Taylor’s Port has made a commitment to help reverse the loss of native woodland by embarking on a reforestation programme in the Cima Corgo area of the Douro Valley. Co-op is the first UK retailer to pledge to go further in its commitment to the Porto Protocol to make a real change in the region. Nearly four football pitches worth of trees are expected to be funded through sales of Taylor’s Select Reserve port, providing a welcome boost of the Douro Valley and Northern Portugal which has been severely impacted by forest fires in recent years.

At the end of November 2019 the work began on clearing the land. A small number of trees had survived the fire that had swept across this area and every effort was made to save them. Work then started clearing the thick undergrowth with the help of tractors. The wood from the trees that could not be saved was turned into either logs for burning, wood chips or sawdust, ensuring that nothing was wasted. The new woodland will be made up of two native oak species, Quercus pyrinaica (Pyrenean oak) and Quercus faginea (Portuguese oak).

Taylor’s Managing Director, Adrian Bridge, stated, “We are delighted to have Coop’s support for this important project. By allowing us to plant more trees, Coop’s investment will significantly increase the positive impact of the reforestation. As custodians of the unique environment and landscape of the Douro Valley, we understand the importance of extending our environmental initiatives beyond the vineyard itself. Our sustainable vineyard model recognises the importance of interspersing areas of vine with natural vegetation and woodland to protect natural diversity and resilience.”