A fundraising target for our Seeds2Trees project has been topped thanks to the generosity of our supporters, partners, businesses, and the Aviva Community Fund.
The money raised in just six weeks came to more than £9000 which will enable the supply of seeds to our growers. It will also help develop provision of the educational resources for younger growers and our investment into schools.
Our tree-growing volunteers spend two years nurturing seeds which we supply into seedlings, which will then move on to our community nursery. It’s the first stage in the creation of essential new woodland, and is made possible by the fantastic support for Living Woods. “We believe it’s really important now to develop our resources for educational settings and families,” says project manager Lara Young.
Seeds2Trees had an opportunity to receive match funding from the Aviva Community Fund in a window of just six weeks. Says Lara: “This is a big moment. Progressing the change we need has hit 100% of the target, thanks to more than 90 supporters, including original and new business supporters, 17 of whom gave through the Aviva Employee Giving scheme.
“This means that there is enough money to supply the people who wish to grow trees in Round 3 of our project. And we now have a foundation to begin to develop educational resources and enable families and schools to join the project.”
The fundraising will continue to support the project as it grows. “But for now, we just want to say a massive thank you to all who have made this possible, and to Aviva for the matched fiunding,” said Lara.
The businesses who donation via Aviva were:-
Northern Structures (Fam Plan) Ltd
Nova Construction Products Ltd
Barrett Steel t/a Parson & Crossland
Other gifts in kind, one off donations, and regular giving included support from:
North East Timber Trade Association
“Virtually all the businesses have donated to specifically support schools engagement and the development and delivery of our new educational package for educational settings and familie,” said Lara. “Our initial target of £8000 was exceeded, which helps us as we move onto further fundraising for the educational resources and needs of the project.”