Sustainability Solar Power At Frank P Matthews, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. To ensure our tree production is as eco-friendly as possible, we’ve installed around 130kW of solar power across three systems, complete with battery charging facilities. One system powers our main yard, operational facilities, staff and welfare areas, and the Tree Shop, while another supports one of our container irrigation pump houses. The final system energises our main office. This comprehensive solar setup, rolled out in 2021, was part of a broader review of our power needs. We’ve since implemented several power-saving measures, including energy-efficient lighting, the removal of onsite IT servers, and the installation of efficient heating systems. By harnessing solar energy, we’re reducing our carbon footprint and leading the way in sustainable horticulture. Rainwater Catchment Watering over 1,000,000 trees per year is no mean feat. It requires vast amounts of water to ensure our trees are up to standard. We have heavily invested in capturing rainwater to ensure our water usage is sustainable. Every drop of rain that falls on the rooves of our buildings is captured. In order to make use of the captured rainwater we need to store it. We have built 3 lagoons across the nursery capable of storing over 270,000,000 litres of water. They are interlinked allowing us to distribute captured rainwater across the nursery. There are pathogens in rainwater. To prevent the circulation of these pathogens across the nursery we decontaminate all captured water before distributing it. All processes here at Frank P Matthews are relentlessly scrutinised to ensure we are the most efficient and sustainable we can be. Peat Free For Over 15 years Sustainability has been a cornerstone of our operations for over 15 years, and one of our most significant commitments is being completely peat-free. Recognising the environmental impact of peat extraction, we transitioned to alternative, eco-friendly growing mediums well ahead of industry standards. This shift not only helps preserve vital peatlands, which are crucial carbon sinks, but also ensures that our tree production is aligned with our long-term environmental goals. By going peat-free, we are able to grow healthy, high-quality trees while significantly reducing our carbon footprint and supporting global efforts to combat climate change.