A law firm in the Harrogate district has planted 1,500 trees at a Nidderdale woodland as part of its commitment to working sustainably.

The Truth Legal woodland is located at Bank Woods, near Summerbridge – a nature reserve owned by family-run conservation business Make it Wild to help offset the carbon the company uses on a day-to-day basis at its Harrogate and Leeds offices.

The number of trees was also symbolic, as this represented the number of clients Truth Legal had acted for when the first native sapling was planted in 2020.

For 2022, the firm has committed to planting one tree per new client, estimating that they will plant around 500 additional trees this year.

Andrew Gray said:

“Truth Legal is committed to become a carbon neutral legal organisation, and to help us achieve this we have created our own Truth Legal Woodland at Banks Wood.

“When I launched the firm a decade ago, I wanted it to be different to other law firms, and in particular become known for acting in a responsible and ethical manner. We have now added sustainably to this list, as we all have a part to play in protecting the environment.

“Banks Woods, which is on our doorstep, is a fantastic environmental project, and I’m proud part of it is now home to the Truth Legal woodland.

“Each tree we planted represented a client that we had acted for in our first eight years. Now, two years on, we have opened a second office, taken on more staff and have represented hundreds more clients. The team look forward to planting more trees.”

The firm, which employs more than 25 people, was founded in 2012 by Mr Gray, who turned his back on a career with a national firm of solicitors to create a tenacious and affordable law firm, one that pursues justice, and does so affordably.

Last year, it opened its second office in Leeds and within two months launched a family law department to add to its other specialities of employment law, personal injury, immigration and clinical negligence.

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