Veolia has teamed up with Groundwork and Tesco to donate trees and bird boxes across the country as part of a new campaign to help schools with biodiversity and join a national network of orchards.
Following the call for schools across the country to sign up, Veolia says that alongside Groundwork it will soon be donating 500 trees and 100 bird boxes to 100 primary and secondary schools.
By donating orchards to schools, Veolia says it is placing the power of positive change in the hands of the “future guardians” of our planet. School children across the country now have the opportunity to plant their very own orchard and learn how to care for them until they bear fruit, providing them with healthy, locally sourced food, the organisation says.
Managing Director, Municipal at Veolia, Pascal Hauret, said: “The extraordinary response to the Veolia Orchard campaign highlights how important trees are, not just for the environment, but for the positive impact they have on the education and wellbeing of school children in our local communities.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Groundwork and all the teams look forward to helping this national network of orchards take root.”
“The extraordinary response to the Veolia Orchard campaign highlights how important trees are, not just for the environment, but for the positive impact they have on the education and wellbeing of school children in our local communities.”
This project is a great example of how recycling and innovation play an important part in the UK Circular Bioeconomy.
To further encourage biodiversity within the orchards, Veolia says it has partnered with Tesco to donate bird boxes made of recycled plastics. Fifty kilogrammes of hard plastics that were once used to safely transport bananas in the retailer’s supply chain will be recycled to become a home for birds, Veolia says.
This campaign is being powered by Veolia’s Sustainable Schools programme which launched during the pandemic to continue its work in educating children and young adults on the importance of protecting our planet and the environment, the organisation says.
Veolia Strategic Sustainability & Innovation Manager for Tesco, Giovanna Kowalczuck, said: “This project is a great example of how recycling and innovation play an important part in the UK Circular Bioeconomy, encouraging biodiversity and supporting communities.
“Working with our partner Tesco to recycle tricky materials and turn them into sustainable products for schools is a brilliant way of encouraging recycling and contributing to healthier environments for future generations.”
