Dental practice collaborates with trust to help wildlife conservation

21 October 2024

Kendal Crossbank Dental Care has partnered with Cumbria Wildlife Trust on their ‘Implant a Tree’ initiative, which has sponsored planting a tree for every dental implant the practice places for a year.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust is the only voluntary organisation devoted solely to the conservation of wildlife and natural landscapes in the county.

Recognised as green pioneers in the dentistry sector, the surgery has been awarded green benchmark certification for practices including:

  • Sustainable bulk purchasing
  • Switching to reusable and recyclable materials
  • Reduction of waste, packaging, transportation and emissions
  • Significant reduction in their carbon footprint through solar panels, low-carbon heating solutions and upgraded insulation

According to the partnership, carefully reintroducing trees into formerly depleted Cumbrian landscapes brings a wealth of benefits. These include reducing soil erosion and flooding, supporting vital pollinators and wildlife, capturing carbon and helping reverse climate change.

Already supporters of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, with tree-planting season just beginning, Crossbank Dental Care are about to see their first ‘Implant a Tree’ saplings taking root, supporting pioneering habitat restoration initiatives across the county.

Bex Cooper, director of Crossbank Dental Care’s, first raised awareness for the Cumbria Wildlife Trust when she dug a wildlife pond as part of their ‘30 Days Wild’ challenge in June 2024. She said, “We thought matching tree planting with the life-enhancing implants we place every day was a great way to give something back, and the scheme is proving really popular with our patients.

“It’s thrilling to think that our first saplings are about to move from the nursery to the fellside. It’s true great oaks start as little acorns: these carbon-capture heroes could help combat climate change for decades, even centuries, to come.”

 She added, “30 Days Wild showed we can all make a practical difference, so getting hands-on in the planting of our trees is something we’re hoping to do. Whether it’s though the surgery, community or family, it’s great to think that by joining together, we can make a lasting impact on our planet while transforming smiles and lives.”