Events team go green to support sustainability on showground

A team from an award-winning brand engagement company, put their gardening skills to the test after planting trees on the Great Yorkshire Showground as part of their commitment to sustainability and the environment.

Shrubs, plants and trees were planted to create a mini landscaped area at Pavilions of Harrogate as the agency XSEM took part in a team-building event to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday.

Woodland expert Will Richardson who is the Chief Forestry Steward at the Great Yorkshire Show gave a guest talk to the group about the importance of trees to the environment.

Will said: “Trees provide multiple benefits to society. They act as carbon stores, provide havens for wildlife, give us oxygen, provide sustainable products and renewable fuel and will become ever more important to how we combat climate change. UK woodlands cover about 12% of our land area which is very low comparted to other European countries, so every tree planted counts. It’s a great feeling when you plant a tree knowing that current and future generations will benefit environmentally, socially and economically from your actions.”

XSEM is one of the leading agencies in the country and their success has seen their team more than double over the past year as the events industry bounces back to pre-pandemic levels. Pavilions of Harrogate was XSEM’s venue of choice due to their strong focus on sustainability and being a Greengage Eco-smart award-winning venue.

Megan Walters, marketing manager of Xsem said: “As part of XSEM's 20-year anniversary celebration, our team kickstarted a new internal initiative called "20 Acts of Kindness." We pledged to support 20 community projects throughout the year.

“Pavilions of Harrogate is a fantastic venue that we enjoy working with, and we appreciate their commitment to sustainability. We want to show our support for this commitment and look forward to seeing the landscaped area develop over time.”

Graham Thompson, manager of Pavilions of Harrogate said: “We are passionate about the environment and sustainability and are proud to support Xsem’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. They have created a long-lasting legacy for visitors to enjoy for years to come; the broad range of plants and trees will create valuable habitats and improve carbon sequestration.”

If you’re inspired to create a new woodland of your own, the Forestry Commission can provide advice about the different grants and support options available and ensure that the right trees are planted in the right places.

Crispin Thorn, Forestry Commission, area director for Yorkshire and North East said “We’re helping land managers identify opportunities to integrate trees into their existing enterprises to deliver productivity, animal welfare, biodiversity and economic benefits for their business.”

January and March have been record months for Pavilions of Harrogate as it continues to secure new events along with its sister venue Yorkshire Event Centre.

All profits raised from hosting events there go towards the registered charity Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) which funds Farmer Health Checks for farmers, Countryside Days for 6,000 school children and teacher training days. All provided free of charge to promote food, farming and the countryside.

The Great Yorkshire Show which is organised by YAS, hosts the prestigious John Boddy Award which celebrates and rewards excellence in forestry creation, design and management in Yorkshire. The Award is organised and judged by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Royal Forestry Society and Forestry Commission.