Trees planted in effort to improve water quality

Native tree species including wild cherry, downy birch, grey willow and sessile oak were planted

A water company has planted 6,000 trees near a Lake District reservoir in an effort to improve raw water quality.

Native tree species including wild cherry, downy birch, grey willow and sessile oak were planted over two months at Stybeck Farm near Thirlmere reservoir in Cumbria.

United Utilities pledged it would plant one million trees on its estates by 2030

The firm worked with West Cumbria Rivers Trust, who said the woodland would "help cool rivers for fish, protect water quality and strengthens resilience to floods and droughts".

It comes as United Utilities dropped its appeal against an order to disclose data about sewage discharged into Windermere.

More than 140 million litres of waste were pumped into the lake between 2021 and 2023 at times when it was not permitted, a BBC investigation found in 2024.

The company said it was working to improve biodiversity and had spent £75m to upgrade treatment works and pumping stations, with a further £200m of investment planned.

West Cumbria Rivers Trust said the trees in Thirlmere would improve the quality of water that goes into the reservoir

West Cumbria Rivers Trust said the trees in Thirlmere would capture carbon and improve raw water quality around the reservoir.

The trees were planted on five and a half hectares of land which was covered in bracken.

The trust's project manager Caitlin Pearson said: "Projects like this are essential in addressing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, and we're eager to see more opportunities to deliver this kind of meaningful work across the catchment."