Branching out with 9Trees
Media Release: 1st December 2021
For press pack please scroll to end or contact us - info@9trees.org
Main Press release 480 words
Ditch consumerism and plant sustainable woodland this Christmas, urges social enterprise
Short Press release 300 words
Branching out with ‘9Trees’
followed by Longer Press release at end.
PRESS RELEASE
Ditch consumerism and plant sustainable woodland this Christmas, urges social enterprise
1 December 2021 For immediate release
Powys community enterprise offers triple impact with unique Christmas gift idea
Powys-based community business 9Trees is calling on Christmas shoppers in Wales and beyond to support an ambitious tree-planting campaign – by giving a unique gift that will benefit people and planet for decades to come.
9Trees, a nonprofit that creates carbon sinks through professionally managed broadleaf woodlands around the UK, is on a mission to plant 10,000 trees during 2022 – and 100,000 trees in the coming years.
Individuals and businesses can support this effort by gifting just one tree, or take out an annual subscription to cover the cost of planting and managing nine new trees each year – the number needed to balance the carbon footprint of the average UK resident.
Each tree is geolocated, keeping subscribers up to date with their own tree’s progress until maturity.
This Christmas, supporters can make even more impact with their purchase: for every tree bought before 31 December, 9Trees will plant another in the Coast Province, Kenya, in partnership with Carbon Link.
To date, 9Trees has planted 5,500 broadleaf trees in Radnorshire, Wales. Planting is done in partnership with landowners, who hand over their land to 9Trees to manage for 50 years.
Landowner Geoff Heald, who has handed over ½ an acre of land for planting, says: “Participating with the 9Trees project – I think you can only regard it as a privilege. It’s essential – we’ve got to do projects like this. It’s for our children and it’s for subsequent future generations.”
Tree-planting is particularly important in the UK, where woodland cover has dropped from 60% woodland to just 13%.
Ash Kent, 9Trees co-founder, says: “It’s not just about planting trees to sequester carbon. We are also creating woodlands that support wildlife and connect up existing habitats – without destroying valuable, species-rich grasslands or peat bogs.”
Carefully managed woodland over the coming decades will nurture biodiversity, with a wild assortment of creatures nesting, and resting among native trees.
“A vole’s squeak, a wood warbler’s song, species evocative of our valleys will echo on. One day, pine martens – rarely seen today – may call this woodland home,” says Kent.
Michael Cunningham, 9Trees founder, says: “Supporting 9Trees is your chance to have a positive impact today and long into the future. In 25 years, the trees we plant now will be sequestering roughly 40lbs of carbon per annum. In 50-100 years’ time, each tree should have captured one tonne of carbon.”
He added: “This needs to be a large-scale effort – but the good news is everyone can get involved. It’s about coming together as a community to mitigate against climate change and to invest in a better future.”
The Christmas offer costs £17 and covers the cost of planting one tree in the UK, plus one in Kenya. Purchasers receive a gift card via email and details of their geolocated tree. More info: 9trees.org/shop/christmas-gift
Photo attached to this email: please credit Adas Gold Photography / 9Trees
More photos for media use available here
For more information and interviews, contact: Michael Cunningham 07791687573 / 01258807840
ABOUT 9TREES
9Trees is a not-for-profit organisation and social enterprise founded in 2019. All income is reinvested into training, education and management of the woodlands.
Rather than selling carbon credits, 9Trees creates carbon sinks in the form of professionally managed broadleaf woodlands for wildlife and people. The philosophy is simple: plant nine trees per person, per year, to help balance one individual’s personal carbon footprint.
The species planted by 9Trees include oak, silver birch, hawthorn, rowan, downy birch, elder, and blackthorn. By planting the right trees in the right place, 9Trees promotes biodiversity and enhances habitat corridors.
9Trees also promotes jobs and skills within the local countryside and woodland sector by bringing communities together and engaging 100 volunteers. It is supported by experts working all over the UK in various capacities.
