Insights

25,000 trees planted on behalf of our customers over two years

Today marks two years since the launch of our award-winning Woodland Saver fixed term and cash ISA accounts, which support the creation of new woodlands in the United Kingdom.

For every Woodland Saver account opened or renewed, Gatehouse Bank plants a tree on behalf of our customers in a certified UK woodland project, planting 25,000 trees to date. This is vital, as according to the Woodland Trust, only 13% of the UK is currently covered in woods and forests.

Tree planting through our Woodland Saver accounts is executed by Forest Carbon, a leading organisation in the field of developing woodland creation and peatland restoration. It is also certified by the UK government’s Woodland Carbon Code, which offers our customers the assurance that the trees are planted strategically for maximum impact and the woodlands are sustainably managed to ensure they are protected in the long-term.

Planting trees to create new woodlands is an important part of the efforts to combat the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation. It also offers a host of other benefits to the environment and the community, including boosting biodiversity, reducing air, water, and soil pollution, mitigating floods, and growing green spaces across the UK.

The trees planted through our Woodland Saver accounts are located in four key woodland projects around the country:

Jon’s Wood, Crook, County Durham. Species planted: Alder, Birch, Oak.
Lowther Whale, Penrith, Cumbria Species. planted: Alder, Aspen, Beech, Birch, Cherry, Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly, Maple, Oak, Rowan, Scots Pine, Sycamore, Willow.
Wester Coshieville, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. Species planted: Aspen, Downy Birch, Hawthorn, Holly, Oak, Rowan, Silver Birch.
Talla & Gameshope (Phase 2), Moffat, Borders. Species planted: Alder, Aspen, Birch, Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly, Juniper, Oak, Rowan, Willow.

At Gatehouse Bank, we take enormous pride in the fact that we can help our customers align their financial goals to their ethical values through our Woodland Saver accounts, which have a genuine positive impact while providing customers with competitive returns on their savings. In 2022, 87% of customers gave a score of 5/10 or higher when ranking the importance of tree-planting in their decision to opt for a Gatehouse Bank savings account.

Charles Haresnape, CEO of Gatehouse Bank, planting his own Woodland Saver tree.

All of our Woodland Saver accounts allow both monthly and annual profit options, as well as the ability to pay the profit back into the account or into another nominated account. The accounts can be opened online and managed through Gatehouse Bank’s savings app.