Woolworths staff donate 2,300 trees

In an initiative to reduce their carbon footprint, 100 Woolworths staff planted 1,200 plants throughout Yarramundi Reserve on Saturday 31 October 2009. An extra 1,100 trees were donated for future planting, bringing the total number of trees donated to 2,300.

The majority of the planting was in and around the main car park area of the southern entrance (right side after Yarramundi Bridge).

The Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Bart Bassett, praised the staff for volunteering their time and for fundraising $4000 for the project.

“Woolworths funded half of the event’s organisational costs which covered the supervisors, tools, water pumps, a BBQ for the day and plants from the community nursery,” Councillor Bassett said.

“100 Woolworths employees were involved in the planting over four hours, so it is 400 hours of volunteer time contributed to Yarramundi Reserve, which had had a positive impact on the Reserve.

“I’d like to thank Lisa Cowen at Woolworths for her initiative and all the staff for their enthusiasm and for their staff fundraising to pay for the plants.”

As an employee and eco-ambassador with Woolworths, Lisa Cowen thought donating and planting trees at Yarramundi Reserve would be a good local community initiative from Woolworths to “help to reduce their carbon footprint”.

Ms Cowen’s short term goal was to donate one tree for every staff member in the Woolworths Area Group – 2300 plants. Her long term goal is to make this an annual contribution and plant one tree every year for every Woolworths employee – about 175,000 per year. The stores conducted staff fundraising to pay for the plants.

More information: Lisa Cowen on 0404 829 326 or Martin Gauci on 4560 4525.