In every country, in every culture, there are stories and traditions about trees. They make us who we are.

Redempta tells us her extraordinary story, and about her mission to see the ravaged Dundori Forest restored.  

It’s currently the rainy season in East Africa and planting and restoration activities are in full swing. Joshua, Edwin, Korir, Mercy and Wycliffe have been spending a lot of time visiting all of the projects, away from their families.

A new generation of tree-lovers appear in Katooke, Uganda.

This week, at our office in Oxford we sorted though our post to find an envelope from Buckingham palace. We were delighted that inside was a letter with wonderful news.

Our trustee reviews Hedgelands: A wild wander around Britain’s greatest habitat, which waxes lyrical on the subject of British country hedgerows.

The humble hedge is the face of much of Britain. However, its ubiquity has led to the hedge being overlooked and taken for granted. After decades of neglect, the hedge is finding favour once more as enthusiasts come to the defence of this once-loved asset.

“The biggest challenge here is charcoal burning,” explains Eliza Apolo. “People cut the trees carelessly because they have no money to take their children to school or even to buy food for their homes.” But things are changing in this community.

Deforestation has pushed our natural world to the brink. Landslides, droughts and floods are worsening. But it’s not too late. We can harness the power of trees to protect our future.

“When disaster strikes, it’s the women and the children who suffer the most. By including women in the reforestation, they’ll take care of the trees because they’ve been taught about the dangers of deforestation.”

Trees pre-date us spectacularly. Not only have they stood through the seasons while kingdoms have risen and fallen, they have survived from before the rise of the dinosaur to long past their extinction.

Did you ever stop to wonder how some of the old hedges acquired their fantastic shapes — thick, tangled horizontal boughs with vertical trunks, perhaps now fully grown trees?  

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the incredible women in Africa who are at the forefront of environmental conservation.

This month I travelled to Kenya to visit the communities and local organisations with whom we are working and to spend time with our amazing local team to see the impact of our work on the ground.

With training and resources, smallholder farmers in Mbunga sub-county, Uganda are transforming their lives and restoring agricultural landscapes by planting trees and keeping bees.

Pests and diseases in their many guises, have a major impact on our native trees and woodlands and the wildlife associated with them. 

Some organisations focus on dealing with carbon – the cause of the climate crisis. Others deal with the consequences – working to support climate-vulnerable communities. ITF is responding to both. 

In West Pokot County, Kenya, the scars of rampant deforestation for charcoal production run deep. But thanks to the wonderful support of people like you, the community is planting and growing trees that will help restore degraded landscapes and build resilience.

Your love of trees helped communities to harness the power of trees to restore forests, create sustainable livelihoods and grow a greener, healthier planet for us all.

Zai pit is a simple and affordable technique that can help farmers in dry areas like Kitui County to improve their livelihoods by helping them grow their crops more successfully.