Everyone has questions

From 'how do i go live' to 'can you make me a promo video', we've got it all covered for you! How about 'where do you plant' and 'what's the point of trees' - we can answer that too!

Take a look at the information below or book a call and ask away!

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COMMON QUESTIONS

We've collated some of the most frequently asked questions below. Got more? We'd love to hear from you.

How are trees planted and maintained?

Tree planting through GiftTrees follows a thorough, community-led process:

Diners contribute through participating businesses.
Funds are distributed to vetted local planting partners (Tree Planting Organizations - TPOs).
Nurseries are established and farmers are trained.

4. Trees are planted using agroforestry techniques that support both the environment and livelihoods.

Long-term monitoring ensures that trees survive and contribute meaningfully to the ecosystem and local economy

How do you ensure high survival rates?

We work with trusted local partners who engage communities from the outset. Trees are planted on land owned by local farmers, who receive training in agroforestry, soil management, and composting. Community members are involved in seed collection, nursery development, and planting—fostering a strong sense of ownership. After planting, paid local monitors track tree health and report regularly, ensuring early intervention if issues arise. This community-led model results in high survival rates and long-term impact.

How is each £1.23 contribution spent?

The GiftTrees business model, partner ecosystem, technology and investment in whole agroforestry projects, means we carry many costs beyond the simple planting of a tree, in order to be successful in achieving our vision. This includes investing in independent, on the ground, auditing of our projects, developing technology and systems to track and monitor the effectiveness of our tree planting activities, and growing our network to attract more partners, resulting in more trees being planted in communities that need them most.

Learn more about our 2024 Income & Expenses Breakdown

What values guide your work?

Our approach to identifying and working with Tree Planting Organizations is shaped by four core values:

– Sustainability, ensuring long-term environmental, economic, and social outcomes

– Community empowerment, putting decisions in the hands of the people most affected
– Collaboration and shared prosperity, so every stakeholder benefits
– Transparency, with clear, measurable records of where each contribution goes

Why is GiftTrees a for-profit company?

We believe long-term impact is best achieved when social and environmental outcomes are backed by financially sustainable models. As a for-profit company with a purpose-driven mission, we’re able to invest in growth and technology—helping us reach more people, partner with more businesses, and plant more trees.

All GiftTrees partners collect Contributions on behalf of GiftTrees Partners Limited. The term 'Contribution ' is used to distinguish ourselves from the charity model where the term 'Donations' is used.

Where do you plant trees and why?

We focus primarily on Sub-Saharan Africa because it’s where our work can have the greatest ecological and economic impact. The region faces some of the highest rates of deforestation and rural poverty in the world, while also offering the greatest cost-efficiency for planting. Additionally, restoring forests in these regions has immense potential for carbon sequestration and biodiversity recovery.

Who are your planting partners?

We partner with organizations that demonstrate deep local knowledge and proven success in agroforestry. These include:

– Forest Focus (Tanzania)
– Mother Trees (Senegal)
– Friends of Usambara, Greenstand, and Trees for the Future

All our partners are carefully vetted and regularly evaluated to ensure their work aligns with our values and impact goals.

Why do you focus on agroforestry?

Agroforestry combines tree planting with sustainable farming practices and ecosystem regeneration. This approach does more than restore forests—it empowers farmers to grow food, generate income, and improve their soil and water retention. Agroforestry is a holistic solution that addresses poverty, food insecurity, and climate change at the same time.

What types of trees do you plant?

We focus on high-impact, predominantly native species that offer both ecological and economic benefits. These include:

Fruit Trees

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis)
Papaya (Carica papaya & Papaya solo)
Lemon (Citrus limon & Citron volkameriana)
Avocado (Persea americana)
Mango (Mangifera indica)
Guava (Psidium guajava)
Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa)
Indian Jujube or Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana)

Nut Trees

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale)
Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

Agroforestry / Support Species

Gum Arabic Tree / Egyptian Thorn / Prickly Acacia (Acacia nilotica)
Black Thorn (Acacia mellifera)
Gum Arabic Tree (Acacia senegal)
Jerusalem Thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata)
Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas)
Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan)
Quickstick / Madre de Cacao (Gliricidia sepium)
Lead Tree (Leucaena leucocephala)

Spices

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)

These trees are chosen by our Tree Planting Organizations and communities who plant the trees for their ability to thrive in local environments and support livelihoods through food and trade.

How is impact monitored?

We are committed to full transparency and accountability. Every project is monitored through:

– Monthly reporting from partners on planting data e.g. location, GPS coordinates, before/after photos, content of planting day activities, farmer and community details, impact case studies and tree species
– Quarterly partnership reviews to assess project performance against broader social and environmental metrics, including tree survivability rates
– Detailed annual audits of social and environmental outcomes
– On-site external auditor verification to confirm accuracy of self-reported data and analyse project quality

This ensures that every £1.23 contributes to a tree that is tracked, cared for, and making a real difference.

Can I choose where my tree is planted?

While you can choose the species of tree you would like to plant from a pre-defined list of species deemed suitable by our planting communities, we leave the exact planting location to our planting partners and local communities. This ensures that trees are planted where they are most needed and will thrive long term, based on local ecological and social factors.

Are trees geo-tagged?

Rather than tagging individual trees (which can be labor-intensive for planting communities and sometimes counterproductive), we map planting sites as a whole. This allows us to track the impact of the entire ecosystem, rather than isolating single trees—providing a more accurate picture of ecosystem regeneration and community-level transformation.

How can I become a partner or support GiftTrees?

Whether you’re a business looking to join our network or an individual eager to contribute, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out at hello@gifttrees.com or visit our website to learn more. Together, we can restore ecosystems, empower communities, and plant a better future.