Leading estate and lettings agency Northwood North East has pledged to donate a ‘bouquet’ of trees for every property it sells or rents in Deeside in support of The River Dee Trust’s award-winning One Million Trees campaign.
Northwood’s commitment will help contribute to the restoration and biodiversity work that is being carried out by the Trust on the River Dee’s vast catchment area, helping to safeguard nature, homes and businesses.
Owner and director Laura Mearns, who has lived in Deeside with her family for the past 15 years, said: “As a long-time resident of the area and the owner of a Banchory business, I am committed to supporting and helping to preserve the community in which we live and work.
“The Dee is an integral part of all our lives in Deeside, and the Trust is doing invaluable conservation work to restore native woodlands along the riverbanks, helping to secure its future. It is very important for us at Northwood to be active members of our community and we are always looking for ways to contribute and give back.
“We are very proud to collaborate with the Trust and look forward to many more trees being planted.”
Northwood owner and director Laura Mearns, left, and Claire Fleming, engagement officer, River Dee Trust.
Each ‘bouquet’ donated by Northwood comprises 25 trees which are native to the area, including Willow, Rowan, Birch, Alder and Aspen, giving them the best chance of survival, particularly those planted in the upper Cairngorms where they endure the harsh environment of a Scottish winter.
The Trust’s One Million Trees campaign was launched in 2020 and has become one of the largest nature restoration projects in the Cairngorms. The project quickly gathered momentum with support from communities, landowners and businesses. Young and old alike have gone to work, planting deciduous native trees across the Dee’s upper catchment.
In April, it celebrated the halfway point by planting the 500,000th tree, significantly ahead of schedule. The milestone was marked by a commitment to step up the restoration of the river’s vast catchment, safeguarding nature, homes and businesses.
Sandy Bremner, Chair of the River Dee Trust, said: "We are grateful to Northwood for joining the fast-growing group of businesses supporting work that is vital to the future of our communities and their natural heritage. We are in a race against time to make a difference that will be felt for generations to come.”
Founded in 2009 by Laura and Steven Mearns, Northwood offers a comprehensive range of lettings and estate agency solutions with a strong focus on customer service, local expertise, and ethical practice. With offices in Aberdeen’s Rosemount and Inverurie High Street, it opened its third office on Banchory High Street last summer, helping people in Deeside sell and rent out their properties, as well as find their ideal property.