The secret Tree Angel
Mystery donor gives £100k to fund orchards (as two more firms dig deep)
THe Daily Mail’s mission to create a greener, more beautiful country took a huge leap forward yesterday when a reader donated £100,000 to the Be A Tree Angel campaign.
The generous contribution from the British businessman, who wishes to remain anonymous, will more than double the number of schools that will benefit from new trees.
The donor said he was moved to contribute after reading the Mail’s coverage and wanted to ensure the next generation would be inspired to care for nature and love trees. He also told friends he wanted to help provide a local solution to a global problem.
The six-figure pledge comes a day after the restaurateur and philanthropist Richard Caring contributed £100,000.
The Be A Tree Angel campaign, organised with the Tree Council, urges readers to plant trees and donate money to do so. More than 35,000 trees have been planted or pledged so far, thanks to our magnificent readers who have taken part in tree-planting events across the country.
This newspaper has also given away holly, birch, willow, oak and spruce trees in their thousands to readers.
Support has come from celebrities including Joanna Lumley, Jilly Cooper and Anton du Beke, and organisations such as the National Trust, the Campaign to Protect Rural england and the RSPB.
In a separate branch of the campaign, we have also sought help from businesses.
The latest two donations from businessmen – amounting to £200,000 in two days – mean that rather than funding 1,000 orchards at 1,000 schools, the Be A Tree Angel campaign can now pay for 2,000.
This will include five trees for each school, both planting and aftercare.
As well as helping to foster a greener, more pleasant environment, it will allow children to learn about growing fruit and healthy eating. It will also teach them how trees can help combat global warming caused by greenhouse gases and air pollution.
Further contributions rolled in to the campaign yesterday from Scottish garden centre chain Dobbies, which donated £10,000, and the Lloyds Banking Group, which also gave a substantial sum.
Sara Lom, of the Tree Council, said yesterday: ‘We are humbled by the generosity of the anonymous Tree Angel who has pledged £100,000 to help us plant a further 1,000 orchards in 1,000 schools.
‘This is double our original target. The resulting orchards will help tackle climate change, improve air quality and provide healthy fruit for students and wildlife to enjoy.
‘From generous donations such as this one, to planting a single tree in your garden, everyone can play their part in helping create a tree-filled future.’
She added: ‘We’re delighted to hear Dobbies and Lloyds have made a generous commitment to the Tree Angel campaign and thank them, as well as our other Tree Angels, for their support.’
Graeme Jenkins, chief executive of Dobbies, which is based in Lasswade, Midlothian, said: ‘We are proud to support the campaign in engaging young people and educating them on the issues of climate change and to help play a part in making such a positive impact on the environment.’
David elliott, of Trees for Cities, which helps plant trees at schools, said: ‘We would like to thank the anonymous donor for supporting this fantastic appeal. By planting trees, we celebrate something we all love and cherish.’
The conservation volunteering charity TCv said: ‘This generous donation will make a significant difference, inspiring the next generation of volunteers.’
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