Danone Faces Backlash Over Harrogate Expansion Threatening Community Woodland
Danone, a global food and beverage company, is facing significant criticism over its plans to remove approximately 500 trees from Rotary Wood and the Pinewoods area in Harrogate. This community woodland, planted 20 years ago by local schoolchildren, is set to be cleared to expand Danone's bottling plant. The proposal has been recommended for approval by North Yorkshire Council planning officers, with a final decision expected at a local council meeting. Critics argue that this move contradicts Danone's Forest Policy, which commits to deforestation-free supply chains by 2025 and a 'forest-positive' status by 2030. Over 1,300 formal objections have been submitted by residents and conservation groups, highlighting the ecological and social value of the established woodland. 
