Search Results

McLaren Automotive has announced the appointment of Jochen Schnez as the company’s new Chief Quality Officer, taking up the role from April 1, 2024. Based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, Jochen will lead the company’s quality initiatives, ensuring that products meet the highest standard of excellence and reliability. Jochen Schnez joins McLaren from Mercedes-Benz overseeing the Bremen facility, leading a team of over 300 people across two production plants, one manufacturing plant, a press and a paint shop, covering both high and low volume product lines. Prior to his time with Mercedes-Benz, Jochen was an Officer in the Naval Armed Forces and graduated from the University of Armed Forces with a Bachelor Degree in Industrial Engineering. Jochen Schnez will report directly to Michael Leiters, McLaren Automotive Chief Executive Officer, who addss that: “We are delighted to welcome Jochen to the team as our new Chief Quality Officer." "With his proven experience in driving excellence and ensuring the highest product quality, Jochen’s leadership of the McLaren Corporate Quality function will help embed and maintain the highest quality standards right across our organisation.”

In a survey of large defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, 53% of respondents are planning to implement a buy-in or buyout, according to new research by Legal & General in partnership with the Centre of Economics and Business Research (Cebr). With an average scheme size of £9 billion, the schemes surveyed are amongst the largest in the UK. 38% of the respondents are aiming for full buyout which was the most common long-term objective identified in the survey, and a further 15% of respondents are planning to implement a buy-in as part of their de-risking objectives. This marks a notable increase from a previous study led by Legal & General in 2015 when only 11% of large schemes were aiming for full buyout. The time horizon for schemes looking to implement an insurance arrangement is also accelerating. 46% of respondents said their time horizon is shorter than a year ago by an average of over two and a half years. All the schemes that cited buyout as their long-term objective are aiming to complete a transaction within the next 3 years. 46% of respondents said that they had either already implemented or were currently investigating an investment strategy to target buyout, with a further 15% considering it as a potential future strategy. 76% of the schemes surveyed are monitoring their buyout funding level on a quarterly basis. Andrew Kail, CEO, Legal & General Retirement Institutional (LGRI): “This research provides a valuable window into a moment of great change and opportunity for the largest pension schemes in the UK as they look to the future of providing security in retirement for their members. The findings underscore the recognition of the stability and security that insurance offers. When we conducted our previous survey in 2015, the market had completed only seven transactions over £1 billion, and since then there have been more than forty." "There are around £1.4 trillion of DB pension scheme assets sitting on UK company balance sheets. Securing these pension promises will be a long-term process and we expect to see a healthy buy-in and buyout market for many years to come." "Invariably the best outcomes are achieved through schemes engaging early with advisers and insurers so that they are well prepared and transaction ready.” Mark Johnson, Head of Institutional Clients, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM): “Higher interest rates have led to dramatically improved scheme funding levels, with 67% of schemes fully funded." "This L&G research shines a light on the significant increase in those exploring full buyout, as certain schemes are better placed to lock in their current positions." "The notable improvement in scheme funding, coupled with progress for DB scheme regulation, has driven a seismic shift in strategy. Endgame solutions are now front and centre of scheme agendas and the trustees we speak to are considering how they bridge to buyout, run-on or both." "All schemes have their own challenges, whether it is managing illiquid assets and scheme surplus or constructing endgame ready portfolios. LGIM and our partners in LGRI are well placed to share both investment and insurance expertise to help trustees construct the way forward to an optimal, endgame outcome.”

