Engineering meets environment as Wrekin joins forces with Canal & River Trust
Civil engineering solutions provider Wrekin Products has announced a new partnership with the UK’s largest canal charity – Canal & River Trust – as part of its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The collaboration supports the trust’s Great Canal Orchard project, an ambitious initiative to plant the world’s largest linear orchard along canal towpaths across the West Midlands. It also amplifies Wrekin’s The Sea Starts Here® campaign, which raises awareness of how everyday pollution impacts UK waterways and marine life.
As part of this partnership, Wrekin is donating £5,000 to support the Great Canal Orchard. The company will also involve its employees in canal clean-up days throughout the year, engaging in plastic and litter-picking activities to actively support The Sea Starts Here through practical action on the ground. The donation and alignment with Canal & River Trust’s work reflects Wrekin’s wider commitment to preserving biodiversity in the built environment.
Simon Turner, managing director at Wrekin Products, said: "We’re really pleased to be supporting Canal & River Trust with both a financial pledge and a day of volunteering this summer. Through our own environmental campaign, we’re highlighting the small changes everyone can make to reduce pollution, and this partnership gives us a meaningful way to act on that. We’re also proud to support initiatives like the Great Canal Orchard, which help preserve tree health and biodiversity along the canal corridors."
Terry Hodgetts, business and corporate engagement partner at Canal & River Trust, said: "It’s great to have Wrekin Products on board to support both our Great Canal Orchard project and wider environmental goals. Trees are vital to the health of our canal network, providing shade, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing wellbeing for everyone who uses these spaces. Wrekin’s commitment to protecting trees and keeping our waterways clean is hugely appreciated. The Sea Starts Here campaign perfectly complements our mission to protect and celebrate our waterways, and we look forward to welcoming their team to the towpath."
Wrekin Products also offers solutions designed to protect tree root systems in urban and semi-natural environments, helping to safeguard trees during development and construction activities. This includes products from its sister brand Geoworks, such as ProtectaWeb. This approach aligns closely with the goals of the Great Canal Orchard project by instead supporting the long-term health of trees within the built environment.
In the future, Wrekin plans to support the trust’s community and education initiatives, exploring opportunities to engage local schools and share The Sea Starts Here message to inspire the next generation to continue protecting our waterways.
For more information on Wrekin Products and The Sea Starts Here campaign, please visit wrek.in/tssh
For those interested in learning more about the Great Canal Orchard project or getting involved, contact Terry Hodgetts at Canal & River Trust via email using terry.hodgetts@canalrivertrust.org.uk.
