There are days when circuit design means simulation data, CAD geometry and client calls. And there are days when it means waterproofs, wellies and a spade.

Last week, eight members of the Apex Circuit Design team swapped the warmth of the office for a very British February afternoon in Bedfordshire, joining the Forest of Marston Vale Trust to plant native oak trees as part of the national Trees for Climate programme.

The weather did its best to remind everyone it’s still winter. Persistent drizzle, soft ground and the sort of grey sky that makes a hot coffee feel especially appealing. But as anyone involved in landscape or infrastructure knows, conditions are rarely perfect — and sometimes the most meaningful work happens when you simply get on with it.

The planting forms part of Apex’s ongoing partnership with the Forest of Marston Vale, which began in 2024. The Trust is steadily increasing tree cover across a 61-square-mile area, enhancing biodiversity, improving air quality and helping manage surface water through woodland creation. Oak trees were selected for their longevity and ecological value — a species that supports hundreds of wildlife varieties and will stand for generations.

For a company whose daily work involves shaping land at scale — modelling contours, analysing hydrology, refining masterplans — the experience of physically placing trees into the soil offered a different perspective on landscape stewardship.

Jack Wheeler, Design Director at Apex Circuit Design, who leads the company’s sustainability initiatives, reflected on the day:

“It’s easy to talk about environmental responsibility in strategy documents and accreditation reports, but there’s something grounding about planting an oak tree in the rain. Yes, we left a warm office for a wet field — but that’s part of it. These are the conditions landscapes actually experience.

“The oaks we planted will outlive all of us. In a way, that mirrors how we think about circuit design — creating places that endure, that sit responsibly within their environment, and that improve over time.”

The tree-planting complements Apex’s broader sustainability commitments, including its renewal of the FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, the highest level under the FIA’s environmental framework. While the accreditation reflects structured environmental management and measurable carbon reduction, initiatives like Marston Vale bring a tangible, local dimension to that commitment.

There was also a lighter side to the afternoon. Colleagues who are usually debating racing lines and run-off modelling found themselves comparing planting techniques instead. A few muddy boots returned to the office the following morning as quiet evidence of the previous day’s efforts.

Most importantly, the saplings are now in the ground — part of a growing woodland that will improve habitat connectivity, strengthen soil structure and contribute to long-term carbon capture.

For Apex, it was a reminder that sustainability is not an abstract concept attached to a certification logo. It is practical, sometimes damp, occasionally muddy — and ultimately about investing in landscapes that will thrive long after the spreadsheets are closed.

Click here to learn more about how you can support the Forest of Marston Vale.