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How Grounds Maintenance And Arboricultural Companies Can Play A Key Role In Carbon Capture


A well established woodlands providing 
 an example of carbon capture by trees.

We often imagine that things like carbon capture and fighting to protect the environment are the purview of big corporations with advanced technologies and large bank balances, but we believe that the biggest contributors to the fight are those on the ground. As of January 2024, 99.2% of businesses in the UK had under 50 employees, marking them as “Small” businesses. Although big businesses make up a huge proportion of the job market, small businesses are every bit as crucial and if our goal is to change industries, we do that by changing the way the small things are done everyday. We need to fight for every corner of the landscape, and work to educate all aspects of our industries so that the majority are always pulling in the right direction. We believe this is the best way to encourage and preserve the beautiful landscape of this country. We want grounds maintenance and arboricultural companies to change the way they think about the environment. Here is how we do that, and how you can too. 



Tree Planting And Management 


Trees are one of natures most effective carbon sinks, and naturally, there are lots of them. Utilising photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their wood. Proper tree planting practises, as well as a robust management scheme, ensure that the trees grow healthy and long lived, meaning they can capture and store carbon for many years to come. 


Trees are great looking, unique, provide shade and soil health, and increase biodiversity in the soil. There are very few good reasons to not plant a tee. 


Strategy


Choose fast growing and robust native species that are suited to the local environment to minimise input and maximise outcome. Strategically position slow growing native species that can develop into ancient trees to give the best long term perspective on carbon capture, insect and animal habitat, soil health, and oxygen production.


Strategise tree planting locations to minimise the heat island effect. The heat island effect is a phenomena that occurs due to urban centres. Cities replace and displace a huge area of nature, becoming instead an area covered mostly with buildings, tarmac, and concrete. This has the effect of warming the immediate area, increasing energy usage and increasing air pollution. By strategically planting trees within urban areas, and developing green roofs and parks, we can offset some of this.


Regular assessments of tree health and good nutrition to ensure a long lifespan of carbon sequestration


Soil Health Management 


Soil is another of nature's best carbon sinks, storing carbon as organic matter provides an intensive and long lasting carbon store. Healthier soil should be abundant in insect and mirco-organism life, providing a rich and vibrant ecosystem that becomes more efficient the healthier it is. 


We must maintain and encourage soil health as practically as possible, ideally through feeding the ground with organic material while maintaining effort to disturb the soil as little as is practical. The adding of organic material, such as compost or mulch, enriches the soil with vital nutrients allowing it to thrive and the lack of disturbance will allow the organisms in the soil to flourish unimpeded. 


Lawns are an unnecessary and costly addition, especially in places where they have no purpose. In a back garden or a park, for example, lawns serve the purpose of providing an area to sit, a place for children to play, or dogs to run around. Many times we see businesses have lawns for no clear purpose, this becomes then an area that requires endless upkeep, endless fertilisation, and endless watering. We suggest instead, cover crops such as clover (especially crimson clover which is very aesthetically pleasing) that provides a natural haven for insects and animals, or wildflower meadows that provide the same for pollinators. 


Integrated Pest Management Systems


Pest Management systems use knowledge of the pests life cycles, habitats, and their interactions with the environment to offer an environmentally sustainable method of pest management. 


Through utilising more environmentally considerate pest management processes, less damage is caused by the insects from the outset while simultaneously preventing extra damage occurring due to harmful insecticides and chemicals. 

This provides us with a more balanced and holistic approach to pest management.


For example if you introduce the Encarsia wasp, they will naturally eat any Glasshouse Whitefly.

If you have a problem with glasshouse red spider mites, you can introduce a few phytoseiulus persimilis mites to control the red spider mite population naturally. 


Conclusion 


We believe that small adjustments in the way grounds maintenance teams approach their work can reap huge benefits for the environment if enacted across the while industry, we hope that 2025 is the year that you commit to such changes.

Utilising natural, environmentally friendly methods allow us to maintain a healthy and natural planet, for generations to come.


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