On March 27, in Garwolin, we together planted 1,500 trees. Spring is a special time – nature is coming back to life, and we decided to contribute to that awakening. Because even though one day in the field might seem like a drop in the ocean, it is exactly from such drops that forests are made. Every seedling that goes into the ground is a decision about what the world will look like in ten, twenty, or fifty years – and such decisions are not worth putting off.
Garwolin became that day a place where words turned into action. Instead of talking about climate – we acted. Instead of planning – we planted. And that is exactly the point. Climate change, loss of biodiversity, soil degradation – these are topics that often sound abstract, until you stand with a spade in your hand and feel beneath your feet the earth that is waiting for new life. That day in Garwolin, that abstraction became very concrete – 1,500 times.
1,500 Seedlings, One Shared Goal
The Garwolin action is one of the larger plantings of this year. 1,500 trees went into the ground thanks to good organisation, smooth cooperation and – above all – the people who showed up on the day ready to get to work.
Planting trees is work that requires focus and patience. Every seedling must reach the right depth, the roots must have room to spread freely, and the soil around them must be properly compacted. There are no shortcuts here. It is a craft that pays off for years. That is precisely why it matters to do it well – not just quickly. That day in Garwolin, we managed to combine both.
Ochnik Volunteers – Dedication That Leaves an Impression
A 10-person team of volunteers from Ochnik arrived on site and from the very first minutes made it clear they were treating tree planting as a challenge worthy of true competitors. They made no secret of the fact that competition drives them – everyone wanted to plant as many trees as possible, everyone kept track of their own pace. That sporting spirit paid off: the seedlings went into the ground efficiently, carefully and with full commitment.
But it was not just about speed. The Ochnik volunteers showed something more important – that you can be both effective and attentive at the same time. That competition does not have to mean cutting corners. Every tree planted by that team has a chance to grow for decades, because it was placed in the ground with proper care. It is exactly this kind of approach that makes corporate volunteering meaningful – when people come not out of obligation, but with a genuine desire to do something more. Something that will last long after they are gone.
Corporate volunteering is also about more than planting trees. It is about building bonds within a team, sharing an experience outside the office, connecting with nature and feeling a real impact on the world around you. For many participants, such events stay in memory for years – not as a mandatory item in the company calendar, but as a moment when something truly mattered.
Why Does It Matter?
Every tree planted is an investment whose effects we will see in a few, ten, or even fifty years. The new plantings in Garwolin will support local biodiversity, improve air quality and influence the microclimate of the area. This is an action that matters – today for the soil, tomorrow for the people and animals who will benefit from this forest.
Trees are not just about the aesthetics of the landscape. They are natural air filters, temperature regulators, shelter for wildlife and insects, and guardians of water in the soil. At a time when droughts are becoming increasingly severe and extreme weather events increasingly frequent, every new tree serves as a small buffer between people and the effects of climate change. 1,500 such buffers planted in a single day in Garwolin is no small thing. It is a real contribution to the future of this place.
It is also worth remembering that a forest grows alongside us. Seedlings that today barely reach our knees will be providing shade in twenty years, and in forty – forming a true forest. We are therefore acting not only for ourselves, but for those who will come after us – and who may never know that someone once stood here with a spade and decided to do something good.
Thank You!
Our heartfelt thanks go to the Ochnik volunteers for their energy, dedication and sporting spirit that spread to everyone around them. Your presence and enthusiasm made that day exceptional – not only for the forest, but for us too.
We also thank MidEuropa, Inter Europol, Netflix and Henkel, who donated the trees and made these plantings possible. This kind of support shows that responsibility for the environment can be something more than a line in a CSR report – it can be a real, tangible action. 🌱
See you at the next planting!
