Heineken in community orchard push

Heineken
• The project will reach across the UK by 2017.

HEINEKEN, parent company of cider brand Bulmers, has launched a new initiative aimed at helping communities across the UK generate and restore orchards.
The drinks firm claims that, through working with community groups, the ‘Helping Britain Blossom’ project will teach new skills to up to 4000 people around the country. In total, around one hundred community orchards will be created by 2017.
The initiative is delivered jointly by Heineken and charity organisations The Bulmer Foundation and The Urban Orchard Project.
The first phase of the activity will focus on orchards in Edinburgh, London, Birmingham and Hereford.
“This new project is about bringing people together, in an exciting and practical way, to create lasting change in the areas in which they live,” said Heineken managing director David Forde.
“As a cider maker, orchards are hugely important to our business. We also know that they can have real benefits for urban communities. We want to share our passion for orchards with communities across the country.
“I look forward to seeing the groups, and their orchards, blossom over the next few years.”