Trees have always been proper important to us

For over three decades, Bettys & Taylors has been committed to planting trees, starting back in 1990 when we made our pledge to plant one million trees — since then we have planted 8 million trees in total, across the UK and in countries we source tea and coffee from to restore land and give back to local communities.

In 2007 we planted our 3 millionth tree in the UK and in 2009 we helped protect an area of the Amazon rainforest in Peru, the same size as the Yorkshire Dales. In 2015 we committed to planting more trees, this time in Kenya with TIST, The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program and in the UK with the Woodland Trust.

Snaizeholme with the Woodland Trust

We’ve long worked closely with the Woodland Trust and since 2022 we’ve partnered with the Trust at its flagship woodland creation habitat restoration project at Snaizeholme, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Many centuries ago, woodland would have stretched across this landscape but now the 1,387 acre site is almost devoid of trees. Through this latest collaboration, we’ve funded the planting of up to 50,000 native trees across nearly 32 hectares of the valley. As they mature, the trees will sequester carbon, boost biodiversity, build habitat resilience and contribute to natural flood management.

How trees help

You’ll probably have heard about tree planting in relation to reducing the impacts of climate change and that’s because trees sequester or hold carbon in the environment as well as helping to improve water quality and mitigate the impacts of flooding. It’s important, we find the right places to plant more trees or restore areas that were once abundant with trees and wildlife. Tree planting isn’t simple, it must be done at the correct time of year and the types of trees need to be right for the location, environment, and the wildlife. It also takes time for trees to grow and contribute to reducing carbon, around 20 years in the UK. 

Latest Progress

The project itself is unique and an exciting thing to be a part of with lots of amazing opportunities in the reforestation work to support and restore the natural wildlife of this area. Snaizeholme has an array of bird life from oystercatchers, snipes and lapwings to peregrines, barn owls and even hen harriers, which are now exceptionally rare in the UK. Bringing this land back to life through careful restoration will help provide a safe and natural habitat for these birds and many other animals. 

Since April 2023, 290 hectares (719 acres) have been planted with a mixture of trees. Species planted so far include Scots pine, aspen, birch and alder. As the trees grow, they’ll absorb carbon and help improve the water quality of the local beck. 

Upland peat restoration is also central to the habitat recovery work at Snaizeholme. By restoring degraded peat, the project helps support native plants and wildlife to thrive, locks away carbon, and reduces flood risk downstream. 

In spring 2025, the Woodland Trust team completed restoration across 80 hectares of peatland, and the team can already see the positive effects, with dragonflies and other insects returning to the standing water created by newly built peat dams.