Miténgo Coffee and RippleAfrica donate oak trees to Ysgol Clywedog
Category : Events
Wrexham school Ysgol Clywedog have linked up with Chester based coffee company Miténgo Coffee and African charity RippleAfrica.com to do their bit to help in the UK’s target to plant 50 million new trees per year, aiming to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
Miténgo, which means “Trees” in the Malawian language of Chichewan, have donated a number of English Oak trees to the school to plant in their grounds.
Miténgo works with partners in Malawi (RippleAfrica.com) donating 25p per 250g packet of coffee sold to plant one tree (given the seed, soil, water, labour costs). What is more, by using the unique Miténgo TreeMap you can see exactly where these trees are planted around the world, including Ysgol Clywedog.
Across Malawi, like the rest of the word, many areas of previously forested areas have been cut down for building materials, for farmland, slash and burn agriculture, and used as a fuel source. This loss of forest area is contributing to the Climate Crisis and destruction of animal habitats. It is incredibly important that community groups who are taking a positive stance towards forest conservation and reforestation efforts get the assistance they need, no matter where they are in the world.
Locally, the planting of these trees will boost the biodiversity of the area, encouraging more birds, insects and mammals to live around the school. They will also act as a legacy enabling pupils to benefit from cleaner air in the future.
Matt Vickery, Head Teacher, said: ‘It is vital that students learn about the big issues that will affect their lives over the next 50 years. You can see with the influence of Greta Thunberg and the ongoing international student strikes and protests, that young people feel empowered to take control of their futures. The donation from Miténgo Coffee allowing the school to plant these trees, gives students here the opportunity to join the fight and support their studies.’
The students at Ysgol Clywedog will be planting the trees in September and will be learning about them and their links to the RippleAfrica.com project. This links to their studies on the Climate Crisis, deforestation, ecosystems and global development.