At Norfolk Broads Direct we have committed to help balance our use of raw materials when building new cruisers by planting a tree for each new cruiser that we build!

However, a boatyard is not conducive to the growth of trees, so how can we still do our bit to plant them? I’ll tell you how. There are plenty of locations around the Broads with existing tree planting schemes in place; some reserves and public gardens even propagate their own saplings from collected seeds in the autumn.

At Norfolk Broads Direct, we recognise the impact our fibre glass cruisers have and are trying to offset this by planting trees. For every new hire boat that we build, we have committed to planting one new tree. In the Spring of 2014 we planted three trees at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden in South Walsham. The ‘twinned trees’ will be planted in Broadland locations to encourage our customers to visit these wonderful attractions and even visit the tree linked with their cruiser! Customers hiring Fair Executive 1 or 2, or Fair Senator 2 will have details in their Skipper’s manuals about the locations of the planted Oak, Horse Chestnut and Ash trees that can be found at Fairhaven.

For the 2015 season we will be taking this a step further, offering our customers the opportunity to plant trees in some of their favourite locations. Tree planting is important both for CO2 conversion, but also as habitats for wildlife and aiding the reduction of flooding (as well as many other reasons!). For every tree our customers plant in the Broads through us, we will match this and take it one further: we’ll plant two more trees!

Watch this space for confirmation of locations for trees offsetting Fair Chancellor 1 and 2, and other organisations involved in our tree planting.