Growing Better Together: Tree Planting Day at Derryvale Meadow
On Friday 20 February, teams from across FRS Co-Op came together at our Derryvale Head Office in Roscrea for a tree planting initiative as part of our Sustainability Strategy.
This was more than a planting morning. It was a practical step in delivering the commitments outlined in our 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance Report and reinforcing our focus on sustainable growth.
Turning Commitment into Action
FRS Co-Op has committed to:
- Reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 20 percent by 2030
- Implementing a Biodiversity Strategy by 2025
- Reducing waste to landfill by 50 percent by 2030
- Supporting sustainable communities across Ireland
The Derryvale Meadow project directly supports these targets.
The grass area beside our head office car park is being transformed into a biodiversity-supporting meadow. The latest phase includes native hedgerow planting, which will enhance the local ecosystem while contributing to long term carbon sequestration and soil health.
Native hedgerows provide:
- Habitat and shelter for wildlife
- Pollinator support for bees and insects
- Improved soil structure and water regulation
- Natural carbon storage
This initiative supports our Life on Land focus area within the ESG strategy and demonstrates how we are embedding biodiversity into our operations.
A Collective Effort Across the Co-Op
Founded in 1980 on the principle of meitheal, FRS Co-Op has always believed in collective effort for the greater good.
Colleagues from FRS Farm Services, FRS Fencing, FRS Training, FRS Recruitment, Turas Nua and WrkWrk took part in the planting session. The event concluded with a biodiversity talk from Michael Keegan, Deer Management Programme Manager, reinforcing the environmental value of the initiative.
This cross business participation reflects our commitment to putting sustainability at the heart of everything we do.
Sustainability Across the FRS Co-Op
Tree planting is one element of a broader sustainability programme across the group.
Highlights from our ESG progress include:
- Over 80,000 soil samples collected nationally to support sustainable land management
- A comprehensive Co-Op wide carbon audit
- Targets to reduce emissions by 20 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050
- Removal of over 54,000 single use coffee cups annually
- Investment in renewable energy solutions across core offices
Across all business units, sustainability is integrated into how we operate. From digital transformation reducing paper usage to remote working models lowering travel emissions, environmental responsibility is built into our day to day activity.
Looking Ahead
The Derryvale Meadow tree planting day demonstrates how strategy becomes action.
Through collaboration across FRS Co-Op and its business units, we are protecting the land, supporting biodiversity and strengthening our communities. As we continue to implement our Sustainability and Biodiversity Strategy throughout 2026 and beyond, initiatives like this will deliver measurable environmental impact.
At FRS Co-Op, we grow better together.
