SEEDS2TREES - Progressing the change we need

We all know that trees are vital. They’re our lungs, our guardians, our health service and wildlife champions. And we need more of them.

Now YOU can play a part and help more British native trees to be grown that will be planted and grown on to improve biodiversity and help fight climate change.

Your support can help grow more trees that will be planted in the right places, and help grow the understanding of the importance of trees and the importance nature is for us, and we to nature.

How? 

SEEDS2TREES is mobilising a community made up of individuals, households, educational establishments and community groups, not just to plant the trees we need, but to grow the trees we need. These trees will be a part of the change we need for our environment, nature, our climate, and for life itself. And you can help us do it by helping to buy the seeds, growing kits, and resources,  for a third round of community tree growing.

Today we’re all enjoying and benefiting from the trees that our ancestors planted, maybe several hundred years ago. As growers and financial supporters of SEEDS2TREES, we have a responsibility to ensure that future generations - our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - can enjoy and benefit from trees in their lives too. TOGETHER, whether as growers or financial facilitators, we are "growing the change we need”.  

Every £40 provides the potential of 100 new trees to be grown

The Story So far ---

SEEDS2TREES is a key part of Living Woods North East CIC, known as Living Woods. This is a non-profit organisation that’s dedicated to trees, woodlands and all things connected to them. Living Woods cares for woodlands, creates new woodlands and orchards, and through our community engagement work, help people to connect with nature through woodlands. Living Woods works with land managers and communities to help them put “the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason” and create diverse and productive habitats for people and wildlife.

SEEDS2TREES in particular provides an opportunity for the community to CREATE new woodlands, and their creation begins as a result of the commitment and care of the community, in their own gardens, yards, school and community group grounds.

SEEDS2TREES was first launched as a pilot scheme in 2022, made possible through the time and finances given by individuals, business sponsorship, and the Aviva Community Fund, largely through Aviva’s Crowdfunding opportunity. Round 1 saw over 100 community tree growers (whether on their own, in a household, or as a school or a group) receive British native tree seeds and begin a two-year journey growing the seeds in their gardens, yards and grounds.

Fiona, who joined SEEDS2TREES in2022 describes it as "growing  a wood in my own back yard". She was amazed by the thought that something so big one day, started off in just that small space..

Her "little wood" will help to create new woodlands

 Fiona's saplings will be some of the first to be collected, concluding the first round of SEEDS2TREES. They will be prepared for planting by Living Woods

A second round of tree growing from seed was launched last November, once again, largely made possible with the support that came through another Aviva’s Crowdfunding opportunity, which also attracted the support of the Aviva Community Fund, Save our British Isle Fund, and BA Better World Community Fund. 

This time it was possible to distribute 200 batches of British Native tree seeds, with their growing kits. Each batch of seeds again contained 70 acorns for new Oak trees, 35 Hazelnut and numerous small Common Alder and Silver Birch trees.

As we see the trees grow, we are seeing the potential of this extraordinary project grow too.

Just like an acorn with potential for a mighty oak, we are seeing this small idea as a way to see more trees grown, as an effective tool for growth, education and change.

Our tree growers, donors, funders, and volunteers have been a part of this story of growth so far, and we’re asking you to help nurture the potential even more.

Will you please support us to lead SEEDS2TREES through a third round of growth – trees, learning and environmental action?

SEEDS2TREES aims to :- 

• Grow more trees to improve biodiversity, reduce C02 and produce oxygen.
• Grow the understanding of children and young people and help them to become environmental champions. 
• Grow this opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, locations -such as rural and urban areas, to do something personal and tangible to help with the eco and climate crisis that we face.

Your donation and support can help progress this potential and help in "growing the change we need" by,

Growing more trees

Your donation and support can help us achieve another 200 batches of British Native tree seeds, and growing kits, to be distributed this November, for a third round of tree growing, and support given to the growers through out .

Each batch has the potential to grow 100 trees.  These trees, when matured, could absorb 210 kgs of CO2 a year from our atmosphere, and release enough oxygen to support two human beings.

A batch contains 70 acorns for new oak trees. One oak tree alone supports more life than any other native tree species in the UK. Oak are host to hundreds of insect species, supplying many birds with an important food source. Their fallen leaves support biodiversity and, in autumn, mammals such as squirrels, badgers and deer feed on acorns.

As biodiversity is essential for the processes in supporting all life on Earth, including human life, your support has the potential to have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat.

The right trees that you will be helping to grow will be planted by Living Woods in the right place, helping to reduce the impacts of storm and flood water and alleviate the impact of drought, improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, and help keep rivers cool.

£40would cover the costs for a batch of seeds, its  growing kit and distribution to a community grower, and a small contribution towards the support given to our growers.

Helping to provide support and encouragement

SEEDS2TREES engages the community and is a truly inclusive project, but does require two years’ commitment from each grower. So we provide support to our growers every step of the way. We provide written and visual instructions for the key stages, connect monthly through newsletters, and we offer bespoke support to address any issues that an individual grower may be facing with the seeds and saplings. This two-way communication helps to build the sense of action together and as a wider community as we take action against the threats that we face, and to do something to help future generations.

Helping to provide educational resources to help our younger growers grow in understanding and action :-

Exceeding our target

• If you can help us exceed our raise our target of £8,000   then you will be enabling us to progress the educational  potential SEEDS2TREES, in particular, you will helping to grow the understanding and empower younger tree growers.

Your support can help children and young people become more aware of their natural world, benefit from connecting with nature and being outdoors, and feel empowered to be change makers for their future.

It has been an absolutely pleasure to see so many schools and educational provisions adopt SEEDS2TREEES as a project. We see the potential of SEEDS2TREES as a more significant educational tool, and we have the ability to develop environmental educational resources at curriculum level.

However, we believe that the combination of provision of knowledge and the practical task of growing the trees can empower with important outcomes.      

We hear how children and young people are experiencing “climate anxiety” and statistics say this is on the rise. As we provide vital information about our environment and the eco and climate crisis we face, we can help alleviate fears that may grow with a sense of power as the young people themselves physically do something for the change we need. They are becoming a part of the solution, to reduce the risk of feeling they are victims, and this can be a catalyst to feel empowered as environmental champions.

The more money we can raise, the higher investment we can make in the lives of our younger tree growing community, with resources, a higher level of support, and visits.

SEEDS2TREES needs a community of people to make it work – it needs the growers, but without the financial facilitators, the potential that lies within the tree seed, or the project, cannot grow.

Thank you for your partnership in helping us "grow the change we need", for us, and for our future generations. 

• We would like to add that if we are successful in raising funds for seeds and growing kits from other fundraising avenues, we would like you to be assured that if we reach this target of £8,000, then we will use the money to help towards our stretch target around the educational opportunities of the project, other learning opportunities for all our growers, and the projects' co-ordination.