VETERANS and employees from Leonardo planted 2,000 native saplings at the company’s site in Yeovil this week.

The initiative aims to create vital new habitats for wildlife while increasing the site’s natural ability to absorb carbon.

Sapling hedgerows will boost the biodiversity of land that has been a bedrock of UK aerospace aviation for over a century in Yeovil, the company said, with a further 2,000 saplings set to be planted in the community by the end of the planting season.

Loris Buffon, sustainability lead at Leonardo in Yeovil, said: “We felt really proud to work alongside the veterans planting a local range of sapling trees.

“Planting 4,000 trees will help us create resilient and dynamic habitats, working towards our goal of achieving net zero for our operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030.”

Leonardo collaborated with social enterprise Carma for the planting session, which provides meaningful employment for veterans, using their skills to deliver climate initiatives in support of the Standing Tall Foundation.

Jim Holland, co-founder of Carma, said: “Days like these are why we built Carma. Seeing veterans and Leonardo employees working side by side, planting 2,000 native saplings that will protect wildlife and strengthen the local ecosystem for decades is incredibly special.

“These hedgerows will grow long after we’ve gone, and so will the sense of purpose and pride felt by everyone involved.”

The new hedgerows offer shelter, nesting sites and food for a range of animals, as well as acting as ‘wildlife corridors’ linking habitats and allowing species to move around safely.

They also act as a physical buffer, reducing soil erosion and trapping sediment, nutrients and pollutants before they can reach watercourses.

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