The Woodland Trust is the UK's largest woodland conservation charity with more than 500,000 members and for 24 years Golden Charter has supported the Trust's crucial work.
As one of the Woodland Trust's longest standing corporate partners Golden Charter makes annual donations and actively raises much needed funds to support woodland conservation, donating a total of over £1,075,000 so far.
Golden Charter's donations to the Woodland Trust are not made from the payments customers make into their funeral plans. The money is donated directly from company profits and from fundraising activities carried out by staff, who also volunteer regularly to take part in the Trust's conservation work.
In 2016, to celebrate 21-years of partnership, employees, friends and family from Golden Charter and the Woodland Trust completed a 21km cycle, run or walk around Loch Katrine, by the Woodland Trust owned Glen Finglas estate raising more than £7,000 for the charity.
What does the Woodland Trust do?
The Woodland Trust is leading the fight to stand up for trees.
The UK is one of the least-wooded countries in Europe, with UK tree cover at 13% compared to an EU average of 37%. Ancient woods and trees, in particular, are some of our most valuable natural assets. They are irreplaceable, and home to many vulnerable and threatened species.
Our trees and woods are challenged by climate change, urban development, pollution, and attack from tree diseases and pests. Dutch elm disease has killed an estimated 25 million trees alone and ash dieback could all but wipe out our ash trees. There has been a 20% fall in woodland bird numbers since 1970 and woodland butterfly numbers are down a staggering 51% since 1991.
Since it was formed in 1972, the Woodland Trust has saved over 615 woods from destruction and constantly campaigns to ensure trees have the legal protection they need. And, from the Scottish Highlands to our city streets, the Woodland Trust has planted 38 million trees planted and counting.
The Trust manages more than 1,000 free-to-visit sites all over the UK, covering over 26,000 hectares. Its ongoing mission is to protect the UK's trees and woods and it campaigns, plant trees, and restores ancient woodland for the benefit of wildlife and people.
How does the partnership benefit the community?
Calls to save our natural environment are becoming louder and louder and more and more people are keen to play their part in helping to protect it. People are consciously making environmentally friendly choices -- from recycling and reducing their own carbon footprints, to choosing to buy from companies who share their beliefs.
Golden Charter's partnership with the Woodland Trust directly supports the charity's conservation efforts and helps safeguard our environment. According to the Woodland Trust, 10 million tonnes of carbon is removed by the UK's trees each year, helping improve air quality and cool the planet.
Wildlife also benefits from the Trust's work. Over 200 of the UK's rarest species, such as red squirrels and cuckoos, are found in ancient woodland; and almost a quarter of threatened bird species depend on woodland habitats.
And we, the general public, also benefit. There are 446 million visits made to UK woodland and forests annually, averaging more than one million per day. Over 90% of people see woodland as a place to relax, unwind and enjoy themselves, highlighting the key role of trees in health and wellbeing.
Buying a funeral plan is something amazing you can do for your family. Supporting the Woodland Trust is something amazing Golden Charter can do for families everywhere.
Golden Charter has one of the largest network of independent funeral directors in the UK. Many are long-standing, family-run businesses and all provide a compassionate and professional service. Find out more about how you can plan for your funeral with one of the funeral directors in our network. Request a free, no obligation information pack below or call 0808 169 4534.
