The Danone-owned brand has been slammed for expansion plans, which will see 500 trees removed from the Rotary Wood and the Pinewoods area - a 20‑year‑old community woodland planted by local schoolchildren.
The plans had originally been denied in 2021 after more than 400 objections. But now, five years later and the scheme has been recommended for approval by North Yorkshire Council planning officers. A vote by local councillors will take place today (17 April) and is expected to be the final planning decision on the woodland’s future.
Critics say the move contradicts Danone’s high-profile Forest policy which pledges “verified deforestation and conversion free” supply chains by 2025 and a “forest positive” status by 2030.
Local campaigners contend that if the Harrogate Spring Water plans are approved it will set a “dangerous” precedent – that corporations can destroy established woodland locally, while claiming climate and nature leadership abroad.
Commenting on the news, Sir Jonathon Porritt, CBE, environmentalist and co-founder of Forum for the Future, said: “I’ve spent decades urging companies to turn fine words on forests into real action. What Danone is proposing in Harrogate does the opposite. You cannot call yourself ‘forest positive’ while cutting down a thriving community woodland planted by children.
"Rotary Wood is precisely the kind of living carbon store and biodiversity refuge we need to protect. If Danone wants credibility on climate and nature, the simplest, most powerful step it can take is to leave these trees standing.”
A spokesperson for Harrogate Spring Water (HSW) told Food Manufacture it has “worked constructively” with council officers and “listened closely” to community concerns through the planning process.
“We have committed to creating a new, publicly accessible two‑acre woodland connected to the Pinewoods, planting 491 native and more mature trees, and delivering around 3,000 trees across the district — six times more than would be lost,” they added.
Originally, the business – which was the first company in North Yorkshire to achieve B Corp certification in 2020 – had planned to plant around 1,500 trees on-site and within the new community woodland adjacent to Rotary Wood. However, following guidance from North Yorkshire Council’s arboriculturist, this was reduced to approximately 491 trees.
This will mean around a thousand fewer trees will be planted on site and on the new woodland than was initially anticipated. However, HSW has maintained its commitment to planting six times as many trees as would be lost by also planting offsite.
The business says it will increase the number of trees planted offsite from 1,500 to 2,500 to ensure the commitment is met.
But critics have argued that no amount of off-site tree planning will be able to replace the ecological and social value of established trees.
“These plans are consistent with Danone’s commitments globally to sustainable, responsible development, including its Renewed Forest Policy,” the HWS spokesperson continued.
“Ultimately our goal remains to balance sustainable development and economic growth with care for the local environment and community.”
This extension follows growing demand for the drinks brand and will provide an additional bottling and commercial space, alongside the creation of 50 new jobs.
