At Albus Hygiene, creating healthy, hygienic indoor environments goes hand in hand with nurturing green outdoor spaces. Through our ongoing collaboration with Grow Fruit Trees and the Fruit Trees for Schools project, we are proud to invest in community orchards that enrich urban biodiversity and support local communities for generations to come.

Restoring Rare London Apple Varieties

Our support for urban greening recently led us to sponsor the cultivation and grafting of rare historic fruit varieties alongside Lambeth Council. This vital conservation work reintroduces traditional apple varieties that once flourished across London but have slowly vanished from the urban landscape.

Among the heritage varieties being returned to local soil are:

• The Cellini Apple: A historical cooking apple originally cultivated in Vauxhall nurseries during the 19th century.
• Merton Cox Orange Cross Selections: Bred at the famous John Innes Institute during its original tenure in Merton.

These trees serve as a tangible link to London's botanical history while actively enhancing local green infrastructure.

The Art and Science of Fruit Tree Grafting

Because true heritage fruit trees cannot be grown accurately from seed, specialized propagation techniques are required to preserve their genetic line.

"Every tree begins with a tiny piece of scion wood collected from the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale. Each variety is carefully hand grafted onto a new rootstock, creating a genetically identical tree. Grafting is the only way to preserve the exact DNA of these heritage fruit varieties, ensuring they aren't lost forever. By sponsoring these trees, Albus Hygiene is helping to safeguard London's historic fruit varieties while returning them to the communities where they were originally bred and enjoyed."
— Donna Cooper, Grow Fruit Trees

Cultivating Community Spaces and Fresh Produce

Planted across residential estates, school grounds, and public parks throughout Lambeth, these fruit trees provide valuable ecological and social benefits.

"These specially grafted fruit trees will be planted with community groups in estates, parks, and schools. In the future these trees will provide a sustainable food source for Lambeth communities, along with supporting wildlife in the borough. Community orchard planting brings people together and connects them to the green spaces around them."
— Poppy George, Lambeth Council

Aligning Hygiene Solutions with Environmental Care

Supporting the Lambeth Fruit Tree initiative reflects our core belief that business operations should leave a net-positive mark on society. By combining heritage preservation with urban biodiversity, Albus Hygiene continues to champion initiatives that build healthier, greener communities across the UK.