Ella’s Kitchen and RSPB enter long-term partnership

Ella’s Kitchen and nature conservation charity RSPB have announced a long-term partnership in response to the global biodiversity crisis.

The partnership will see the two organisations work together to protect and restore 30 million square feet (278 hectares) of UK wildflower meadows and grassland by 2030 –in an effort to protect and restore the homes of birds, bees, and bugs.

Through a mixture of seed sowing, plug planting, and allowing natural regeneration, Ella’s Kitchen will support the RSPB to transform species-poor grassland into meadows alive with colour.

The partnership will also protect existing wildflower and grassland meadows, vulnerable to climate change and erosion. This includes protecting and maintaining the rare Scottish machair on the island of Tiree which is home to endangered insects, like the Great Yellow Bumblebee, one of the UK’s rarest bees, and the endangered Corncrake and Lapwing who rely on machair to feed and breed.

CEO of Ella’s Kitchen, Mark Cuddigan, said: “Nature and business go hand in hand. At Ella’s, we want to do everything we can to protect nature, our pollinators, and our little ones’ futures. By working with the RSPB not only can we help protect and restore vital wildflower habitats across the UK, we want to continue to learn about the challenges our little ones face and how we can tackle them.

“Across our business, from our partners and suppliers to parents and their little ones, we want to educate and inspire on the importance of nature in a sustainable food system. Only by acting together can nature win and we can help to ensure that every little one grows up on a healthy planet, that has plenty of food, and which is buzzing with life.”

Chief executive of RSPB, Beccy Speight, added: “Nature is facing many threats, from the destruction of habitats to pesticide use and climate change, resulting in problems like the loss of pollinators. But it’s not too late to intervene. Ella’s Kitchen is facing into these challenges through targeted action in this new partnership that is both good for nature and good for people.

“Businesses have a crucial role to play in addressing the dual nature and climate crises, and partnerships like this that seek to restore and sustainably manage ecosystems and restore the biodiversity that we all rely on are so important. I’m delighted to see our reserves working side by side with Ella’s Kitchen in their drive to help pollinators and feed future generations, while protecting and restoring spaces that are vital for nature.”