December is just around the corner, so no more excuses for putting off buying your Christmas tree and turning your house into a festive winter wonderland.
One Christmas tree seller, or 'treetailer' has launched a seasonal campaign of goodwill, by donating one tree for every Christmas tree they sell in the UK, to the drylands of Africa in a bid to restore land.
Working alongside TREE AID, The Christmas Forest wants to plant thousands of trees to ensure families in some of the poorest parts of the world have land on which they can earn a living.
Founder of The Christmas Forest, Kelty Caston, says: "People want to feel they are helping others at Christmas, whether that’s to give their time or money to charity.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Kelty added: "They like to do something positive and give something back to the less fortunate.
"But with Christmas being a hectic time for everyone, we wanted to make it as easy as possible to give a little bit and get that warm and fuzzy feeling easily which is why we teamed up with TREE AID."
The company, which opened its first site in Richmond 20 years ago, has already planted 205,206 trees in Africa in the past 10 years, with a goal of planting 300,000 by 2020.
Trees bought both online and in store are included in the campaign.
"Just by buying your Christmas tree you are changing somebody’s life"
TREE AID is an international development organisation which works to combat poverty in the drylands of Africa by planting trees to restore land and consequently give families an opportunity to earn a living.
They also teach women skills so they can set up their own businesses selling produce from the trees.
Mark Flower, fundraising manager at TREE AID, said: "The partnership between TREE AID and The Christmas Forest has just been incredible in the life changing effect it has had for so many people.
"Just by buying your Christmas tree you are changing somebody’s life and if that doesn’t fill you with Christmas cheer then what will!"
How can I get my hands on a Christmas tree?
The trees are available to buy from any one of the 10 stores in London which include the following in west London:
Richmond
Trees can also be bought online via their website .
Prices start at around £25.
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