Free trees reduce pitch flooding for Bradford AFC 

Adam: I’m Adam Keizer. I’m the sustainability lead at Bradford City Football Club. So we made the decision last year to plant a tree for every goal our men’s and women’s team score. So they scored 154 goals last season and so we spoke to Woodhouse Grove School and the opportunity to do it at the training ground here. And then, thankfully, the Woodland Trust providing free trees as well to local schools and organisations. And so as soon as we reached out to them, they jumped at the chance to be part of this.

Jon: First of all, obviously, we have got the river down there and, you know, it’s been a pretty wet winter. So trees can help kind of manage the water in this area, particularly running off this hill. So they are going to be great for that and also because we’ve got woodland on either side, they’re going to help connect it up.

Michelle: So, well, we’ve got grounds and we’ve applied for trees through the Woodland Trust previously and planted various hedgerows around the school. We’re always looking to increase the biodiversity of the school and this was a perfect opportunity to work with them, our eco students and create a new woodland on our grounds.

Joe: Planting these trees will help a lot over the course of this season with flooding. That’ll obviously benefit us in the long term, as we can train a lot more, less games called off, so obviously really helpful for us.

Maria: I think it’s a great initiative, obviously, good for the environment, good for the community. This is the first year that we are doing this, and I can’t wait to see where we will be in a few years, because I believe we are going to continue to do it, and I hope it will give us the incentive to score more goals.

Qasim: Having the impact on the pitch is, of course important and we do what we do on the pitch. But what we do off the pitch as well is, I’m going to say, even more crucial. Being here today, doing what we are doing down here, working with Adam and the Greener Bantams initiative, it's immense.

Jon: Woodland Trust gives away approaching a million trees a year to community groups and schools like this. So if that sounds like something you want to get involved in, then just search Free Trees Woodland Trust and fill in the application form and you can set up a planting event like this.