Punch Pubs & Co has teamed up with the Eden Project in a pledge to reduce its carbon footprint.
The Burton upon Trent-based pub operator is supporting a number of Eden initiatives that aim to increase biodiversity across Punch’s estate by helping to create new habitats for wildlife in its pub gardens and green spaces for communities to socialise.
Punch will participate in the Cornwall-based national attraction’s National Wildflower Centre’s Biodiversity Scheme, whilst Eden will provide training, tools and materials to encourage pubs to become ‘pollinator pubs.’
Punch has around 1,250 pubs in England, Scotland and Wales and will be aiming to create sensory and accessible garden areas for customers to enjoy whilst boosting biodiversity.
The partnership will see work on the Eden Project Communities programme and centre on the flagship campaign The Big Lunch, which this year is an official part of the coronation.
Clive Chesser, Punch Pubs & Co CEO, said the partnership fits in with Punch’s Doing Well, By Doing Good programme.
He said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with the Eden Project, who can truly help us when it comes to the social well-being of our communities, local impact and environmental footprint alongside our wider sustainability credentials.
“We are committed to Doing Well by Doing Good, and this new partnership is doing just that, using the power of the local and pub gardens to bring people together and boost biodiversity.”
Peter Stewart LVO, Chief Purpose Officer at the Eden Project, added: “Our partnership with Punch Pubs & Co, is about exploring how we can collaborate to transform our understanding of the world.
“As a former publican, I know that pubs have long been a place where people have come together in our communities.
“We’re delighted to be working with Punch to explore how we bring more people together to make meaningful connection through our flagship campaign The Big Lunch and by creating community hubs that become accessible green spaces via our wildflower schemes in Punch locations.
“Together we’re exploring how by connecting people with each other and the natural world we can start to shape a better future.”
A number of Punch pubs have signed up for the Coronation Big Lunch, which runs over the coronation weekend and aims to connect people and communities whilst encouraging people to make positive change where they live.
