PressClub United Kingdom · Article.
MINI Tiny Forests planted to boost biodiversity in local communities.
Fri Dec 10 11:00:00 CET 2021 Press Release
MINI has planted a further 10 Tiny Forests across the UK as part of its MINI Electric partnership with Earthwatch Europe, boosting biodiversity in urban areas and creating accessible green space for communities to reconnect with nature.
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Helen Wilson
BMW Group
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MINI has planted a further 10 Tiny Forests across the UK as part of
its MINI Electric partnership with Earthwatch Europe, boosting
biodiversity in urban areas and creating accessible green space for
communities to reconnect with nature.
On 6 December the latest MINI Tiny Forest was planted at NHS
Littlemore Mental Health Hospital, near MINI Plant Oxford, in
partnerships with Green Templeton College and the Centre for
Sustainable Healthcare. Young apprentices from the plant and patients
from the hospital helped to plant the 600 densely packed native trees,
plants and ground cover, which should attract hundreds of new animal
and plant species over the coming years.
David George, Director of MINI UK says, “Creative use of space
is at the heart of MINI, so the partnership between MINI Electric and
Earthwatch Europe to plant Tiny Forests is a perfect fit. We’re
really excited about how Tiny Forests can bring communities together
and help educate on the important role biodiversity plays in sustainability.”
Nick Broughton, Chief Executive at Oxford Health NHS Foundation
Trust added, “Over 800 trees are planted across the trust’s sites,
absorbing over 38 tons of carbon annually – helping to offset Oxford
Health’s overall carbon footprint and contribute to the NHS’ aim to be
the world’s first net zero health service.”
“The Trust is delighted to be working with MINI and Tiny Forests
to grow our green spaces on sites – making a difference to both the
environment and our communities. Providing a calming environment for
our patients, visitors and staff is therapeutic and improves mental wellbeing.”
Louise Hartley, Tiny Forest Programme Manager at Earthwatch
Europe, said “Tiny Forests provide rich opportunities for connecting
young and old alike with the environment and sustainability. It’s
vital that we give people the knowledge and skills to protect our
natural world and inspire them to take positive action. We are
delighted to be working with MINI Electric to bring these inspiring
spaces to their local communities of Oxford and Swindon, and across
the UK.”
With the help of young people from local schools and the wider
community over the next two years, Earthwatch will collect data from
the MINI Tiny Forest on carbon absorption, flood mitigation, thermal
comfort and biodiversity to conduct research into how Tiny Forests
mitigate the effects of climate change. They’ll also assess the social
and wellbeing benefits of having this new green space in an urban
area.
The MINI Tiny Forest is a tribute to Professor Jeff Burley a
renowned forestry scientist and Emeritus Fellow of Green Templeton
College. He initiated fundraising through the college’s Fellowship to
supply half the trees on this site.The Tiny Forest as a whole will
become part of the NHS Forest, a nationwide good practice network for
improving and increasing the use of green space in healthcare for
social and environmental benefit co-ordinated by the Centre for
Sustainable Healthcare.
Further MINI Tiny Forests are planned for various UK locations
in 2022.
For more information about Tiny Forests visit https://earthwatch.org.uk/get-involved/tiny-forests
Ends
About MINI
Making MINI production more
sustainable is vital to the BMW Group’s strategy to further reduce
emissions. To achieve real change, the BMW Group has set substantial
targets based on comprehensive emission values. The Environmental
Roadmap from 2021-2030 means we plan to reduce
CO2 emissions by -40% by 2025 and -80% by 2030.
MINI is pursuing the strategic sustainability goals of the BMW
Group by consistently reducing CO2 emissions over the
entire production lifecycle. This encompasses the supply chain and
the exclusive use of renewable electricity in production. A steadily
increasing proportion of natural and recyclable materials used in
the vehicles will further support these goals.
MINI has also pledged to support the Zero Carbon Oxford
partnership, which has an aim to cut the City of Oxford's carbon
footprint to zero by 2040.
MINI will launch its last model with internal combustion
engine in 2025 and, by 2027, the share of all-electric vehicles in
global MINI sales will be at least 50 percent. In the early 2030s,
MINI will be the first BMW Group brand to go fully electric.
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI,
Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading
premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also
provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group
production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities
in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than
140 countries.
In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger
vehicles and more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit
before tax in the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on
revenues amounting to € 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the
BMW Group had a workforce of 120,726 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on
long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the
course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes
sustainability and efficient resource management central to its
strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the
end of the use phase of all products.
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About The NHS Forest
The Centre for
Sustainable Healthcare inspires and empowers people to transform
healthcare for a sustainable future. The charity coordinates the NHS
Forest which supports healthcare sites in developing their green
space for health, wellbeing and biodiversity. NHS Forest sites have
planted more than 77,000 trees across the UK.
About Earthwatch Europe
Earthwatch is an
environmental charity with science at its heart. We drive the change
needed to live within our means and in balance with nature. We do
this by:
• connecting people with the natural world
• monitoring the
health of our natural resources
• informing the actions that
will have the greatest positive impact.
www.earthwatch.org.uk
MINI Press Office Contacts:
Helen
Wilson
Senior Press Officer, BMW & MINI
Communications
Tel: 07815 372480
Email: Helen.Wilson@bmw.co.uk
Georgina
Cox
MINI
Media Relations Manager
Tel: 07815 370878
Email: Georgina.Cox@mini.co.uk
Emma Begley
General Manager, Product and Internal
Communications
Tel: 07815 371062
Email: Emma.Begley@bmw.co.uk
Graham Biggs
Corporate Communications
Director
Tel: 07815 376867
Email: Graham.Biggs@bmw.co.uk
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