher resilience to climate change and absorb Co2 at a faster rate in the early stages of their growth and help future proof the woodland against unknown climate changes.

Established in 1747, Coodes has a specialist team offering expertise across a wide range of legal areas. With offices across Cornwall and Devon, Coodes provides individuals and businesses in the South West with the benefits of a large firm combined with the personal touch of a local service. For more information visit www.coodes.co.uk