A team from the Reading-based Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD) helped the Arborfield community by swapping their maps and set squares for big boots, hard hats and spades to plant 29 trees in the village park.
Last winter SEPD had to remove some trees in the park that were growing dangerously close to high voltage overhead power lines and could have resulted in power cuts across the area. The trees had previously been planted in memory of local residents who had passed away. As a gesture of goodwill, the men and women who make up the company’s Major Projects team in Reading’s Vastern Road offices along with support from their colleagues in the Cable Supervision Unit came back to plant new trees in a new location, away from the power lines.
The planting session, which saw 25 staff dig, plant and water a variety of trees including silver birches, flowering cherry trees and hawthorns, was organised as part of SEPD’s “Be the Difference” campaign which gives every member of staff a day away from the office to help a local charity, good cause or community project. Alison Ward from Arborfield Parish Council was delighted with SEPD’s efforts and thanked the staff. She added: “I was so impressed by the amount of help you had and how much you achieved in just one day.”
Speaking after the planting, SEPD’s Zsuzsa Suto-Somogyvari said: “We realised that the trees we had to remove meant a lot to the local community and so after a meeting with the parish council, we offered to plant some new trees in a different part of the park, away from any overhead lines. Everyone in the team really enjoyed the planting, and even though they were stiff and aching for a few days afterwards, it’s all been worthwhile as the park will look fantastic for years to come.”