South West construction firm Beard has bought 180 acres of woodland near Bristol for an undisclosed sum.
The purchase of Wrington Warren - a rolling expanse of trees, bowers and pastures under the Mendip Hills - is part of a long-term strategy by Beard to minimise its environmental impact, the company said. The business already invests in UK forestry and has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
According to the firm, which has offices in Bristol, Swindon, Oxford and Guildford, the vast area – the size of more than 102 football pitches - could offset its entire annual carbon footprint through carbon sequestration.
