Suma volunteers to boost local biodiversity

Credit: Suma

As a ‘critical part’ of its broader sustainability strategy, in late 2024 Suma Wholefoods members partnered with Forus Tree – a social enterprise committed to improving biodiversity in the Calder Valley – to roll up their sleeves and get planting in support of reforestation efforts in their West Yorkshire home. 

Ascending to the hills above Mytholmroyd, members of Europe’s largest equal pay co-op spent the day mulching and weeding rows of birch and horse chestnut trees – ‘vital work that enhances soil health, stabilizes temperatures, and reduces topsoil erosion – key defences against the increasingly frequent heavy rains in West Yorkshire’. 

“Mulching also boosts habitats for insects and other small wildlife, adding another layer to the ecosystem’s resilience,” comments Suma. 

Fuelled by homemade soup, in the afternoon the group focused their efforts on planting species such as rowan, hawthorn and guelder-rose into hedgerows, each species playing a ‘crucial role’ in biodiversity. “Rowan, for instance, provides nectar for pollinators in spring and berries in autumn, while Hawthorn acts as a natural barrier for livestock and a shelter for birds. Guelder-rose, with its adaptability to Yorkshire’s damp climate, offers extra sustenance for wildlife,” adds the co-op. 

Sharing his thoughts on the day, Ben Pearson, Suma’s sustainability coordinator, comments: “Volunteering with Forus Tree is always rewarding. Spending the day preparing trees and wildflowers for growth reinforces our commitment to the local environment, and it’s fulfilling to know our efforts are making a tangible difference. If others would like to experience the same, Forus Tree holds volunteer days at their nursery in Mytholmroyd every Friday.”

By Rosie Greenaway, editor