We donate one native tree for every casket we make in partnership with Trees for Survival, an environmental education programme working with young Kiwis. When choosing a Return to Sender casket, you’re effectively giving back to the environment and creating a living legacy of your loved one from the native tree we donate on your behalf. One pine tree makes around 10 caskets, which means we give back more trees than we use.
Trees for Survival is a charitable trust that delivers an educational environmental programme in schools. It sees students growing and planting native trees to restore natural habitats by helping landowners revegetate erosion-prone land, improve stream flow and water quality and increase biodiversity.
Primary through to high school students are involved: high school students use this as part of the NCEA requirements. Trees for Survival not only provides practical experience for our children, they’re also educating our future generation who will one day be responsible for New Zealand.
The Native Tree Programme donates monthly to Trees for Survival. The trees are planted across Whangarei, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Wellington. The students nurture locally-sourced seedlings until they’re big enough to plant.
During May to August, the students plant the native trees on at-risk land to improve waterways, erosion and wetlands. These planting areas are carefully maintained over the years to ensure maximum tree growth. Trees for Survival monitor these areas to provide evidence of land and waterway improvements, including water testing to show cleaner water.
Yes, we’d love you to! It’s a beautiful way to celebrate a loved one. We work directly with the schools to help the students with their planting days. Space is limited so if you’d like to join in, please email us to register your interest. We’ll contact you with more information when planting days have been confirmed within your region.
