Written by Emma Weekly, Tree App
At Go North West, sustainability is about more than reducing impact, it’s about giving back to the communities they serve every day. As a transport operator, the team recognised the importance of playing an active role in climate action and nature restoration, in a way that felt real, local and inclusive.
When we began exploring environmental initiatives, we knew we wanted more than a one-off gesture. We were looking for a long-term project that would bring their people along with them. A project where employees could see the difference being made and feel personally connected to the outcome.
Objectives and Goals
The primary objectives of the initiative were:
- To get employees involved in Go North West’s social value work
- To contribute positively to the environment through nature restoration
- To create an initiative with real, trackable impact, rather than a one-off gesture
From the outset, the project was designed as a two-year commitment, ensuring long-term value for both people and the environment.
Alignment with Mission and Values
This tree planting initiative aligns closely with Go North West’s wider mission to serve communities beyond providing a bus service. Through the project, the Go North West supported a local business seeking trees, built direct relationships and engaged in shared conversations around environmental goals. Just as importantly, it showed employees that they work for an organisation that genuinely cares about the areas they live and work in, creating a strong sense of shared purpose.
Impact and Results
To date, Go North West has planted 1,261 trees across the UK as part of its partnership with Treeapp. The project focuses on woodland creation, woodland restoration, and hedgerow planting, using carefully selected UK native species including hawthorn, hornbeam, dogwood, alder, hazel, and rowan. Delivered as part of a structured two-year programme, the initiative will continue to grow its impact throughout the second year.
Environmental and Social benefits
“We do a lot in the community, however it is rare that we get the opportunity to get our employees involved in a project that we can also track the direct impact from. It was so lovely to get bus drivers planting trees for the first time, whilst being able to connect with a local business and understand their aims for wanting the trees, in addition to ours”. – Stevie Collins, Social Value Manager, Go North West
The trees planted support woodland creation and restoration near existing mature woodland, improving habitat connectivity and strengthening local ecosystems. By planting native species such as hornbeam, which provides year-round nesting opportunities, the project supports increased biodiversity and more resilient natural environments.
Alongside the environmental benefits, the initiative has delivered strong social value. Employees have taken part in hands-on planting days, building pride, engagement and a deeper connection between their everyday work and long-term environmental impact.
Lessons learned
One key lesson stands out: tree planting is about more than trees.
For us at Go North West, this initiative became a platform for connection, bringing together employees, local partners and the landscapes they serve. Working with Treeapp as a tree planting partner for businesses showed that when sustainability is designed around people as much as outcomes, it can drive deeper engagement and lasting impact.
By committing to a multi-year project and embedding social value into its approach, Go North West demonstrates how environmental action can be scaled through a corporate tree planting platform, turning climate commitments into meaningful, community-led change.