Further information and links:
Website: 9trees.org
Video (3min): Introducing 9Trees
Instagram: instagram.com/9treesuk/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/9-trees-carbon-offsetting-cic
Facebook: facebook.com/9treesuk/
Twitter: twitter.com/9treesUK
ABOUT THE CO-FOUNDERS
Michael Cunningham has worked in the conservation and wildlife sector for over 15 years and has had a varied career spanning across business, tourism and the arts. Mike started 9Trees because he wanted to make a difference on a national level and for future generations, leaving a legacy to be proud of.
Ash Kent studied Environmental Science and has worked in ecology, woodland management and habitat management for over 10 years. Ash founded 9Trees to take action now against climate change and put a wide range of skills to good use.
ABOUT CARBON LINK
Carbon Link was formed in 2008 to help people and businesses in Wales and beyond to support carbon drawdown initiatives with a partner in Coast Province, Kenya. Its tree programme provides free trees (timber-producing, food-producing and indigenous varieties) to subsistence farmers and schools who plant them on their own land.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article and that you may be swayed to buy a tree for a member of your team or family.
300 word Press Release
Branching out with ‘9Trees’
9Trees has started an ambitious task to plant nine trees per person per year, creating a pioneering service allowing people & businesses to grow their own woodlands.
5500 broadleaf trees have already been planted in Radnorshire, Wales, a further 10,000 trees will be grown in 2022.
Michael Cunningham, 9Trees director explains, “The trees we plant now will be your legacy for the future, sequestering roughly 40lbs of carbon per annum”
Each tree is geolocated, subscribers can wander mindfully in their very own woodlands.
Eco matting (cardboard, woodchip & wool) protects the saplings.
The woodland is planted using your donations or monthly / annual subscriptions.
Over the next 50 years the woodland will be inhabited by a wild assortment of creatures, nesting, and resting amongst native trees. A vole’s squeak, a wood warbler’s song, species evocative of our valleys will echo on. One day, pine martens may call this woodland home.
9Trees uses local knowledgeable contractors to maximise biodiversity.
Ash Kent, 9Trees Co-Founder explains, “It’s not just about planting trees to sequester carbon; we are creating woodlands that support wildlife and connect up existing habitats.”
9Trees vision will encourage our nation to make a promise, balancing the average UK person's carbon footprint. Planting trees help mitigate against climate change.
A national movement will be a big step towards carbon neutrality, for us and for generations to come. Help us step into the future by planting a tree which you can visit.
‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ Lao Tzu
[Picture of tree with child] AdasGold Photography
The species planted in our woodlands include oak, silver birch, hawthorn, rowan, downy birch, elder, and blackthorn.
Buy one tree as a gift that keeps on growing!
Special offer from our international partner in our Quarterly Newsletter
Notes to Editors:
Images from the Powys Woodland and 9Trees projects are available here!
Hear 9Trees on the Radio:
Country Focus BBC Radio Wales interview
Contact:
Michael Cunningham, (He / Him) 9Trees Founder and Director
info@9trees.org
07791687573
LinkedIn: MichaelRCunningham
Michael Works outside regularly planting trees, and is often in the hills out of signal.
Please leave message with your contact details or try 01258 807 840
Michael Cunningham will be onsite with tree planters Thursday 25th March
Ash Kent, (He / Him) 9Trees Co-Founder and Director
ashkent9trees@gmail.com
LinkedIn: Ash Kent
Ash is a Ranger and also works outside as a Habitat manager in low signal areas, please leave a message.
Mike & Ash available for interview Thurs - Sundays
About 9Trees
9Trees are a not-for-profit organisation. Income is reinvested into training, education and management of the woodlands created through subscriptions.
Rather than selling carbon credits, 9Trees are creating carbon sinks in the form of professionally managed broadleaf woodlands for wildlife and people. Their philosophy is simple; Plant 9 trees per person, per year, to help balance one individual’s personal carbon footprint.
By planting the right trees in the right place, 9Trees also promote biodiversity and enhance habitat corridors. Each tree is geolocated, keeping subscribers up to date with their progress until maturity.
Over the years you will have many woodlands you can visit throughout the UK.
9Trees also promotes jobs and skills within the local countryside and woodland sector by bringing communities together to create woodlands that benefit people and wildlife. 9Trees are for nature, wellbeing, rural Jobs and working to balance the UK's carbon footprint.
