IKEA stores across the UK celebrate raising £1 million for the Woodland Trust
Children across the UK have taken part in a range of environmental activities to celebrate the success of creating 230 acres of new native woodland, thanks to IKEA.
Through its Foot of Forest campaign IKEA has raised about £1 million for the Woodland Trust - enabling the charity to create an area of woodland big enough to fill the entire area of the Olympic Village in London.
To celebrate this achievement children visiting the stores this week have taken part in various eco-activities, such as acorn planting and a woodland nature trail. IKEA co-workers have also been tree planting to mark the company's commitment to sustainability.
To mark the occasion children were asked to wear wellies, as part of the Trust's 'Give It Some Welly' campaign, which is an exciting new initiative designed to raise funds to help the Trust plant new native trees throughout the UK.
Sue Holden, chief executive of the Woodland Trust said: "I would like to thank customers of IKEA for helping to raise such a huge amount of money for the Woodland Trust.
"The woodland created through IKEA's funding will be enjoyed by people of all ages, help wildlife thrive, combat climate change and improve our environment. Through your help the Trust is one step closer to realising our long term vision of doubling native woodland cover in the UK."
A donation of 10p is made to the Woodland Trust every time a customer swipes their IKEA FAMILY card in store, which is enough to pay for a square foot of forest to be created by the Woodland Trust.
Charlie Browne, IKEA UK's Sustainability Development Manager, said: "It is fantastic that so many people have come into store and swiped their IKEA FAMILY card. It has taken a huge number of swipes to create this much woodland and everyone at IKEA is incredibly proud of what has been achieved.
"IKEA is committed to sustainability and we hope the woodland we have helped create will have an overall positive impact on local communities - the length and breadth of the UK."