Keighley business branches out

Keybury Fire & Security, based in Keighley, has gifted 100 trees to be planted in the county, as part of Welcome to Yorkshire membership, to thank loyal customers after what has been a particularly difficult year for many.

Welcome to Yorkshire’s global “My Y” membership scheme, launched on 1st August, aims to engage with Yorkshire folk across the globe and anyone with a connection with or love for the county. Recipients benefit from Yorkshire discounts and receive a personal certificate and much-coveted Y badge, with at least one tree planted in Yorkshire soil for every membership.

More than two thousand trees have already been planted by Welcome to Yorkshire, across the county, after the successful Yorkshire Day launch which saw honorary members receive tree dedications, including multi-award-winning actor Sir Patrick Stewart, shepherdess Amanda Owen, the much-loved late Captain Sir Tom Moore and gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh.

Keighley’s Keybury Fire and Security team acknowledge that they have so many loyal domestic and commercial clients who continue to trust them with the security of their homes and businesses, that they wanted to thank them with tree dedications in Yorkshire. Many have had Keybury systems since the 1980s, whilst others have moved to different premises, having systems installed in their new properties again, or upgraded with the latest technology. As 2021 marks 39 years since Keybury was formed and now employs over 50 staff across Yorkshire providing Fire Alarms, Intruder Alarms and CCTV systems, it seemed like an ideal time to give a gift and dedicate a hundred trees, something which will benefit the environment, particularly as more people are enjoying the great outdoors and taking the opportunity to improve their health and well-being.

Managing director Frank Gee said “The last year has been hard for so many that we decided to gift these trees, as part of the Welcome to Yorkshire membership, to some of our longest-standing customers. Our team were asked to nominate clients who have had Keybury systems for a long time and we were overwhelmed with suggestions. Many of our engineers, admin staff and managers have been with the company for many years, with some of our engineers going back to the same customers, year in, year out, to service their alarms. The tree planting idea has been a really joyful project and lifted the spirits of both our team and the customers involved. The tree and membership packs have been sent to clients across the county from Harrogate to York to Sowerby Bridge.”

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive James Mason said: “We’ve had an overwhelming response to the membership launched on Yorkshire day and we’re really grateful to the team at Keybury for this kind gift gesture to customers, an ideal way to acknowledge and thank clients for their loyalty, after a particularly turbulent time for so many.

We’re aware of the huge diaspora of Yorkshire folk across the globe and the huge love people have for this part of the world and we’ve heard of many truly heart-warming stories about why people are gifting or signing up and what it means to have those ties to our brilliant county and to have trees planted.

The idea really seems to have caught the public’s imagination and we’re thrilled to have dedicated over two thousand trees, around a hectare of woodland and the size of two rugby pitches, to sites across the county.”

White Rose Forest partnership manager Guy Thompson said: “We’re delighted that Welcome to Yorkshire’s partnered up with our Trees for Yorkshire campaign, meaning more trees will be planted creating new woodlands and a lasting legacy across our landscape.

This fantastic scheme means people can enjoy their own little piece of Yorkshire, wherever they are in the county or the rest of the world while also highlighting the importance of trees and the benefits they bring not only to our environment but also our health and well-being, which is needed now, more than ever.”

Playing an important part in combatting climate change, trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and every six trees can help to absorb up to a tonne of carbon over a 50-year lifespan. It is estimated that 2000 trees could help to offset more than 320 tonnes of carbon over 50 years … PLUS they make great gifts NOW … and for the planet and its population for future generations.

Find out more about becoming a Welcome to Yorkshire My Y member and having a tree planted in your name or dedicating to a loved one at www.yorkshire.com/membership