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E.ON

E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating and distributing electricity, and supplying power and gas to millions of homes and businesses nationwide. We employ around 17,000 people in the UK and are part of the E.ON Group, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company.

The company owns Drakelow, a former power station site, two and a half miles south of Burton upon Trent, and at the heart of The National Forest. Drakelow has a long history of power generation, and has been home to three power stations. In 2003 Drakelow C Power Station closed. Subsequently, the station was decommissioned and the site cleared. However, power generation is set to make a come back at Drakelow as the government has given approval for E.ON to build a new 1,200 MW gas-fired power station at the site.

Members of the Drakelow Project Team decided that they wished to mark the beginning of the new Drakelow Project with a special event, and tree planting in The National Forest was chosen as the ideal way to do it.

"We wanted to do something in the local area that would be beneficial to the natural environment," said Roy Westwood, Drakelow Project Manager. "We were aware of the great work that The National Forest is doing to reinstate our woodland environment, so it seemed like a good idea to get involved and do some digging!"

"We had a marvellous day; it was hard work, but great fun. By the end of the planting session we all felt that we had done something worthwhile that would survive for years to come. I'm sure that over the life of our project we will go back and plant more trees in The National Forest and we will follow the progress of 'our' trees with great interest".