County Derry supermarkets sponsor planting of over 800 trees

SuperValu and Centra in Limavady and Dungiven are helping to enhance biodiversity and create a habitat for wildlife at a Limavady farm by sponsoring the planting of 850 trees.

Landowner and farmer John O’Kane has received 850 trees thanks to a partnership between Trees on the Land – a charity and not-for-profit project from the Green Economy Foundation – and SuperValu and Centra, part of the Musgrave Group.

The project is part of a sustainability initiative from the retail brands which recently announced they will plant 50,000 trees across Northern Ireland over ten years. Already this year the retailers have sponsored 5,000 native trees, including 850 at this Limavady farm.    

Staff from four SuperValu and Centra stores in the area pulled on their wellies and visited the farm to help plant a mix of oak, birch, Scots pine, alder, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel and rowan trees.

Landowner John O’Kane said: “These trees and native hedgerows will divide fields and provide additional habitat for wildlife as well as vital shelter and shade for livestock on the farm.

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"Thanks to Trees on the Land, SuperValu and Centra, we can not only improve biodiversity and create habitat for wildlife but also soak up carbon. I was delighted to welcome volunteers from four local stores to help with the tree planting.”

SuperValu and Centra operations manager Keith Tomlinson added: “At SuperValu and Centra we believe that small changes can have a big impact and we’re very pleased to be involved with this project.

"It was great to be able to help with the planting and hear from John about the many benefits these trees will bring.”

Centra Ballyquin Road store manager, Ruiari McBride agreed: “This is a very worthwhile initiative and will create many long-term positive benefits for the area.

"We were delighted to get stuck in and plant some trees, and this project is just one that demonstrates our commitment to making a positive impact in the communities we serve.”

A commitment to planting 50,000 trees is one in a list of steps being taken by SuperValu and Centra to make their stores and communities more sustainable, and each month, the brands will spotlight the tangible steps they are taking to become more sustainable, while encouraging shoppers to play their part.

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