Tree Aid

Transforming lives with trees is at the heart of Tree Aid’s work with rural communities in Africa. From providing food, shade and medicines to improved soil and water retention, planting trees changes lives for poverty stricken families struggling with the effects of climate change.  Tree Aid provides the training so that these families can become self sufficient and bring about sustainable change for themselves.

African children holding seedlings in Burkina Faso

African children holding seedlings in Burkina Faso

Mano Joseph under a small Baobab

Mano Joseph under a small Baobab

Sculptree has been cycling the benefits of trees for almost two decades, raising over £200,000 in the process. These vital funds have supported impacts like these:

  • Millions of trees have been planted by villagers. Training in how to care for tree seedlings and how to regenerate existing forests is improving the environment, increasing shade cover and bringing degraded land back to healthy life.
  • Agro-forestry means using trees as part of the agricultural system. Trees improve the soil through their leaf litter, retain water in their roots, stop soil erosion by slowing wind speeds, and of course they provide food, which all combines to increase harvests so hundreds of thousands of villagers now have secure access to a varied, healthy diet.
  • Hundreds of villagers, in particular women, have set up enterprises using tree products like shea butter or forest honey to earn sustainable cash income. Having access to cash means families can pay for school fees, healthcare, clothes and food if harvests are poor.
  • Communities are learning from each others successes and challenges. Migration to the towns is slowing down and villagers are experiencing the fruits of their hard work as they see their lives changing, their children going to school, their environment regenerating.

Trees transform lives. Tree Aid would like to thank all of the people involved in Sculptree: Sculptors, visitors, staff at Westonbirt, Bidders and buyers at the Auction. Together, we are supporting thousands of people to take control their lives, fight the effects of climate change and transform their environment, using trees.

Find out more at www.treeaid.org.uk