9Trees is supported by experts working all over the UK in various capacities, a real team effort. This Pro-bono support is greatly appreciated by Ash and Mike, helping us plant 100,000 trees in the coming years.
About the Founders
Michael Cunningham has worked in the conservation and wildlife sector for many years and has had a varied career spanning across business, tourism and the arts. Mike started 9Trees because he wanted to make a difference on a national level and for future generations, leaving a legacy to be proud of.
Ash Kent studied Environmental Science and has worked in ecology, woodland management and habitat management for over 10 years. Ash founded 9Trees to take action now against climate change and put a wide range of skills to good use.
Campaign Hashtags
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#FutureGenerations #TreePlanting #Trees #Woodland #ClimateAction #Wales #VisitWales
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#TravelClean #StopGlobalWarming #RestoreHabitat #Treerific #9Trees #Geolocate #GotLand? #9TreesAYear #PrimeSubscription #BranchingOut #BBC #CountryFocus #RadioInterview
longer Press release
Branching out with ‘9Trees’
A Prime subscription that cuts climate change!
A subscription that cuts climate change and grows your own woodland
9Trees has started an ambitious task to plant nine trees for every UK person each year. Planting 9 trees each year will balance the average UK carbon consumption. This progressive approach is not going to be easy. Without support to plant ‘Nine Trees Each Year’, our mutual journey to carbon neutrality by 2050 will be arduous. Springing into action, 9Trees has created a pioneering subscription service allowing people to grow their own forest. As a result, three thousand broadleaf trees on the border of England and Wales are currently being planted on two hectares of land (two rugby pitches) in Radnorshire (Powys), Wales. Eight species of broadleaf tree will reforest the land. With eight more sites confirmed in Wales and England, 9Trees will plant a further 10,000 trees by December 2021.
Although planting trees is no substitute for stopping the burning of fossil fuels, it can help mitigate against climate change. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to our ecosystems. Planting nine trees per person per year, will suck carbon from the air and provide much-needed habitat for our local wildlife. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) suggests that around 30,000 hectares of broadleaf and conifer woodland need to be planted each year for 30 years to hit net zero emissions.
Michael Cunningham, (He / Him) 9Trees Co-Founder and Director explains, “The trees we plant now will be your legacy for the future. In 25 Years, they will be sequestering roughly 40lbs of carbon per annum. In 50 - 100 years’ time, each tree should have captured one tonne of carbon. To reduce our carbon footprint, we need to draw down the carbon that we continue to create through our daily lives.”
9Trees are pushing the boundaries of common tree planting at Powys with these three processes:
The woodland is planted using annual subscriptions. A process 9Trees hopes will spark a national ‘Nine Trees Each Year’ promise.
Each tree is geolocated so that subscribers can take a mindful walk in their very own woodlands throughout the UK.
The Woodland will be as natural as possible. No chemicals will be used in the making of this woodland. To protect the trees during early growth chestnut fencing has been erected, eco matting has been handmade and cardboard collected from local businesses will be recycled to act as a grass suppressant.
The trees at Powys will grow into a network of habitats and over the next 50 years will be inhabited by a wild assortment of creatures living, nesting, and resting amongst native trees. These trees will support a range of wildlife during their lifetime. The saplings and young trees will make great song-posts for Tree Pipit and, as the trees mature, we hope the wood will fill with the sweet songs of Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler, species so evocative of the Welsh oak valleys. One day, pine martens may call this woodland home and red kites will drift lazily overhead. Each one of the three-thousand trees have been specifically chosen for the location, putting the right tree in the right place to complement the and maximise biodiversity value. The species include Oak, Silver Birch, Hawthorn, Rowan, Downy Birch, Elder, and Blackthorn.
Ash Kent, (He / Him) 9Trees Co-Founder and Director, explains, “It’s not just about planting trees to sequester carbon; we need to be creating woodlands that support the local wildlife and connect up existing habitats without destroying valuable species-rich grasslands or peat bogs.”
9Trees hopes that their efforts will encourage our nation to make a promise and plant nine trees per person per year. A national movement will be a big step towards carbon neutrality and create woodlands for creatures and folk to enjoy for generations to come.
-ENDS-