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~ the monthly gather ~

Trees: what's the big deal?

Hey there, gatherer. Do you know your beeches from your birches?

Over the last 15 years, nature words have been dropped from new dictionaries. We've said 'bye' to acorn + bluebell, and 'hello' to broadband + voicemail... While we're no Luddites, spending more time indoors = less time in nature. How can we protect something we don't even realise we're missing? It's a tough one. 

We need trees. They give us life; more than cleaner air and turning carbon into oxygen. Living near or even spotting one out your window makes you healthier and happier. Who doesn't want lower stress levels, better brain function and longevity? Sign us up!

The UK's only 13% woodland, making us the second least wooded country in Europe only behind Ireland. Yikes. There's no green solution without trees. They're vital in storing carbon, especially the ancient ones. To combat climate change, we've gotta look at doubling our tree cover - a big, big rewilding task ahead.

Meanwhile, the UK's global deforestation footprint is huge thanks to damaging supply chains. Trees cleared for cattle, palm oil, soy (to feed livestock), cocoa + coffee... you get the idea. The Amazon's now producing way more carbon than it's sinking. We've gotta curb our consumption.


Our countryside is AMAZING. Let's enjoy + celebrate it together. We've more oaks than the rest of Europe combined - one million in London alone! Plus nearly half the world's bluebells. Catch 'em before they're gone at Nunhead Cemetery (keep an eye out for the free tree walks there, too).

Team Gather x

PS: Event time! This one's super exciting. Drum roll... we've teamed up with Mr Bao (one of our fave Peckham joints) for a kimchi workshop on Thurs 18 May. You'll learn the ins + outs of kimchi and leave with your own self-seasoned jar, voilà. Get your ticket + more info here.

Low-impact living: our top tips this month

Trees + woodlands are all around us - even in London. As summer rolls around, their canopy will offer us a welcome break from the sun's rays. Let's try to give back. It can be a lil' tricky to trace how much your day-to-day choices impact our tall friends, though... Here are a few ways to help get you started. 
Go for FSC: This label lets you know your paper-based goods come from well-managed woodlands. Supporting workers rights, biodiversity + fighting forest loss. 
Find a local woods: Hug a tree or climb it, and learn how to identify leaves. Listen to birdsong, walk barefoot + have a picnic (take your litter and collect any you see).
Plant an orchard: Fruit trees bring joy - from the blossoms in the spring to harvesting in the autumn. Short on space? Find a community orchard near you.
Support better supply chains: Look for Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certifications on your coffee + cocoa. Try less meat and opt for sustainable palm oil

Spotlight on... our tree-friendly products

We stock some great brands doing their bit to protect woodlands and forests near + far. Reducing paper-based production, consumption + waste = good all round.  

Ditch single-use kitchen roll: try Zero Waste Club’s reusable organic cotton version. They're super soft, absorbent and last aaaages - saving you pennies, too. For your loo roll, we've got Who Gives A Crap. 100% recycled paper (no virgin trees here), soft 3-ply, double-length rolls.
 
New to our shelves: Hey Girls period products. They're a fab social enterprise (like us) with a buy one, donate one scheme. We've got plastic-free, organic cotton + bamboo liners, pads + tampons. We love 'em. And if you wanna go reusable, try a cup. We love Ruby Cup - and with a 120 day money-back guarantee (!), what's to lose?

Skip paper bags and heavy jars and grab a pair of our reusable bags instead. We've got recycled cotton, or lush onion-skin dyed hemp bags that are hand-made in London. Super for filling up with your Gather pantry faves: pulses, grains, seeds, nuts... Bonus: no extra-heavy bag home.

Avid coffee drinker? Stock up on Old Spike next time you pop in. Roasted around the corner, the coffee's forest-friendly and they plant a tree for every bag sold. They're also a social enterprise, fighting homelessness. Super stuff. 

Our striking olive wood chopping boards and soap dishes are hand-carved from 'retired' trees no longer producing olives. Yup, they're lush. And last up: bamboo toothbrushes + electric toothbrush heads from Truthbrush. Bamboo grows super fast and can even regrow itself from its root system - wow. 

'Pining for the Forest: The Health and Climate Benefits of Trees'. Ever wondered why getting outside makes you feel so good? Well, this is for you. 

'The Hidden Life of Trees' by Peter Wohlleben.  An insight into the out-of-sight workings of trees - how they talk, feel and live in their own world.


'A Blind Man and His Armless Friend Plant a Forest in China'. A tearjerker, yet uplifting. Hope and resistance are found in an unlikely village in China.

@rewilding_mycology. A top-notch go-to when it comes to all things UK fungi - crucial for the health of our trees and rewilding efforts.
Wanna take action?
  • Volunteer: To be a tree warden - let's get outside! Find a Tree Council group near you. Keep an eye out for National Tree Week (25 Nov - 3 Dec), too, the UK's biggest celebration of trees. 
     
  • SupportThe Fourth Reserve Foundation's a great local charity. They recently raised enough money to buy Gorne Woods in Brockley - a wonderful neglected ancient wood now saved by community TLC.
     
  • Check outLondon’s Urban Tree Festival, 13-21 May. A perfect day out for anyone craving a nature fix. Chock full of fab talks, woodland walks + film screenings for adults + kiddos alike. 

~ all about you ~

We'd love to know: what've you been learning - or unlearning?
Any local eco-related happenings you'd like us to shout about? 
And how can we help you on your journey to a low-impact life?

 
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121 Bellenden Road
London SE15 4QY

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