As we say hello to a new decade we continue our commitment to doing the best we can for our planet from our little corner of Devon!
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In 2020 we will continue to update you with where your trees are being planted at the end of each month.  For January we decided to help Australia after the terrible fires recently.  Our trees will not be planted until the fires have subsided and the soil is ready, to ensure that the restoration of important wildlife habitats is as successful as possible after such devastation.

As you may have seen on our social media, this is quite a personal one for us having visited this beautiful country.  We are so pleased to be able to start a new year afresh by contributing trees to a part of the world we know and love.

Wishing you all a very happy New Year from everyone at The Drifting Bear Co.⁠

* Image courtesy of 'One Tree Planted'

Guatemala has one of the most extensive and diverse forest systems in Central America. Its name is said to mean "land of the trees" in the Mayan-Toltec language. Sadly, the country is losing these precious forests at a rapid rate. Because of its topography, Guatemala is susceptible to landslides, floods and other natural disasters. However, the biggest driver of deforestation has been population growth and economic disparity. With more than one million hectares of land that could be harnessed for reforestation, planting tree here helps to bring back the healthy forests that have characterised the country since ancient times.⁠
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Thank you for all your orders during November and helping us make a difference - it means so much to us!

* Image courtesy of 'One Tree Planted'

Well September flew by! We're well on the road to Christmas now - gradually getting prepared, but I'm not sure there will ever be a year we are totally prepared, surely that's no fun?!!⁠

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Thanks to all your lovely orders during September we will be working with our partners to plant trees in the Andes.⁠
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Our amazing partners are leading a Latin America-wide initiative to restore 1 million hectares of high Andean forest across 6 countries over the next 25 years. As part of the annual tree-planting festival Queuña Raymi, trees will be planted with the guidance of local leaders using ancient Incan traditions, preserving the landscape and Indigenous culture. The tree planting will help restore wetlands, safeguard existing forest, and protect critical Amazon headwaters. ⁠

* Photo courtesy of 'One Tree Planted'.

Lots of trees will be planted in Kenya thanks to all your orders during a busy August for The Drifting Bear Co! Each order placed on our website plants one tree, and this month we have chosen for our trees to be planted in Kenya’s Kijabe Forest - a place that was once dominated by trees but around two thirds has now been lost due to over-extraction of resources and illegal timber harvesting⁠.
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A community of almost 200,000 people depend on the forest for water, wood, and agriculture. Planting trees here will help protect this vital ecosystem, promote environmental education, and foster sustainable livelihoods through seed collection and ecotourism.⁠

* Image courtesy of 'One Tree Planted'.