GIN sales are helping to boost a tree planting scheme in the Yorkshire Dales.

Cooper King Distillery, based at Sutton on the Forest, has pledged to donate 2.5 per cent of its annual gin sales to Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) - an environmental non-profit organisation that works to enhance and protect the Dales.

Through the partnership with YDMT, every bottle of gin sold will support the planting of native broadleaf woodlands across the Dales, helping to create vibrant wildlife habitats and reduce flooding.

Since launching its inaugural gin in May, Cooper King Distillery has sold 1,239 bottles, which equates to a donation of £1,239 to the charity. This will see 120 trees planted, with further contributions to be donated every quarter.

Abbie Neilson, co-founder of Cooper King Distillery said: “As a family-run distillery that truly champions all things Yorkshire, we are delighted to work with a charity so dedicated to preserving our beautiful natural landscapes and at the same time reduce our carbon footprint.

“The first three months of sales show that we are on track to achieve our target of planting approximately 400 trees this year.”

The first 120 trees will be planted in a new woodland in Nidderdale and Michael Delvin, development manager at YDMT, said: “In the face of climate change and destruction of natural habitats, it is essential that we have environmentally conscious businesses like Cooper King Distillery in the world, whose donations will not only contribute to the planet’s future but also help improve the overall landscape in the Dales.

“This support will play an important part in our Together for Trees appeal through which we aim to plant 100,000 trees over the next two years, creating beautiful woodlands that everyone can enjoy.”

Established in 2016 by co-founders Chris Jaume, a chartered architect and Dr Abbie Neilson, a former scientist, Cooper King Distillery formed the partnership with YDMT after joining an international scheme ‘1% for the Planet’.

This commits businesses to donating one per cent of their sales to an environmental initiative but Cooper King chose to exceed that by more than double with their 2.5 per cent pledge to YDMT.