Flying to Nepal to take part in a coming of age ceremony felt impossible – as much carbon released into the atmosphere by my return flight as I produce by eating for six months! But then a suggestion from a friend took me on a carbon offset journey.
I have been reading about carbon offsets that aren’t for years (trees would have been planted anyway, money given that doesn’t result in someone else producing less). Then I thought of the Woodland Trust who I have supported on and off for years. They plant and maintain woodland all over the UK. Their corporate carbon offsetting schemes are re-foresting MOD land, so much money = so many trees. So far they don’t have a scheme for individual givers that allows you to get to know the trees you planted, but this may come in time. At the moment you can give regularly or make a major gift.
I have decided to set up a regular gift which will offset my day to day production of CO2 as well as a one off gift that will result in new woodland which over the next many years will continue to store carbon. I put my trust in them to be looking after my trees for long enough for them to store carbon in their roots, trunks and branches, and provide wonderful places for people to visit and love.
skylarkflying 