Earth Day 2026: ROAR B2B Takes Part in a Native Woodland Restoration Day at Third Wood, Chew Magna with 9Trees CIC

Earth Day's 2026 theme - Our Power, Our Planet - is a reminder that environmental progress isn't driven by any single organisation or mere conversation. It's the result of communities, landowners, businesses and volunteers all pulling in the same direction. Back in February, the ROAR B2B ESG Team had a humbling experience of what that looks like in practice.

As part of Environmental Services & Solution Expo’s charity partnership with 9Trees CIC, the team spent a full day on-site at Third Wood, Chew Magna, helping to restore native woodland and strengthen biodiversity in the local area. The visit demonstrated how generous green ticket donations from ESS Expo visitors are directly supporting tangible environmental action on the ground.

 

Third Wood, Chew Magna

9Trees image 1 9Trees image 4 9trees site visit chew valley

Located just south of Bristol, overlooking Chew Valley Lake, Third Wood is a community-led woodland restoration project run by not-for-profit 9Trees CIC, in collaboration with local landowner Gavin Spittlehouse. Like many woodland sites across the UK, it's been hit hard by prolonged dry summers and drought - conditions that have killed off young trees and set back years of careful planting.

The response has been straightforward: replant, restore, and build greater resilience for the future. Native species - oak, hazel, hornbeam and alder - are going back into the ground, and the site operates under the Woodland Carbon Code for long-term transparency and accountability.

 

Getting Stuck In: Hands-On Woodland Restoration

9Trees image 2

Following a warm welcome from Mike Cunningham of 9Trees, along with a safety briefing and planting demonstration, the team equipped themselves with tree-carrying backpacks, gloves, spades and wheelbarrows and began preparing saplings for replanting.

The process involved carefully digging up young trees and transporting them to areas where previous plantings had failed. Slanted tree guards marked locations requiring replacement, with the team starting work in the North section of the site.

Replanting required care and precision:

  • Digging a hole sized appropriately for each sapling’s root system

  • Positioning the tree safely and ensuring roots were oriented correctly

  • Firmly “heeling in” soil to eliminate air pockets and maximise survival

  • Re-installing support stakes and securely refitting tree guards around the sapling

9Trees Vole damage 
Vole-damage to a sapling that needed replacing


Tree guards were sealed firmly into the ground to prevent pests such as voles from nesting inside and damaging the young trees - a risk highlighted when several vole nests were discovered during the day.

    After a steady start, the team found their rhythm, successfully planting around 100 trees before lunch.

     

    Branching Out: Building Momentum in the South Section

    9Trees image 3 9Trees image 5

    Following a well-earned break overlooking Chew Valley Lake - accompanied by tea, coffee and strong winds - Mike shared further insights into 9Trees’ wider woodland creation projects and the long-term vision behind their Branching Out programme.

    In the afternoon, the team were joined by Matt Ingram of Cornelsen, a valued ESS Expo exhibitor local to the area, who contributed greatly to the planting efforts.

    Turning attention to the larger South section of Third Wood, the group gathered renewed momentum and planted a further 200 trees, narrowly finishing before the rain arrived. It was time to pack up with heads held high!

     

    Why Action Matters

    In total, 300 native trees were replanted during the visit.

    9Trees take their name from a simple fact: it takes roughly nine trees to offset the average UK citizen's annual carbon footprint. Woodland restoration does far more than sequester carbon - it supports biodiversity, water management, and local ecosystems - but the number is a useful anchor for the scale of what a single day's work can contribute.

    This visit was made possible by ESS Expo visitors who generously donated through the event's green ticket initiative. Last year, those donations raised more than £7,500 for environmental projects across the UK, including both 9Trees CIC and Groundwork. It's a good example of how industry events can connect to something tangible beyond their own carbon footprint.

     

    Getting Involved

    Volunteer planting days at Third Wood will continue through 2026 as part of 9Trees’ long-term woodland restoration programme. Find out more here.

    On Earth Day 2026, ESS Expo extends its thanks to:

    • Mike Cunningham and the 9Trees CIC team for their leadership and coordination.

    • The Third Wood site owners for generously hosting the planting day.

    • Matt Ingram, Cornelsen, for lending his support.

    • Everyone who donated to the ESS Expo green ticket initiative to raise the funds that support projects just like this.

    • The ROAR B2B ESG Team for representing the ESS community on-site.


    Happy Earth Day! 🌍🌱

    Find out more about this year's Earth Day here.