Severn Trent’s George Hammonds is giving something extra back to his community after helping plant more than 300,000 trees – by working as a street pastor.

By day the Assistant Forestry Manager is among the team creating new woodlands across the region, as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Forests project.

And away from work the dad of two volunteers as a night-time street pastor - helping the lost or vulnerable in Worcester city centre to find their friends, or a safe way home.

George spoke about his passion for the environment as part of National Tree Week. He said: “I love my job at Severn Trent as being able to help the environment and work outdoors is all I ever wanted when I was growing up on a farm.

“Being a part-time street pastor is also hugely fulfilling. We help those who are lost meet up with their friends, or find them a taxi if they have had a little too much to drink.”

George began his career at Severn Trent in 2022, having previously worked as a park ranger for a local authority for more than 20 years.

His arrival coincided with the water company partnering in the Commonwealth Games Forest project – a bid to create 2,022 acres of new woodlands to offset the event’s carbon footprint.

Earlier this year the company passed a green milestone by planting over 300,000 trees at its own sites and through partnerships with private landowners and local councils. Separately it has also created 72 Tiny Forests, including in communities and at schools.

New woodlands have been planted in areas including areas of Birmingham and the Black Country, Worcestershire and Derbyshire and Nottingham.

George’s varied role includes identifying potential land for new woodlands, conducting condition surveys on the saplings, managing the new sites - and getting personally dug in by taking part in community planting events.

One recent event took place near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. George said: “More than 60 children came out to help, along with other members of the community.

“It was a wonderful day to see all the plans come together with such a brilliant community tree planting event - among the best parts of my job.”

Each new forest planted features predominantly native UK-grown broadleaf species trees which, over time, will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process will be verified by the UK Woodland Carbon Code.

George added: “The whole scheme is doing a huge amount of good for the environment. As well as helping reduce the Games’s carbon footprint, the woodlands boost biodiversity as well as improving water quality by holding it back from entering watercourses.

“There are so many benefits for the new woodlands, including for the public to eventually enjoy once they are established.”

As well as enjoying family time with wife Suzanne, their two kids and family dog, George also finds time to be a street pastor once a month through his church, St Peter’s Baptist Church in Worcester.

He said: “Our street pastor team works in conjunction with local police and door staff to help people in the city centre at weekends.

“As well as helping the lost and vulnerable, we are also trained to administer first aid, which can help avoid a potential trip to hospital.”

George added he was very proud of working in the four-person Severn Trent Forestry team, who won an internal ‘Awesome Award’ last year.

He said: “We have a wonderful team here who are dedicated to helping the environment – it really is my dream job.”