Christmas is a time for giving, so maybe consider giving something back to the environment is the message from local charity and Community Forest, the Forest of Marston Vale. The Charity has launched a Christmas fundraising appeal, Give Back to Trees this Christmas, asking people to help them plant more trees.
Trees make life better for us in so many ways. They help to cool and clean our air, lock up carbon, reduce flooding, provide sustainable raw materials and are our best hope in combatting the climate crisis. Since they were set up in 1991, the Forest of Marston Vale Charity has planted over 2 million trees and a recent independent study reported that these trees absorb 4,917 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year – that’s the equivalent of the annual emissions from around 2,000 family cars. However, the charity has a goal to plant another 5 million trees in the Forest area, which covers 61 square miles between Bedford and Milton Keynes.
“We all buy and receive things that we don’t really need at Christmas, but the one thing we do need is more trees. Every tree we plant makes life better for people, for wildlife and for the planet and that’s why we’re asking people to help us plant more trees,” says Robina Ballard-Davis, Fundraising Officer for the Charity. “People take trees for granted, but we can’t survive without them, so we’re asking people to add them to their Christmas list and help us plant more by making a donation.”
Every £20 helps plant another tree in the Forest and you can make a donation of £3 to the Forest of Marston Vale by texting the word ACORN to 70085. Alternatively, visit the Charity’s website www.marstonvale.org to make a donation online.
Contact: Robina Ballard-Davis, Fundraising Officer, 01234 762615, robina.b-d@marstonvale.org