Tesco, the UK’s leading supermarket and NatWest, the largest UK bank for business and one of the largest for the farming sector, have today launched a new discounted climate and sustainable finance scheme for 1,500 of the retailer’s farmers, providing them with preferential rates on finance to help them switch to sustainable farming methods, including installing renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, and fossil fuel-free heating or cooling systems, such as heat pumps. The voluntary programme, which has been designed with farmers’ input, will see farmers who are part of Tesco’s Sustainable Farming Groups for beef, lamb and dairy able to take part in the scheme, and gain access to Tesco preferred suppliers, with potential volume discounts offered on renewable energy assets. Research shows that more than 50% of Tesco farmers want to make changes, but need help accessing finance to support them to make the investment. Moving to more sustainable farming practices often requires up-front investments in equipment which can create an obstacle. Through Lombard, the UK’s largest asset funder and part of NatWest, Tesco farmers will have access to attractive funding solutions, and will also benefit from Lombard’s strong asset knowledge and sector expertise, to help support a move to decarbonising their farms. Assets which are included through the new partnership cover solar panels, wind turbines, biomass boilers, LED lighting, battery storage and combined heat and power systems. Tesco has set up a series of Sustainable Farming Groups so far, including for milk, cheese, beef and lamb. The first group was set up in 2007 to support dairy farmers during periods of economic uncertainty. Led by its suppliers, farmers and Tesco colleagues, the groups drive improvements in efficiency, environmental performance, including carbon foot-printing, and farm animal welfare. Should the scheme prove popular, there is potential for it to be made available to more of Tesco’s farmers in the future. Ashwin Prasad, Tesco Group Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We have long-term, trusted relationships with our farmers and suppliers and are proud supporters of British agriculture. We know a lot of our farmers are looking at ways to reduce costs on farm and move to renewable sources of energy at the same time, which is why we’re delighted to be partnering with NatWest in offering our green finance initiative." "The food industry has a clear role to play in ensuring we maintain food security while also helping to protect the environment, and we hope innovative programmes like this will play a crucial part in achieving this." “The initiative will provide our farmers with the confidence to invest in sustainable farming methods and infrastructure, while also helping us meet our target of reaching net zero across our supply chain by 2050.” This announcement builds on the NatWest’s strong commitment to the UK agricultural sector. The bank has previously confirmed an additional £1.25 billion lending package for farmers, taking its total lending capacity to the agricultural sector to £6.7 billion. Dave Jones, the Chairman of Tesco’s Sustainable Dairy Group said access to finance is the biggest barrier when trying to install green technology: “As TSDG Chairman, it’s great to see so many fellow dairy farmers considering more sustainable production methods like installing renewable energy technology on farm. However, accessing financial support for significant projects like this remains a barrier for many farmers." “That’s why it’s great to see Tesco and NatWest joining forces to offer financial assistance that could help us install the new technology we need, and reduce farm emissions in the process.” Peter Huish, Head of Consumer Industries at NatWest Group, said: “At NatWest, we recognise the multiple challenges faced today by farmers, including the cost of transitioning to lower emissions practices. This is why we are excited to be launching Lombard’s partnership with Tesco and its farmers." “This initiative further contributes to the UK’s climate goals and food security, as well as to NatWest’s pledge to provide £100 billion of climate and sustainable funding and financing by the end of 2025. We strongly believe that to deliver a more sustainable future, partnering with leading UK consumer companies such as Tesco, and their supply chains, will be critical.”

Leicester City Football Club publishes its financial accounts for the year ending 30 June 2023. The accounting period corresponded with a season which saw Leicester City’s relegation from the Premier League. The Club’s investment in its First Team playing squad – a strategy reflected in eight previous seasons of high performance in the top flight – was, for the first time, not matched by on-pitch results. The consequences of this disappointment, combined with the costs arising from the Club’s long-term commitment to maintaining a strong squad of players, were the primary factors behind a pre-tax loss of £89.7M (2022: £92.5M loss). While turnover for the year decreased to £177.3M (2022: £214.6M), commercial revenues increased, with gate receipts up £1.4M, sponsorship revenue up £1.3M and commercial turnover up by £1M. The fall in turnover was primarily due to a reduction in Premier League merit payments and broadcast revenues, and the Club’s absence from European competition for the first time in three seasons. The Club realised a net profit on player trading of £74.8M in the accounting period (£9.2M in 2022), though this increase was offset by a significantly lower-than-budgeted league position and a costly change in First Team management structure. The Club’s commitment to the growth of women’s football in Leicestershire continued, with further investment in players, staff and facilities to aid the development of LCFC Women. The team’s second season in the Women’s Super League saw them improve on both their points total and finishing position from the previous campaign, securing a third successive season of top-flight football. Over recent years, the Club's financial results have reflected necessary levels of investment in the men’s playing squad that allowed LCFC to compete with the most established clubs in the Premier League. The underlying security to pursue those ambitions has been, and continues to be, provided by the Club’s parent company, King Power International (KPI), under the leadership of Chairman Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. His and his family’s support for the Club remains as strong as it has ever been. Indeed, the 2022/23 accounting period records Khun Aiyawatt’s conversion of £194M of loans and related interest owed to KPI into equity, relieving the Club of significant outstanding debt to its parent company. LCFC remains engaged in a confidential process with the Premier League and the English Football League, regarding the Club’s Profitability and Sustainability calculations. The Club is determined to ensure that any charges against it are properly and proportionately resolved, in accordance with the applicable rules, by the right bodies, and at the right time. Leicester City Chief Executive Susan Whelan said: “After a sustained period of growth and success for the Club during the last decade, the 2022/23 season was a significant setback, the consequences of which will be felt for some time. We must now focus on rebuilding and seeking to return to and re-establishing ourselves in the Premier League." "Having achieved finishing positions in the Premier League of fifth, fifth and eighth in the three preceding seasons, our targets and associated budgets for 2022/23 were entirely reasonable. However, for a club such as ours, whose sustained sporting achievements have justified the levels of investment required to compete with the most established clubs and pursue our ambition, a season of such significant under-performance on the pitch presents financial challenges, particularly from the perspective of the game’s current Profitability and Sustainability rules." “The long-term and ongoing financial security and commitment provided by Khun Aiyawatt, the Srivaddhanaprabha family and King Power International, enables the Club to rebuild with certainty and confidence. We’re infinitely grateful for the faith and support of our fans, whose commitment and loyalty continue to inspire our mission to restore Leicester City to the level at which we all want it to compete.”

