FAMILY FIRMS COLLABORATE TO ENHANCE GREEN SPACE IN LITTLE HULTON

Fifth and fourth generation family-owned businesses, Seddon and Wates, recently joined forces to plant 500 trees in a woodland space in Little Hulton. The project, led by environmental charity, The Conversation Volunteers, saw a total of 30 volunteers pitch in to help enhance the biodiversity of the area.

Volunteers from Seddon and Wates, as well as Salford City Council members, local community organisers and local residents, planted the trees which will go on to be cared for by the charity. Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys, the Ceremonial Mayor of the City of Salford, was also present at the event to support this community project.

The tree planting took place on a woodland area that sits behind two projects currently under construction by Seddon and Wates. Longshaw Drive is Seddon’s £39m residential project in Little Hulton. It is set to be Salford City Council’s largest social housing scheme for 50 years, delivering 177 homes to the area.

Adjacent to this, Wates is delivering Star Salford Academy, a new 750-place secondary school, for the Department for Education (DfE) and multi-academy trust Star Academies, on the six-acre site just off Longshaw Drive.

Both Seddon and Wates celebrated 125 years of business in 2022. Both family-owned businesses are committed to the sustainability of the environments in which they work, and community value for the residents.

Jamie Bawden - project manager for Construction North West at Wates, said:

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“Working in partnership with Seddon in the Little Hulton area has meant that we can enhance our support in the community and create more opportunities for those in it. This tree planting event is a great way to bring the Wates and Seddon teams together to do some environmental work alongside Salford City Council and most importantly, the local residents.”

The tree planting project is led by Wates’ five-year long charity partner, The Conservation Volunteers, an organisation that focuses on environmental conservation through volunteer led tasks. The charity delivers projects across the UK which create healthier and happier communities by connecting them to green spaces. The existing woodland plot comprised a range of native British tree species which the volunteers have been able to expand on.

Nicola Hodkinson - owner and director of Seddon said:

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“It has been rewarding to see two long-standing family businesses come together to enhance the local area of their neighbouring sites. As well as creating an opportunity for residents to become involved such a rewarding project, it has been beneficial for us to build on our experience of providing social value through volunteer-led environmental initiatives.”

The area is of special significance to Seddon as it was Little Hulton where Seddon saw the inaugural stages of the family business, 125 years ago.

Photos ©:  Seddon and Wates tree planting event