How a Harborough-based business is aiming to help plant thousands of trees this winter

Top high street fashion brand Joules is aiming to help plant thousands of trees this winter to give the environment a huge shot in the arm.

The iconic Market Harborough-based clothing trailblazer is joining forces with its charity partner the Woodland Trust, the UK’s largest woodland conservation group.

Joules will plant a tree with the Woodland Trust for every one of its Woodland Edit’s 19 products sold over the Christmas period after launching its new venture on Friday November 6.

The eco-friendly firm is vowing to plant a quarter of a million trees by 2022.

The Woodland Trust is striving to plant 50 million trees by 2025 – as the UK is one of the least-forested countries in Western Europe.

That would be a fifth of what the Government’s Committee for Climate Change says is needed to meet the nation’s 2050 net zero carbon emission target.

The edit includes festive favourites such as Joules’ ‘Cracking Christmas Jumper’ which can be worn by all the family (including four-legged friends!) and will make the perfect yuletide gift.

In addition to the launch of the edit, Joules has unveiled its Christmas animation ‘A Woodland Tale’ to the public.

The heart-warming video aims to highlight the Woodland Trust, the need to give back to nature and to protect the endangered species, including the red squirrel, pine marten, capercaillie and door mouse.

Both Joules and the Woodland Trust have a huge love and commitment for the Great Outdoors.

Nick Jones, the chief executive at Joules, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the Woodland Trust over the festive period in support of our long-term partnership and pledge to plant 250,000 trees by 2022.

“The past challenging months have led all of us to enjoy the great outdoors more than ever.

“At Joules we feel passionately about protecting it for generations to come and through our festive Woodland Edit it is really easy, and enjoyable, for our customers to give back.

“The ultimate feel good gift!’

Karl Mitchell, the Woodland Trust’s director of fundraising, said: “We are delighted with Joules’s commitment to creating more woodland in the UK.

“We have pledged to plant 50 million trees by 2025 but will not be able to achieve this on our own.

“We need the support of businesses, schools, communities and the Government.”

He added: “These trees from Joules will be a vital step to helping us achieve this aim and will bring some festive cheer to such a difficult year.”

Joules will contribute £1.25 from the sale price of each woodland collection piece sold between October 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020 to the Woodland Trust.

If the charitable proceeds generated are less than £100,000, Joules has agreed to contribute an additional amount to the Woodland Trust to make the total sum donated up to £100,000.

You can find out more about the company’s Woodland Edit here: https://www.joules.com/Womens-Clothing/The-Edit?mmid=Women-_-Collections-_-TheWoodlandEdit