Aldi has extended its fundraising target for Teenage Cancer Trust to £15 million by 2027 after already hitting its £10 million goal ahead of schedule. In July 2020, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket pledged to raise £10 million by 2027 after reaching its initial £5 million target over 18 months early. However, after also hitting the £10 million milestone sooner than anticipated, Aldi has now pledged to raise a further £5 million by 2027. With more than 1,000 stores and 11 regional distribution centres, colleagues across the UK have come together to help raise funds, from bake sales and marathons to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, boosted by the generosity of Aldi shoppers. Since partnering with the charity in 2017, the money raised so far by Aldi has supported the funding of 30 specialist nurses, 15 youth support coordinators and four multi-disciplinary team coordinators for five years, helping to ensure young people receive age-appropriate specialist care and support. Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the incredible Aldi colleagues and shoppers who have supported the charity’s vital work." “We couldn’t have reached this milestone without their help, and we’re now looking forward to raising the bar even further with a new target of £15 million by 2027.” Kate Collins, Chief Executive at Teenage Cancer Trust, added: “It is remarkable that Aldi colleagues and shoppers have raised a phenomenal £10 million for Teenage Cancer Trust. Not only this, but we are so grateful that they have pledged to raise another £5 million. Their commitment to making sure young people do not face cancer alone is hugely appreciated – and so needed." “These vital funds help us to make sure that young people with cancer have the best possible care and support that they need and deserve. Thank you to Aldi colleagues and customers for your ongoing loyal support – you are making our work possible across the UK.”

Aldi has pledged to cut more prices than ever before in 2024 as it reinforces its commitment to never be beaten on price. The UK’s lowest-priced supermarket* has already invested more than £125 million to reduce prices on around 500 products since the start of the year, representing around a quarter of its range and around a third of its fruit and veg. And it is planning to continue cutting prices across a wide range of products wherever possible throughout the rest of the year – beating the £380m invested in price cuts during 2023. Last month, consumer group Which? named Aldi the Cheapest Supermarket for February, with a basket of goods costing over £20 less at Aldi than at the average traditional Big Four supermarket. Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “We know that shoppers remain under pressure from the cost of living, which is why we remain laser focused on offering the lowest possible prices." “We are investing more than ever before in lowering prices, and we will continue to do whatever it takes to keep grocery prices as low as possible for the millions of customers that shop with us.” Aldi’s latest investment in price follows on from news last week that it will open 35 new stores across the UK this year as it looks to bring its low prices to even more shoppers. Its continued growth means it is also creating 5,500 new jobs during 2024, while it spent an additional £1.3bn with British suppliers during 2023.

