Heineken slammed for felling 300-acre orchard - the size of 140 football pitches

SWNS

29 April 2024 at 7:35 am

Heineken has been slammed for chopping down a 300-acre orchard - the size of 140 football pitches. The UK's largest cider maker has felled the huge site - also home to a significant number migratory birds. Heineken has now 'levelled' Penrhos Orchard, on the Offa's Dyke path in Monmouthshire, Wales. According to the BBC, Heineken uprooted thousands of trees planted in 1997 as it wants to sell the land as they had a surplus of apples - but a demand decline for cider. Environmentalists have shown concerns about the impact this felling will have on migratory bird populations - particularly wintering thrush species such as fieldfare and redwing, who eat autumn berries then move on to apple crops and have been seen in significant numbers amongst the area. Though Heineken has insisted it acted in accordance with the Wildlife Act.

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