9TREES is celebrating, after being chosen as a finalist for this year’s Matthew Good Foundation Grant.
Michael Cunningham and the team at 9Trees hope to develop the ongoing woodland sites including those in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire.
This will create new jobs and provide educational opportunities that include free woodland practical days for the local community.
9Trees in total, has planted 2000 trees and aims to plant 3000 more on the Llandeilo site in Carmarthenshire, which will be stewarded by them for 50 years. This land will ultimately benefit from carbon dioxide sequestration and provide a beneficial haven for wildlife.
Since launching the community interest company in 2019 Michael and his team have now established ten different sites with a look to expand into every county of the UK over the coming months
9Trees is proud to be able to provide a tangible action that individuals can take to feel empowered to act ethically and responsibly, with this local project being just one of many steps they are taking towards mitigating the effects of climate change and protecting the environment.
Michael Cunningham Director of 9Trees said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted to receive this funding. We are creating employment in the countryside sector, enabling local schools and community members to engage with activities in regards to helping to tackle climate change.
“This funding will ultimately help us to reach more landowners with this free service and create more habitat corridors, plant more nature reserves and shelter belts for farmers. The more trees that we plant, the more carbon dioxide will be sequestered from the atmosphere. In addition to this, the native woodlands that will be created will help support a nature-rich biodiverse habitat for wildlife to thrive.”
The Matthew Good Foundation is a UK-based charity founded by the John Good Group, the parent company of Cardiff based shipping agency, Bay Shipping.
Established in memory of their director, Matthew Good, a passionate philanthropist who died in 2011 at the age of 32, the foundation provides funding to local community groups, charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises that have a positive impact on communities, people or the environment.
The Foundation focuses on promoting a range of sustainable development goals, including no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education, reduced inequalities, climate action, life on water and life on land.
Its mission is to amplify the voices of small charities and social enterprises whose work is often unseen and underfunded.
9Trees has made it into the top 5 for this grant which could provide much-needed employment opportunities in rural areas as well as engage local schools with activities aimed at tackling climate change.
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.
9Trees continues to create amazing shelterbelts, habitat corridors as well as nature reserves, this is all possible by forging relationships with landowners all over the UK, offering them a free service that will see the UK once more rich in biodiversity.
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.