Edmund Best, a British National Superstock rider for team SymCirrus Motorsport, has declared his support for The Bridge Homelessness to Hope, a Leicester-based homeless charity. Edmund competes nationally in British Superbike motorbike races for Market Harborough-based SymCirrus Motorsport. He recently donated a pair of tickets to a round of this year’s British Superbike series at a charity fundraiser event for The Bridge Homelessness to Hope and plans to support further activities in the future. The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is one of the greatest domestic bike series in the world and a producer of some of the sport's hottest properties. Bikes average more than 180bhp and are capable of reaching 200mph. Races take place at tracks around the country including Donington Park, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch. Edmund Best said: “I've seen how passionate the people involved in the charity are and wanted to get involved to help an important issue. I was delighted to be able to support The Bridge Homelessness to Hope by offering tickets to a lucky raffle winner for one of the exciting future rounds of the British Superbike series. The charity is dedicated to helping local people who are going through the difficult challenge of finding themselves homeless and I’d love to help out more in the future.” David Fawcett, Chief Executive at The Bridge Homelessness to Hope, added: "We’d like to thank Edmund for his support at the particular fundraising event and hope to work with him and his amazing SymCirrus Motorsport team in the future.” About The Bridge Homelessness to Hope: Based on Melton Street in Leicester, The Bridge Homelessness to Hope offers a range of specialist services to people experiencing homelessness in the city including mentoring and mental health & wellbeing support. For more information, visit .

AW Hainsworth, a British fabric manufacturer and woollen mill in West Yorkshire, has achieved Zero to Landfill status through recycling and waste reduction. The 240-year-old heritage textile mill, which creates exquisite woollen cloth, high-performing textiles, and iconic fabrics for customers worldwide, tracked and measured its waste to develop a plan to reduce it to zero. AW Hainsworth partnered with Reconomy, a circular waste management provider with excellent sustainability credentials and clear traceability for waste streams to reach this goal. Reconomy outsources management services to approved local providers to minimise transport costs and emissions and allow for quick and effective turnarounds when collecting. The recycling centre they use recovers 97% of all materials received and exceeds MRF Code of Practice requirements. The vertical manufacturer has invested in better machinery to manage on-site waste, installing energy-efficient plastic and cardboard balers, each sent to recycling. AW Hainsworth has also ensured the recycling process is as simple as possible, with improved signage throughout the mill and employee waste management education. During the past year, the textile producer has completed several projects to help reach its sustainability goals, increase operational efficiency, and reduce energy consumption and waste. A key example is using undyed yarns in partnership with some aviation customers to create sustainable seating and vertical surface fabrics. Using 100% undyed wool reduces energy, water, and waste effluent in manufacturing. AW Hainsworth has also analysed ways to reduce packaging waste from suppliers. This involved working with a regular yarn supplier to reduce the packaging weight by 79.92% and condensing the packaging to reduce freight space by 9.51%. Another supplier switched from shipping products in disposable dye cones to reusable ones, ensuring empty products no longer entered the waste stream. The supplier now collects and re-enters the cones into production, saving 936kg of cones from being sent to waste in 2022 and 948kg in 2023. This small switch resulted in nearly 45,000 cones being recycled. Other waste-saving steps include offering employees working technology equipment and recycling electronics through Revive IT. Amanda McLaren, MD of AW Hainsworth, explains: “As manufacturers, we know that our processes can result in high emissions. We continuously monitor our energy and water use and remain conscious of ways we can limit waste while continuing to operate efficiently and effectively. We also regularly review our manufacturing processes and their impact to identify areas for improvement." “We had already made good progress with improving waste reduction on smaller projects in specific departments. However, looking at our overall waste management process and strategy for site-wide improvements was important." “We started tracking our waste streams to measure what was being re-used or recycled and what was being sent to energy recovery, making significant changes and improvements. There is still work to do to increase recycling and reduce energy recovery, which will form part of our goals for waste management over the next three years.” The company has recently published their 2023 Sustainability Report, which documents the mill’s sustainability journey. Continuing on their path to becoming a more sustainable manufacturing business, a head of sustainability will join the AW Hainsworth team this year.

