A Quarter Gone Already… and Signs of Spring
How is it the end of quarter one already? January always seems to take its time, easing us gently into the year, and then suddenly February and March arrive and disappear in a blur. Before you know it, we’re closing out Q1 and wondering where the time has gone.
That said, there’s definitely a noticeable shift in mood at the moment. The lighter mornings, longer evenings, and a bit of sunshine seem to lift everyone’s spirits. There’s a renewed sense of energy, both personally and professionally. And perhaps it’s not just me, but people do seem that little bit friendlier when the sun is shining.
On a more personal note, I wanted to share something I’ve started as part of my “50 things for 50” list this year. One of my goals was to plant 50 trees and, I’m pleased to say, my colleague Kate and I have already well and truly smashed that target. This week, we planted over 100 trees between us while volunteering at a local primary school that had put out a call for help. In total, the aim was to plant 1,400 trees around the perimeter of the school, creating new hedgerows and green space for the future.
It was a cold morning, but genuinely one of the most enjoyable and grounding ways to spend a few hours. We met such a diverse and interesting group of people. From those working in surveying and infrastructure, to volunteers from Network Rail taking part in employer-supported volunteering days, to retirees simply enjoying the outdoors and community spirit. The organiser, a retired doctor of psychology who had worked in mental health, added another layer of interest to the morning.
For someone like me who enjoys meeting new people and hearing their stories, it was time very well spent. There’s also something incredibly therapeutic about planting trees, being outdoors, and contributing, even in a small way, to something that will last well into the future. I would highly recommend it to anyone, and I’ll certainly be looking for more opportunities when planting season begins again in October.
Some fun facts around trees!
🌳 If every adult in the UK planted just one tree, we’d add over 50 million trees almost overnight. That’s a serious shift in carbon capture and biodiversity in one simple action.
🌳 A single mature tree can absorb around 22kg of CO₂ a year, so those 50 million trees could remove over a million tonnes of carbon annually once established.
🌳 Trees are natural air filters. Just one can trap thousands of pollutants each year, improving air quality in the places we live and work.
🌳 Green spaces aren’t just “nice to have”. Access to trees and nature has been linked to lower stress levels, improved mood, and even increased productivity.
🌳 And a property angle I couldn’t ignore… homes in leafy, well-landscaped areas can see values increase by up to 10–15%, proving that investing in nature quite literally pays back.
It certainly made those cold few hours planting feel even more worthwhile.
Back on the business front, we continue to remain busy. While there are still some challenges in the market and a number of projects have slowed or paused, the overall sentiment feels like one of cautious optimism. Conversations are active, opportunities are there, and there’s a sense that momentum is quietly building again.
As we move into the next quarter, it will be interesting to see how that optimism translates into action.
