Vitacress

The results are in! Working in partnership with Carbon Rewild, experts in bioacoustics, we’re pleased to share the findings from our 2024 report. Bioacoustics is an exciting field that’s transforming the way we understand and protect biodiversity as it helps us to gather valuable insights about our precious ecosystems. As part of our Second Nature programme working towards net zero, ‘More Biodiversity’ is one of our priorities. Group Environment Manager, Leah Mathias-Collins MIEMA, CEnv comments: “Biodiversity is not just an environmental choice; it's a smart, sustainable approach to farming that ensures greater resilience and productivity and the use of bioacoustics can support this.” In a non-invasive way, this technology provides us with a window on the world of wildlife! To find out more, take a look at our findings: https://lnkd.in/gAHsT235 #bioacoustics #biodiversity #sustainablefarming #agricultureandfarming #wildlifeconservation

Our partnership with LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is at the core of our 'More Biodiversity' priority. This critical objective is one of six priorities which form part of our #SecondNature programme as we work towards net zero. 🌍 #biodiversity #sustainability #partnershipworking #netzero

As British Food Fortnight kicks off, we want to take a moment to recognise and thank the growers across the UK. 🌿🚜 Your hard work ensures we have access to the freshest, highest-quality produce while promoting sustainability and supporting our local communities. From early mornings to adapting to ever-changing conditions, our farmers and growers help to bring fresh, sustainable and delicious ingredients to our plates every day. So, this week, let’s take a moment to say thank you to the farmers who make #BritishFoodFortnight possible and who continue to feed the nation. #farmingandagriculture #horticulture #alwaysdeliverquality #nurturethefuture #sustainability #freshproduce

To help celebrate the amazing people helping the Hampshire countryside, Vitacress Salads is sponsoring the CPRE The countryside charity Hampshire award for Grassroots Action. The award recognises people who have taken action to improve an issue affecting the countryside in their local area. As a grower and processor of #freshproduce, we depend on our natural resources and it’s critical that our people care for and protect our environment. With watercress farms and an operational facility in Hampshire, we support the charity in their mission to enhance and protect the countryside which helps to enrich all our lives. We believe that everyone can do something to improve and support their local community and improve their environmental footprint. Therefore, we’ll be looking for those who have shown real commitment and leadership in this important area. https://lnkd.in/dYYy_FXg #environment #sustainability #awards #dotherightthing #nurturethefuture  

We’re proud to support our local community by sponsoring the fastest growing youth cricket club in Hampshire! 🏏 With over 170 young cricketers and an increasing number of female players, who make up 35%, the club has had a very successful season and we can’t wait to see what they do next. It's also a great social hub – what a great way to celebrate the ‘summer of sport’. https://lnkd.in/eeiVY-Cf Andrew Eastwood, managing director at Vitacress Salads, said: “It is an absolute privilege to be involved in the St Mary Bourne Cricket Club. At Vitacress Salads, we are always keen to support the local community and to see first-hand the success of local talent is inspiring.” 🌟 #community #talent #youthsports #cricket #sponsorship #vitacresssalads

Great to co-host this event last week to facilitate the discussion around water and biodiversity and understand how critical they are to our supply chains and the environment. With speakers from the The Rivers Trust, Land App and The Woodland Trust, along with co-hosts Sainsbury's, it highlighted the importance of working together as we commit to enhancing biodiversity and sustainable agriculture on our sites. #sustainability #environment #partnerships #vitacress 

What an incredible day at our summer team event! ☀ From exciting outdoor activities to delicious food, it was a day filled with blazing sunshine, lots of laughs and a chance to get to know each other a little bit better. Over 350 people from across our Vitacress Herbs’ business joined in the fun to raise money for charity of the year, Sage House Tangmere (Dementia support). David Walmsley comments: “It was a chance to get together with everyone from across the business. The team are very dedicated and work hard so we took some time to relax in the sun, play some games and let our other talents shine – we had a resident DJ, master bakers and were able to test our throwing skills at our colleagues in the stocks! And yes… I along with others, got soaked!”  Days like this remind us how lucky we are to work with such a great team. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success. And a big thanks to Fries Love, for providing the delicious food 🍟, and everyone who generously donated raffle prizes: Runcton Farm Shop, Minutka (Bognor Regis), Primo Bar & Restaurant, The Man Barber Shop, Manor Nurseries, Café Punjab, Fleur De Lis Florist, JD Sports, Premier West Meads. #teamevent #summervibes #workhardplayhard #frieslove #VitacressHerbs 

As the temperatures rise in the UK, it’s the perfect time to fire up the barbecue and prep some fresh salads. As the Fresh Produce Journal launches its Big 50 Products once again, what makes salads appealing to our customers and how do we introduce innovation to these leafy greens? Andrew Eastwood, our Vitacress Salads' MD (and in-house salad expert 🥗), was invited to speak at the FPJ's Festival of Fresh where he talked more about this, the importance of supplier-retail partnerships, and the need to be sustainable, both environmentally and economically. https://lnkd.in/dU2wK2qu Joining us in November last year, Andrew has experienced some challenging and volatile weather conditions, but as the season is now in full swing, and we are realising the output of our significant investment, he and the team are fully focused on quality and a pipeline of innovation.   #freshproduce #quality #innovation #sustainability #summervibes #VitacressSalads

Let’s talk #sustainability… We’re passionate about the environment and with a clear commitment to be net zero, and our aptly named Second Nature framework to help us, we want to share the progress we’ve made. Today, we’ve published our Story So Far which details our achievements and shares what we plan to do next. https://lnkd.in/d23afvHn Here are just a few of our stats: 27.5% UK soil emissions reduction since 2021; 100% renewable electricity for our UK sites; 112 tonnes of plastic removed from packaging. #SecondNature is split across six priority areas, including water, plastics, and sustainable growing, and with clearly defined targets, it will ensure we reach our objective. #Environment #FitForFuture #DoTheRightThing #NetZero

Did you know Vitacress are placing sustainability at the heart of their business? As part of the Vitacress Farm Excellence programme, of which we are proud partners, Vitacress are lucky to have yearly visits from Matt Stevens with the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Andover, who check in on the owl population during the breeding season. Nesting boxes were put up around the Vitacress St Mary Bourne site in 2022 by helpful staff hoping to provide safe nesting opportunities for the local owl population. Since 2022, Vitacress have welcomed regular nesting in some of these boxes by Barn Owls. In 2023, three healthy Barn owlets fledged the nest and in 2024, they have seen four big healthy owlets, with the possibility of another clutch later this summer. Every year these owlets are weighed, measured, sexed and aged, then fitted with an identification ring before being placed back in their nest. These details will help inform national Barn Owl conservation records and ensure that their identification can be known if they are encountered again. The Vitacress Farm Manager, manages the field where the Barn Owls nest in order to give the best possible habitat and hunting opportunities for these amazing birds. While the field is mostly left to grow wild, providing nesting and foraging for voles (the Barn Owl’s main prey) and creating tracks around the perimeter of the field to provide the owls shorter vegetation to hunt on, encourages them to return each year! #SustainableFarming #VitacressFarmExcellence #Biodiversity #Nature #ClimateSmart #FutureFarming #IntegratedFarmManagement #Resilience Ella Lewis, Leah Mathias-Collins MIEMA, CEnv, Mollie Burns, Clare Mike, FRASE