Sustainability campaigner, Mary Portas OBE, has been announced as headline speaker at the Yorkshire Sustainability Festival 2024. In a bid to encourage businesses to think twice about sustainability and come together to achieve ethical growth, Mary Portas OBE will be heading up the speaker stage on day one of Yorkshire Sustainability Festivals’ two day conference hosted later this year. Last month, Kevin McCloud MBE was announced as keynote speaker for day two. Kate Hutchinson, Founder of Yorkshire Sustainability Festival (YSF), said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have both Mary Portas and Kevin McCloud joining us for Yorkshire Sustainability Festival 2024. Mary will be taking to our speaker stage on day one of the conference which focuses on circular economy and I couldn’t think of anyone better to represent this category." "Mary’s passion and determination for driving innovation and conscious change for the good of our planet is persistent and I can’t wait to hear what she has to say.” “There’s no doubt that Mary will deliver an inspirational talk which is sure to set off lots of lightbulb moments (powered by sustainable energy of course!) for our audience of leaders from the public, private and third sector.” High profile businesswoman, Mary Portas OBE, famously known for her brand & retail expertise, is also a successful broadcaster, author and is Co-Chair of Better Business Act, an organisation set to change UK legislation for people, planet and profit. She is a relentless changemaker who asks questions, raises complex topics and has the conversations that people shouldn’t be avoiding if we want to live in a more sustainable environment. In a recent documentary with Kevin McCloud (speaker at day two of YSF) and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, The Great Climate Fight, Portas and her co-hosts suggested that despite the Government having a plan to combat climate change, they’re not taking the action required to meet those goals within the set timeframes. The Yorkshire Sustainability Festival is a two week festival of events (10th-19th June) featuring various round table discussions and a two day conference will bring together leaders from the public, private and third sectors all passionate and committed to building a sustainable future for Yorkshire and beyond. Mary Portas OBE will be speaking at day one of the conference, held at Cloth Hall Court in Leeds. The first day of the conference will be focused around a circular economy with tracks including manufacturing, SME support, economy and finance and waste. Key sponsors and partners of the event to date include: Leeds City Council, Alrose Productions, Beyondly, boxxe, Imageco and Severfield.

The Wildlife Trusts and Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are joining forces to challenge the negative perception surrounding slugs and snails in gardens across the UK. The ‘Making Friends with Molluscs’ campaign, which starts today, aims to encourage gardeners to reconsider the role of these often-maligned creatures in their garden ecosystems. Slugs and snails have long been viewed as a gardener’s greatest foe, but this reputation isn't wholly deserved. There are around 150 species of slugs and snails in the UK, and only a small fraction of these pose problems for gardeners. The majority contribute positively to the garden ecosystem in a number of ways. By learning to appreciate and coexist with these creatures, gardeners can adopt a more environmentally friendly approach to gardening. While they may not be as valued as earthworms, slugs and snails provide several important services in our green spaces. One of their most significant roles is as nature’s clean-up crew; molluscs feed on rotting plants, fungi, dung and even carrion, helping to recycle nitrogen and other nutrients and minerals back into the soil. They can also clean algae off the glass of greenhouses, leaving behind their trademark trails. Many of our much-loved garden visitors, including frogs, song thrushes, and ground beetles, rely on slugs and snails as a key food source. They also make up part of a hedgehog’s diet. By supporting these molluscs, gardeners indirectly support a diverse array of wildlife. In addition, territorial slugs, such as leopard slugs, can be helpful in warding off other species of slug and therefore protecting plants from grazing. Follow these five tips to live harmoniously alongside slugs and snails: Provide shelter : Create habitats for slugs and snails by leaving log piles, mulch, and natural debris in garden areas. These spaces offer shelter and a food source for these creatures, and it may make them less likely to venture out into your vegetable bed. Selective planting : Choose plants that are less attractive to slugs and snails or are more resilient to their feeding habits, such as lavender, rosemary, astrantia, hardy geraniums, hellebores and hydrangeas. Barriers : Implement barriers – such as copper tape and wool pellets – which may provide some protection for vulnerable plants from slug and snail damage. Handpick and monitor : Regularly inspect plants for signs of slug and snail damage, and manually remove any you find, relocating them to your compost heap or areas with less vulnerable plants. Consider evening patrols with a torch, as slugs and snails are most active at night-time. Encourage predators : Create a haven for natural predators of slugs and snails, such as ground beetles, song thrushes, frogs, and toads, by providing suitable habitats, such as long grass, log piles and wildlife-friendly ponds. Predators help to naturally regulate slug and snail populations, keeping their numbers in balance. Helen Bostock, RHS Senior Wildlife Specialist, says: “The RHS wants everyone to help protect the plants, animals and fungi that benefit our gardens and protect the wider environment. While a small number of slugs and snails can cause damage to certain plants, overall they bring many benefits to the garden and contribute to a balanced ecosystem, whether that’s by clearing away rotting vegetation or providing a vital food source for more popular garden visitors such as frogs, hedgehogs and song thrushes. We hope that by highlighting the crucial work that molluscs do in our gardens we can help give them a well-deserved reputation makeover.” Kathryn Brown, Director of Climate Change and Evidence, The Wildlife Trusts, says: “I have always welcomed snails and slugs in my garden; they play such an important role in maintaining natural functionality. Many of them are detritivores, consuming dead plants, animals and fungi, recycling nutrients back into the soil and creating nutritious compost, great for growing vegetables, fruit and flowers." “The Wildlife Trusts want everyone to avoid using pesticides which can indiscriminately harm other creatures too. You can grow a range of plants that snails and slugs tend to not eat, such as onions and hardy herbs, instead of trying to control them." "These marvellous molluscs help to enrich and aerate the soil, and they’re also a great food source for other incredible animals such as newts and beetles.”

