Wholesale nursery Greenwood Plants has been awarded £2.7m in funding by National Highways to grow three million trees from seed over the coming five years.

National Highways is targeting net zero by planting at least three million trees by 2030 with Greenwood signed as the sole supplier for the project.

The tree whips will be cultivated from seed and grown peat-free in alignment with Greenwood’s ‘growing greener’ commitment to cease all peat use by 2030 and National Highways’ targets to cutting carbon emissions and facilitating increased biodiversity

Greenwood Plant managing director, Melanie Asker says: “We are really proud to be supporting National Highways in its goals of reaching net zero and improving biodiversity across the country, principles that are very close to our heart here at Greenwood.”

Greenwood won the award for Sustainable Business of the Year 2022 at the Central South Business Awards in recognition of its ‘responsible planetary stewardship.’

Malcolm Dare, National Highways’ executive director, commercial and procurement, says: “We are proud to be leading this groundbreaking investment for the strategic road network. The planting of three million trees by 2030 shows how seriously we take our role in addressing the climate crisis and building a cleaner, greener future for everyone.”

National Highways recently published its ‘Environmental Sustainability Strategy’, documenting the motorway management organisations long-term vision to connect the country and grow the economy in a sustainable way.