National Tree Week: Leicestershire Helps Combat Climate Change

Leicestershire CCC has helped mark National Tree Week (6 November “ 4 December 2022) with the planting of 62 new trees.

The native, broadleaf trees have been planted at The Glenaros Estate on the Isle of Mull, as part of the Club’s commitment to playing an active role in fighting climate change.

LCCC’s ‘Green Team’ initiative, working in tandem with Sportsrooms, the Club’s sustainable travel partner ensured that a new tree was to be planted at Future Forests’ flagship site for every six scored by the Foxes in the 2022 Vitality Blast.

Big-hitting batsman Nick Welch led the way by smashing 12 maximums from his five innings, former all-rounder Ben Mike added nine, while Scott Steel and Arron Lilley smashed seven apiece.

As part of their mass replantation programme, the dedicated UK reforestation project, operated by The Future Forest Company, has since added 62 trees in honour of the 62 maximums struck by the Foxes during this summer’s T20 competition.

The project aims to protect the biodiversity across the 2000-acre estate and mitigate the effects of climate change by planting, protecting and regenerating woodland.

LCCC Cricket Operations Manager Dan Nice said: "Sustainability is an area that we have put a lot of work into at Leicestershire County Cricket Club and something I’m always conscious on when planning everything, from travel & staying in hotels through our partnership with Sportsrooms, to the extra impact on the environment that big sporting events may have.

"It’s so important that we leave our planet in the best possible condition for future generations, and we all have a part to play in that. So where there are fun ways to contribute, such as through performances on the cricket field, everyone is a winner.”

The scheme forms part of the Club’s greater sustainability goals, including the commitment to reduce the team’s travel carbon footprint and develop county cricket’s first carbon neutral team travel programme.

Over the course of the 2022 season, Sportsrooms helped to track, monitor, and reduce the Club’s impact on the environment through a tailored programme, including more sustainable methods of team travel and sourcing hotels which champion sustainability.

Any remaining carbon emissions from the team travel programme were then countered through verified carbon offsetting projects around the world.

For more details about the reforestation scheme, please click HERE.