Heritage apple trees at RHS Garden Rosemoor will be sampled this spring as part of a research project to recover lost West Country apples and identify varieties that hold important genetic traits for UK apple breeding and climate resilience. Leaves from RHS Rosemoor’s Devon Collection of apples will be sampled as part of the project led by Sandford Orchards and the University of Bristol, to ‘DNA fingerprint’ – or genotype - apples from rare and important orchards across England. The research project will examine ‘survivor’ varieties that have not previously been recorded but have been grafted in more than one location, along with individual trees that are likely the last of their kind. Every apple tree grown from a pip has a completely unique ‘fingerprint’, while trees that have been grafted share a ‘fingerprint’. If apples from two separate orchards are the same, and aren’t already recorded in an existing collection, this suggests that they were at one point grafted and therefore historically considered good varieties to grow, for example in cider making. Orchards are ecologically essential to Britain as oases for wildlife and a fantastic nectar source for pollinators. Traditional orchards have severely declined over the past century, with 80% of the UK’s small orchards having been lost since 1900*, which not only has a significant impact on wildlife but affects the diversity of the UK’s apples. RHS Rosemoor’s Devon Collection orchard is dedicated to conserving rare regional apple cultivars, while beneath the trees a wildflower meadow encourages pollinators to the area, which in turn boosts the apple harvest. Identifying and preserving forgotten or lost apple cultivars is not just beneficial to growers and cider makers from a flavour perspective but it is also of interest ecologically as they could hold important genetics that may aid the response of apple trees to climate change and less predictable weather patterns. The University of Bristol, funded by Defra, began by asking the public to send samples from apple trees in private gardens, which resulted in over 800 specimens being sent in. Since the start of the project the team has now ‘fingerprinted’ over 8000 samples. Lawrence Weston, RHS Rosemoor Professional Work Placement Student, said: “I may be biased but I really believe that the Devon Collection Orchard is one of the most fascinating features at RHS Garden Rosemoor, it is not just a beautiful place to visit but also somewhere that preserves and champions heritage varieties. It’s an honour to be able to contribute to such an exciting and important project, and one that can potentially benefit the UK apple industry as a whole.” Emeritus Professor Keith Edwards at University of Bristol, said: “When we first embarked on this project we were overwhelmed by the public interest. The sheer volume of samples we received by post is testament to the importance of apples in the UK’s food landscape. Identifying and conserving lost or rare apple cultivars is not just about safeguarding biodiversity, it can also boost the UK apple industry’s resilience in the face of climate change.” Barny Butterfield, Founder and Owner of Sandford Orchards, said: “The aim of this project is to find great apples, whether that be for fermenting, cooking or eating." "In identifying ‘survivors’ that have not been propagated or kept in a collection we have an opportunity to taste back in time and celebrate the incredible diversity of apples that are native to this country.”

