Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, planted a tree at the Plant a Tree Today (PATT) Foundation site in Preston to take them one step closer on their mission to planting four million trees.
During his visit Graham was given a tour of their expansive site by the Foundation’s founder Andrew Steel, CEO Steve Haigh, and members of the Foundation’s team.
He learned how the Foundation partners with the local foodbank to help them to support the most vulnerable and their plans to expand their number of staff to help them reach their aim of planting four million trees.
Graham helped them toward their goal by getting muddy and planting his own tree at the Preston site, which he looks forward to seeing grow.
Graham was accompanied to the site by the South West Holderness Ward Councillors Sue Steel, David Winter and John Dennis.
The PATT Foundation is an environmental charity founded in 2006 by Andrew Steel, who is from East Riding. Since then the Foundation has worked tirelessly in the community to contribute to the planting of over three million trees.
In addition to their tree planting, they educate communities on sustainable forestry and support vulnerable people in the community through their work with local food banks, including Hedon Community Food Bank.
Graham Stuart MP said: “We know we need to plant more trees to help our planet and I am delighted that the PATT Foundation in Preston is leading the way. Contributing to the planting of three million trees is no mean feat and I was proud to play my part in helping them towards their target of planting four million. I look forward to seeing grow the sapling I planted.”
Andrew Steel, Founder of the PATT Foundation, commented: "It was great to welcome Minister of State for Climate Graham Stuart to our Preston nursery and show him the great things our team at PATT Foundation have been doing to combat carbon emissions through woodland and forest creation.
“We were pleased to hear our local MP wanted to take part in planting his own tree on our Preston site, and we will happily have him back for our next tree planting volunteer session"
Councillor Sue Steel, Ward Councillor for South West Holderness Ward, said: “I was very impressed with my visit to the PATT site in Preston. Andrew Steel, Steve Haigh and the team are doing a great job encouraging local involvement in planting trees from seed or cuttings.
“However, this is just the beginning of the story. The team works tirelessly in the community from donating food to foodbanks to supporting Holderness Health by helping people develop new skills. They are a great example of an organisation bringing members of our community together.”
