Green fingered Halton Housing Trust has planted more than 6,200 daffodil bulbs – one for each household – to celebrate the housing association’s third birthday on Friday 5th December.

The Trust was joined by youngsters from Halton Lodge and Grange Primary schools for the mass planting. Gardeners from Halton Borough Council also lent a helping trowel as the bulbs were planted at five locations in Widnes and Runcorn.

Guaranteeing colourful flower beds in the spring-time, the mass bulb planting also marked the launch of the Trust’s “Green-it” campaign – as the organisation sets about reducing it carbon footprint.

Following an assessment by the Carbon Trust on energy saving measures, the initiative aims to encourage Trust employees to think about green issues. Not only will it ensure the Trust is playing its part in safeguarding the environment, it will also save money that can be reinvested back into other energy saving schemes and improving services for customers.

A series of planned events took place during the week to promote the Trust’s green agenda and raise awareness about the benefits that recycling, car sharing, walking, cycling or using public transport can have on the environment.

A drive to recycle printer cartridges, old spectacles and mobile phones is helping the 1st Halton Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides, who will sell on the goods to raise money towards a new scout hut.  While furniture collected from the Trust’s empty properties is being given to Halton Haven to sell on in the hospice’s charity shop.

Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “The Trust recognises that it has an important role to play in encouraging our staff and customers to positively contribute towards creating a cleaner greener environment.

“We’re starting by encouraging our staff to do their bit, whether it’s by recycling waste, cycling to work, reducing fuel waste or driving in a more fuel efficient way, and then we will look at initiatives for our customers. It’s also great that our efforts are able to give something back to the community.”

The Trust was created in December 2005 following a positive ballot of tenants to transfer Halton Borough Council’s homes to the new, not-for-profit housing organisation. At transfer, the Trust has launched a £133 million improvement programme to modernise homes and improve estates. Now three years on, work is well underway and it is transforming homes.

So far £31 million has been spent overall on properties, and this has included fitting 2,410 new kitchens, 2,101 new bathrooms, 3,000 electrical upgrades and 14,561 double glazed windows.

In fact, progress on the improvement programme has been so rapid that the Trust has been able to accelerate its programme of work, so that its Decent Homes improvement programme – promised to customers during the transfer consultation is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2009, 15 months ahead of its scheduled finish date of 2010.

Nick added: “The Trust has had a fantastic three years. We have been able to progress with the improvements to customers’ homes ahead of schedule, and now we are able to plan for the next stage of our development. This will be spelt out in further detail with the launch of our new Corporate Plan in January 2009.”