Guest blog: Eat Pies, Plant Trees

Pieminister joins forces with Forestry England this summer to plant a new forest!

How you can get involved

Every time you buy one of Pieminister’s plant-based patties or pies this summer or buy a bottle of plant-based Pieminister 5% lager, you’ll be playing a part in creating a new forest in Kent.

To plant this woodland for future generations to enjoy, Pieminister has partnered with Forestry England, an organisation which cares for more land and trees than any other in the country. Forestry England has been shaping landscapes for people, wildlife and nature for over a century and Pieminister is excited to be able to draw on its immense knowledge and expertise, ensuring that this new forest is created with sustainability at its heart.

About Pleasant Farm

The site, Pleasant Farm, has been recently acquired by Forestry England, and foresters are already busy planning which species of trees will be best suited to its soil and climate while providing a rich diversity of habitats for wildlife. Recreation facilities will be factored in too, ensuring there is space for people to seek adventure and find escape.

Pieminister, an independent, family-run business, is redoubling its efforts in terms of sustainability, setting a series of ambitious goals to hit by 2025. These include growing its award-winning plant-based product range. If you buy their plant-based patties and pies this summer you’ll help fund a Forestry England forest: the more plant-based products sold, the more trees Pieminister will be able to fund. Whether you pick them up in your local supermarket, at one of Pieminister’s restaurants, or at one of many independent cafes, pubs or farm shops across the UK, your purchase will generate a donation from Pieminister directly into this new forest fund. A donation of 10p from every plant-based pie or two-pack of patties (or 5p per individual patty) will go towards planting and maintaining the forest. Pieminister hopes this campaign will encourage consumers to switch their favourite meat pie for a plant-based alternative, even if only occasionally.

Image: Forestry England

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Jon Simon, Pieminister Co-founder says,

‘We want to help consumers consume sustainably which is why we’re increasing the number of plant-based products we make.  Eating less meat and planting more trees are two simple things we can all do for the health of our planet, so we’re delighted to bring these two actions together this summer through Eat Pies: Plant Trees.  And we couldn’t be happier to be doing this in partnership with Forestry England.  After all, they’ve been caring for forests for over a century, so we know they’re the people to plant and nurture our new forest for generations to come.’

Mike Seddon Forestry England’s Chief Executive added, 

‘Trees are one of our most important tools in tackling the climate crisis - capturing carbon, alleviating flooding and cooling our urban environments are just some of the vital benefits they provide. We design and plant forests to thrive well into the future, in time giving us green places for play or adventure, sustainable timber and homes for wildlife.  

We are delighted to be working with Pieminister, as they offer up this range of award-winning, plant-based options on their menus. By helping us to grow the nation’s forests, they are playing an important role in encouraging communities and nature to flourish.’

Extra ways to help

Look out for stickers on all Pieminister’s patty and pie boxes nationwide this summer. You’ll find them in stores across the UK including selected Waitrose and Sainsbury’s and online through Ocado and Pieminister’s own online shop.  The stickers will lead you to more information about this exciting campaign plus the chance to win a forest getaway with Forest Holidays and Go Ape. And remember; if you pick anything plant-based from Pieminister off the shelves, you’re directly contributing to the forest. As well as the best-selling Kevin, Mooless Moo and Mock-a-doodle there’s a new recipe to try. Green by name and green by nature, Evergreen is packed with kale, spinach and edamame, lightly cooked in ginger, garlic and lime zest. A 2020 Great Taste Award 3-star winner, this pie came in the top 1.6% of the 14,777 products entered.

If you haven’t already you must try the plant-based patties too. Folded in a golden saffron pastry, Chana-rama and Holy Chipotle make a great summer snack, hot or cold.

You can also support the campaign (and be in with a chance to win) if you head to your local Pieminister café or restaurant or order them through Home Delivery.

As well as plant-based patties and pies, the restaurant menu has heaps of delicious plant-based sides too.  From the famous festival-inspired Mothership (your favourite pie piled high with mash, gravy, peas, ‘cheese’ and shallots) to the Mother Earth (mash, garden peas topped with a parsnip & kale fritter).  Enjoy your meal with a bottle of Pieminister’s 5% vegan lager and 5% of the sale will also go straight towards the forest too.  Not eating-in? Take your patties or pies away this summer in your own container as this is yet another way to support the campaign, while reducing waste.

This campaign runs from April to September and all the proceeds raised through plant-based patty and pie sales, 5% lager sales and refill take-out donations will go directly to Forestry England, for the planting of a new forest in England.  Visit www.pieminister.co.uk/forest to find out more.