Materials Processing Institute

The Materials Processing Institute has planted an orchard as part of long-term plans to improve the biodiversity of its extensive grounds.

Part of an initiative to reverse the rapid national decline of orchards, staff worked alongside volunteers from Tees Valley Wildlife Trust to plant 50 apple and plum trees at its Teesside campus.

The national research and innovations centre also plans to construct a new wildlife pond and convert the site of a former pond into a bog garden.

It has also commissioned a local sawmill to produce handmade wooden furniture so staff and campus tenants can better use the grounds to relax, lunch or even work outside as part of its mental health and wellbeing strategy.

The Institute will not only benefit from the fruits produced but hopes the orchard, planted over two days, will attract important pollinators such as bees and wasps as well as providing a rich habitat for other insects and birds.

Since the early 1900s, there has been a 56 per cent decline in orchards in England and Wales, so as part of the Queens Green Canopy activities, a tree planting scheme was launched to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

This aligned closely with the Institute’s own biodiversity plan and the orchard has been named ‘The Jubilee Orchard’ and is to be incorporated into the national Queen’s Green Canopy map – a digital record of all Jubilee tree planting projects.

Dan van den Toorn of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust said: "We were delighted to support the Institute in proactively tackling habitat loss and species decline by turning its lawned area into a thriving habitat for bees, birds, and butterflies, while at the same time creating a very pleasant space for its staff and other businesses based at the Institute to enjoy.”

Chris McDonald, Chief Executive of the Materials Processing Institute, said: “As an organisation, we are dedicated to reducing carbon emissions within the foundation industries through a range of innovations, including new technologies, innovative or recycled materials and by-products, and the more efficient use of energy.

“As we seek to improve the environment by transforming the industrial landscape, it is important that the Institute also improves the biodiversity of our own campus to further increase sustainability.”

ENDS

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF MATERIALS PROCESSING INSTITUTE

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Douglas 01325 363 436

Photo caption: Chris McDonald (left) helps Matt Dove-Jones of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust to plant saplings in the grounds of the Materials Processing Institute

Notes to editors:

Materials Processing Institute

The Materials Processing Institute is a research and innovation centre serving global steel and materials organisations that work in advanced materials, industrial decarbonisation, the circular economy, and digital technologies.

The Institute has served as the UK’s national steel innovation centre since 1944 having been set up by Sir Winston Churchill’s wartime government just before D-Day to equip the British steel industry for post-war reconstruction. It will celebrate its 80^th anniversary in 2024.

Through collaboration with its customers, the Institute provides a range of technology and R&D based services and consultancy. It also has pilot and demonstration facilities and an SME Technology Centre to support supply chain businesses with the development of new technologies and products.

Works with: steel, metals and alloys, chemical processes, aerospace and defence, energy, mining and quarrying, construction, rail, transport, and infrastructure, offshore, subsea, and nuclear.

The Materials Processing Institute includes developments funded through Tees Valley Combined Authority, through the Local Growth Fund (Growth Deal).