Tesco Teams Up with Forestry England to Restore Somerset’s Woodland and Boost Biodiversity

Image Credit: Forestry England

Tesco and Forestry England have announced an exciting new partnership to restore nature in Neroche, Somerset. This collaboration is set to boost biodiversity across the landscape, which features a diverse mix of woodland, pasture, and heathland.

Through this partnership, Tesco will help Forestry England transform the area into a thriving haven for wildlife. The Neroche landscape, part of the Blackdown Hills region, is home to many of Tesco's beef, dairy, and lamb farmers, and this project is expected to offer valuable insights into how large-scale nature restoration can align with sustainable food production.

This initiative marks the first of many under Tesco's new Nature Programme, a series of projects designed to protect and restore natural environments throughout its supply chains. In the first year, efforts will focus on gathering crucial data, including environmental DNA samples from soil and water, conducting ecology surveys, and using cutting-edge AI technology to collect bioacoustics data, giving insight into the region's species diversity.

Additionally, the partnership will trial innovative fence-free cattle grazing to improve the condition of the landscape. Tesco and Forestry England also plan to collaborate with neighboring landowners and suppliers, encouraging nature-friendly farming practices like planting hedgerows and wildflowers.

Tesco hopes to apply the lessons learned from this project as a model for sustainable farming practices across the UK, promoting environmental restoration in its supply chains and beyond.

Commenting on the partnership, Ashwin Prasad, Tesco's chief commercial officer, said: "The UK food industry relies on healthy soils, clean water supplies, and abundant biodiversity, so we must play our part in protecting and restoring nature in our supply chains.

"We've been working with our farmers and suppliers for some time on protecting and restoring nature. As part of this work, they've told us they want more help implementing measures that will help tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. Through our Nature Programme, we and our partners will be trialling innovative, nature-based solutions, as well as sharing practical advice and expertise which can be rolled out to farmers and producers across our supply base.

"Forestry England bring a huge amount of expertise in this field, so we're really excited to be partnering with them in Somerset to restore ancient woodland and aid sustainable food production."

Mike Seddon, Forestry England chief executive, said: "Neroche is one of four wild areas within the nation's forests where we are taking a bold approach to restoring fully functioning ecosystems. Over time, we'll allow natural processes to have more space to shape this beautiful landscape so that a mosaic of thriving habitats including woodland, pasture and wet heathland allow wildlife to move and flourish.

"Gathering vital information on the biodiversity present will guide our future actions to restore nature here. We're delighted to partner with Tesco who share a vision for creating a more resilient, diverse and nature-rich landscape."