The Let’s Talk Project CIC Secures 420 Trees To Restore Riverside Land And Support Mental Wellbeing In Rossendale

The Let’s Talk Project CIC has secured 420 native saplings from the Woodland Trust to

support a new community-led riverside planting project in Bacup, Lancashire.

The Let's Talk Project CIC, which is based in Bacup, is a community interest company

providing emotional support and listening services to adults and young people. It offers a non-judgmental, volunteer-led service for individuals to talk when struggling, aimed at

preventing people from navigating tough times alone.

The trees will be planted on a section of privately owned land beside the river that is being permanently taken out of agricultural use. The planting will improve biodiversity, strengthen the river corridor and support the longer-term ambition of reinstating a historic riverside footpath leading towards the Grade II listed footbridge associated with Dog Pits Mill.

Volunteers and service users from The Let’s Talk Project will be directly involved in planting and caring for the trees. The work forms part of the project’s wider approach to mental wellbeing, using purposeful outdoor activity to create space for reflection, connection and peer-to-peer support.

The planting will also be supported by GrowTraffic, a Bacup-based digital marketing agency. As part of its environmental commitment, GrowTraffic plants an average of six saplings per client per year to help offset the energy used by digital infrastructure, including server energy. Wherever possible, that support is directed into local, place-based projects that deliver real environmental and community benefit.

Simon Dalley, Director of The Let’s Talk Project CIC and Founder of GrowTraffic, said:

“This is a simple idea done properly. We’re improving a neglected stretch of riverside land whilst creating something positive that people can be involved in. Tree planting gives people time, space and a sense of purpose, which really matters.

Linking that work to his work with GrowTraffic, Dalley said: “GrowTraffic plants six saplings every year for every hosting client we have. I believe this helps ground digital activity in something physical and local, offsetting energy used through our servers for client websites, whilst investing directly back into the landscape and the community we’re part of.”

The Woodland Trust offers free, native tree pack sapling bundles to a select group of

schools and community groups in the UK to create new woodlands and hedges. The

trees will be delivered in November, with planting planned shortly afterwards.