Support the Woodland Trust with the Swipe of a Card

Everyone's favourite furniture retailer IKEA has teamed up with the Woodland Trust with the ultimate aim of creating 181 hectares of new woodland in the UK, the equivalent of 362 football pitches of trees. IKEAs offering would increase the Woodland Trusts land ownership by 0.9%.

Each time someone uses their IKEA Family loyalty card instore, they will donate a square foot of forest. The IKEA Family card is a reward and loyalty scheme that's completely free. As a member, you'll get exclusive offers, inspirational ideas and even a free cuppa.

The UK needs more trees – lots more! The UK is the least wooded country in Europe. Only 12% is covered by woodland, compared to a European average of 44%. The Woodland Trust is a UK charity established in 1972 dedicated to the protection and creation of woodland. It owns more than 1,000 woods throughout the UK which are open to the public, every day the area of woods and forests increases, and last month we heard of their efforts to grow the largest continuous native forest in England, after purchasing 850 acres of land.

Trees generate oxygen, store carbon, stabilise the soil, are home to wildlife and form a stunning part of our landscape. Woods, specifically our ancient woodland, are our richest wildlife habitat.

Since 1950, 98% of wildflower meadows and 190,000km of hedgerows have been destroyed. What's more, global deforestation accounts for 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. It's a serious issue.

New woodland can help wildlife adapt to climate change. It can help in flood prevention, improving water quality, urban regeneration and enhancing landscapes.

You may consider that it would be an odd partnership for one of the World's largest furniture retailers, using copious amounts of wood, to support efforts of the Woodland Trust. However, both support the use of wood sourced from sustainable forests. Sustainable forests are managed to benefit the local economy, community and wildlife, where at least one tree is replanted for every one that's extracted.

IKEA, doesn't accept timber from intact natural forests or forests with a high conservation value. Their aim is to source all our wood from well-managed forests verified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

So next time your at IKEA make sure you swipe your card, and you will help ensure that the UK has woods and forests for future generations.


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