From Bean to Tree: The Bedford College Group Partners with Wooden Hill Coffee

The Bedford College Group, with campuses across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, has partnered with Wooden Hill Coffee as its new coffee supplier across its campuses.

This marks the start of a collaboration focused on quality, sustainability and supporting local initiatives.

To celebrate the new partnership, representatives from The Bedford College Group joined Wooden Hill Coffee in planting their own tree at a tree-planting event in Silsoe, Bedfordshire. The event forms part of Wooden Hill Coffee’s long-running environmental initiative, which sees the company plant a tree for every 100kg of coffee it roasts.

Wooden Hill Coffee, based in Millbrook, has been running its tree planting programme since 2016. Over the past decade, the initiative has helped plant more than 2,000 trees locally, with support from customers and partners across the region.

Robin Sibley, owner of Wooden Hill Coffee, said:

“We launched our tree initiative in 2016 with a clear mission: to build a coffee company that gives back, not just to the farmers who grow our beans, but to the environment and the community around us.

At Wooden Hill, we believe great coffee should have a positive impact. That’s why we work to be as carbon-conscious as possible while supporting both our local area and the communities where our coffee is grown.

For every 100kg of coffee we roast, we plant a tree. So far, that commitment has helped us plant over 2,000 trees right here in Bedfordshire.

Every cup of Wooden Hill coffee does more than taste great, it helps grow a forest.”

The partnership will see Wooden Hill Coffee served across The Bedford College Group’s campuses in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, supporting the Group’s focus on sustainability, high-quality ingredients and educating students about responsible food and drink choices.

Hannah Mbabazi, Group Head of Catering at The Bedford College Group, said:

“I’m proud to have introduced Wooden Hill Coffee as our new coffee partner across our campuses. Catering in further education is about far more than simply fuelling students for the day ahead, it’s about educating them about food, quality ingredients, sustainability, and the role great hospitality plays in our communities.

This partnership reflects our commitment to offering students and staff a high-quality, ethically sourced product while also creating opportunities to inspire the next generation to value great food and drink.”

By partnering with a local supplier that prioritises sustainability and community impact, The Bedford College Group is strengthening its commitment to responsible sourcing while supporting local businesses and environmental initiatives.

Find out more

If you would like to find out more about The Bedford College Group, follow this link: https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/

You can find more information about Wooden Hill Coffee and their initiative here: https://woodenhillcoffee.co.uk/