Leading estate and lettings agency Northwood North East has donated 21 ‘bouquets’ of trees to the River Dee Trust’s award-winning One Million Trees campaign.
The donation was pledged by Northwood last year with the promise that for every house sold or let in the Deeside area, a bouquet of 25 trees would be contributed to the restoration and biodiversity work that is being carried out by the Trust on the River Dee’s vast catchment area.
Each comprises 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.
As a Banchory business owner and long-term resident of Deeside, Northwood owner and Director Laura Mearns is passionate about supporting the valuable conservation work of the Trust.
Laura Mearns (left) and Claire Fleming of the River Dee Trust.
She said: “Deeside is thriving, both as a place to live and as a place to do business, and the continued success of our sales and lettings team reflects that.
“With that success comes responsibility, however. The River Dee Trust’s work to restore native woodland and protect the river system is crucial to the long‑term wellbeing of our communities. At Northwood, we are committed to playing our part. Every tree donated represents our ongoing investment in the future of Banchory and the wider Dee valley, and we’re honoured to support such an important project.
“We are very proud to collaborate with the Trust and look forward to many more trees being planted.”
The Trust’s One Million Trees campaign was launched in 2020 and has become one of the largest nature restoration projects in Scotland. 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 2025, 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.
More than 70 people attended a recent networking lunch where there was a chance to learn more about the work of the Trust, as well as hear from River Dee Guardians Serica Energy, Omexom, and APEX Tubulars. The Trust is always looking for new Guardians to support its vital work.
Sandy Bremner, Chair of the River Dee Trust, said: “This is a fantastic initiative by Northwood. It shows how businesses of all sizes can get behind a project that has fired the imaginations of people of all ages and backgrounds.
“It isn’t often that we get a chance to make a difference for our communities and for future generations. Northwood are part of a fast-growing family of supporters determined to deliver that vision.”
For more information about how to become a River Dee Guardian, get in touch with claire@riverdee.org