Down on the Lizard, in deepest Cornwall, a landscape-scale coastal project to recover rare species is starting from the ground up. Funded by Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme the National Trust is honing in on the important conservation of the vital micro habitats found on cliffs and bare rocks, in ditches, pools and trackways. In these often overlooked places, tiny lichens, liverworts and the smallest plants are key to the ongoing success and survival of the whole landscape. The Lizard is one of the most biodiverse places in the country, with many unique species finding refuge on semi-natural heathlands and grasslands and along the coastline. But, worryingly many species that make the Lizard such a special place for nature seem to be in decline, and even facing extinction. Much of the Lizard is in the care of the National Trust, Natural England and Cornwall Wildlife Trust – the three partners in the Lizard National Nature Reserve (NNR). The National Trust and Natural England are working closely together on this project, with the overall aim of recovering species across the entire 2,400 hectare NNR. Many so-called ‘Lizard specialities’ are to be found nowhere else in the UK, and 15 of these key species are central to the success of this new project – from very rare, crusty lichens and rosettes of black crystalwort to wild asparagus, dainty yellow centaury and pygmy rush. Using a diverse approach of different land management practices, including using multiple species to help manage the land – this unique project aims to restore and revitalise not only the Lizard rarities but also the unique wider landscape. Detailed surveys by the University of Bristol and local botanists, dating back to the 1970s set an unparalleled baseline against which to assess change. Unfortunately the results from four years ago, indicated the habitats and species were struggling. Seth Jackson, National Trust Project Manager of the Lizard Rarities Project explains: “A 2020 review suggested that 40% of the most important plant species appear to be in decline. And many of the Lizard specialities, such as twin-headed clover, upright clover and dwarf rush, have become fragmented and lost from up to 50 sites surveyed in just 40 years." “The most important and urgent task is to expand wild populations, encourage natural recolonisation and cushion the expected impacts of climate change. Working closely with tenants, graziers and the local community will ensure a joined-up and long-term sustainable approach to habitat management, along with a programme of monitoring and surveys to improve the understanding of Lizard flora and fauna." “Here on the Lizard, despite the wonderful landscape and the rich biodiversity it supports, we are not immune to the pressures that climate warming and habitat change bring, and many rare species are struggling." “With this welcome funding from the Natural England Species Recovery Programme we can really start to protect both species and microhabitats. while linking together the whole landscape." “In some cases, the positive impacts may be seen almost immediately, with annuals such as yellow centaury taking advantage of the newly created scrapes and disturbed ground. For other species, it’s more about providing the space and conditions for them to move through the landscape and colonise new areas, rather than being confined to well-managed ‘hotspots'. From the smallest outcrop to the wider heath the Lizard can be shared by both wildlife and people into the future.” Karen Shelley-Jones, Natural England Species Recovery Programme manager said: “We are delighted to be working with the National Trust on this project which epitomizes what our Species Recovery Programme is all about – delivering targeted bespoke action to reduce the risk of extinction for some of our most threatened (and often overlooked) species.” There is much work to be done. The serpentinite rock on the Lizard is of national importance for lichens, and these are at risk from encroaching ivy which has to cleared by hand. Wild asparagus is being crowded out by a creeping blanket of invasive, non-native species Hottentot fig and purple dewplant along the cliffs at Lizard Point. And the caterpillars of Grayling butterflies feed on bristle bent and sheep’s fescue – both of which grow well here after targeted heathland burning and the cutting of firebreaks. These firebreaks will be created to protect isolated species from the impacts of fire. Summer wildfires are increasingly common as the climate warms and pose a real threat to fragmented populations confined to small areas. They also encourage other plants to grow, such as pale dog violet and devil’s-bit scabious. Additionally, targeted scrub clearance will also link up existing botanical hotspots, reinstate previously scrub-free grassland slopes and remove encroaching scrub from rock outcrops and historic quarries. Mechanical pond digging and scrape creation will create new microhabitats, including fresh habitats for annuals that require bare, disturbed ground to germinate. Alongside this work, there will be the controlled heathland burns and pony and cattle grazing to help create a mosaic of different heathland habitats that benefit a wide range of Lizard wildlife. Ben McCarthy, National Trust Head of Nature and Restoration Ecology, said: “As the pressures on our natural environment continue to mount we need to adopt new approaches to successfully conserve nature." “Whilst the Lizard has always experienced the full impact of the weather rolling in across the Atlantic, it is the more pernicious impact of a warming planet, invasive species and atmospheric pollution that is accelerating the loss of our most threatened habitats and species." “The work we’re doing on the Lizard looks to adopt more adaptative approaches to tackle these major drivers of biodiversity loss – specific targeted action where necessary, but more broadly looking to kick start natural processes that give our most threatened species the best chance to respond to these modern-day pressures." “By working closely with our partners we are able to deliver more adaptive approaches at the scale necessary to ensure the Lizard remains one of our most spectacular landscapes with its unique wildlife.” Andrew Byfield, Technical Adviser to the National Trust, added: “The Lizard is one of the most exciting lowland coastal landscapes in the county, with a great many nationally rare and threatened species." "By addressing the fate of these threatened plants and animals that together make this place so special, the project is also protecting the whole landscape, and also supporting the more common ones.”