Excellent! - excellentdevelopment.com

Forty-four community groups working with Excellent have planted an incredible 104,471 trees in November.

"It is an incredible achievement, particularly when you consider that for each tree a farmer has dug a 2 foot cube hole and transported the seedlings and manure an average of 2km to do so. By Christmas they would have planted another 30,000" enthused Simon Maddrell, Executive Director.

November and December are the optimum time for planting trees in Kenya when the best rains come - with some areas expecting rains in April/May too, which increases the survival rate of trees.

"We hear many glib statements about how people have planted a million trees here and a million trees there in a short space of time. The reality is different. Survival rate of tree seedlings in Kenya is 2% - mainly because most don't get planted. Not only do we grow seedlings where it is very difficult to grow - but we ensure that they get planted right by farmers who really want them. That's why 65-95% of them survive - and that's why they make such a difference" added Simon.

The trees planted range from the exotic to the indigenous and have many uses. 90% of energy required by farmers in Kenya is firewood - so trees are vital to provide a sustainable source of fuelwood. 20% of worldwide CO2 emissions are caused by deforestation. However trees also fertilise soil, prevent soil erosion, and help to absorb rainwater, whilst at the same time providing food, fodder, compost, building materials and even medicines from their wood, leaves and fruit.

Trees help to transform environments - and consequently the lives of those who plant them and benefit from them.

Simon concluded, "Properly tended, 100,000 trees will make a world of difference to the communities in Kenya. We'd like to thank all those who've help make this possible. To say thankyou we have created an electronic Xmas TreeCard, which we hope you share with your friends and family."