Each year we donate 2% of our revenue through coffee sales to charitable, environmental and community projects.
In February we got our latest project underway in partnership with the Ellergreen Estate. The Ellergreen Estate is a large private estate centred in nearby Burneside, a mere stone’s throw from the roastery. They are responsible custodians of the land, and have a long term vision that stands to benefit the local community and the environment in equal measure.
Under the guidance of Productive Landscapes Manager Phil Davies, we’re going to create a ‘fruitscape’ for all to enjoy. It’s possible that we’ve made this word up, but we like it, and we’re going to stick with it!
Imagine hundreds (possibly thousands) of new apple, plum, cherry, damson, pear and other fruit trees planted alongside public pathways in Burneside, Cunswick and beyond for all to enjoy.
The benefits of this kind of rewilding are far reaching - whether it’s carbon capture, providing new habitats for wildlife, increasing biodiversity, or simply the joy of plucking a fresh apple to enjoy on your walk.
This is exactly the kind of initiative that our 2% Project was setup to support, and we couldn’t be more excited to have finally got things underway back in February.
Over two consecutive Fridays, Team Red Bank put down the portafilters, picked up some spades and set about planting the first tranche of fruit trees in Burneside, and alongside the stunning Gamblesmire Lane, a popular route for local walkers, runners and mountain bikers alike.
In an example of beautiful synergy, excess hessian sacks from the roastery provided the perfect matting to help the trees take root and flourish in the face of stiff local competition for resources.
This week, during a rare spell of Cumbrian sunshine, I took a walk along Gamblesmire Lane to pay the trees a quick visit. I’m thrilled to report that many of them are starting to bud already, and I’ll be checking back regularly over the coming weeks and months to keep an eye on their development.
This is just the start of the project, with plenty more trees set to be planted over the coming seasons. We’ll be adding more to the existing locations, but we’ve also earmarked a few other spots visited frequently by the local community for further planting.
You can hear more about the scope and benefits of the project from Phil on our Instagram feed here.
In the meantime, I urge you to take a stroll up Cunswick Scar and along Gamblesmire Lane. Fruitscape aside, it’s a beautiful walk, but if you’re curious, look out for the tree cages with hessian matting, and please do post updates, either on your Instagram feeds and stories, or by direct message to us @redbankcoffee.