TWO Cumbrian egg producers have inspired a new prime-time TV campaign.

David and Helen Brass’s Lake District Free Range Egg Co and Fellside Eggs, owned by Stuart and Wendy Maughan, both played host to a film crew for the McDonald’s ‘Here’s to What Matters’ campaign.

They were selected to highlight how important trees are to free range hens.

As part of the ad, Mr Maughan, who looks after 5,700 Lohmann Brown hens at Ainstable in north Cumbria, is shown digging in a lime tree.

A spokesman for McDonald’s said: “The TV ad demonstrates how the tree is often ignored, blending into the background of everyday life.

“However, McDonald’s egg famers realise how much a bit of tree cover matters to their hens, ensuring they feel more comfortable to roam outdoors, and lay the free-range eggs which are cracked in all our 1,200 UK restaurants.”

Involvement in the advert is the latest accolade for the Brasses, whose company is based at Stainton near Penrith.

Last month, the couple scooped a business award for their commitment to environ-mental sustainability.

They received their accolade at a gala event at the Royal Albert Hall, which was attended by the Prince of Wales and around 1,400 other business leaders.

Lakes Free Range Egg Company was set up to supply free range and organic eggs adhering to leading animal welfare, ethical and environ-mental principles. The Brasses hope it will become the UK’s first carbon neutral egg packing factory this year.

The company – which also supplies Booths, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and McDonald’s from its own flocks and other family farms – was the first egg pro-ducer to enrich ranges with tree planting.

It has planted more than 152,000 trees, with plans for more each year and is thought to be the only packer demanding all producers have biodiversity action plans.