THE COMPANY behind a west Dorset tea producer has planted more than 1,500 trees to help reforestation in Kenya.

Staff from Wessanen UK, which owns Beaminster-based Clipper Teas, joined the International Tree Foundation (ITF) pm a planting mission in the Mount Kenya Forest.

During the seven-day trip, the group planted more than 1,500 trees contributing to ITF’s centenary campaign to plant 20 million trees in Kenya’s highland forests by 2024.

Beth Roxburgh and Aida Tamulyte, from Wessanen UK were joined on the trip by members of the Tree Sisters charity, ITF staff and the Mount Kenya environmental conservation group who are coordinating the planting in Mount Kenya Forest.

The trip provided Beth and Aida the opportunity to experience first-hand how the company is helping to support local projects and communities in Kenya.

Ann Chambers, human resources director at Wessanen UK, said: “At Wessanen UK we are hugely passionate and supportive of the great work the International Tree Foundation does to help local communities and they share our belief in the importance of community-led sustainability.

“The trip was a fantastic opportunity for our employees to see the value of our partnership with ITF, and how it is changing people’s lives in some of the most deprived communities in Kenya.

“It shows how much we can achieve as a business. By supporting ITF and planting more trees we are slowing global warming, giving jobs to people, giving them food, providing wood for furniture, firewood and others important products, protecting homes for animals, birds and insects and much more.

“More trees means a healthier and greener planet.”

Last November, Wessanen UK funded a large-scale planting scheme with the ITF in Mount Kenya wherein 50,000 trees were added to the landscape – a plot of land Beth and Aida were able to visit on the trip.

ITF's work includes giving the women working in tree nurseries more financial independence and opportunities and sharing knowledge with younger generations about the value of trees through the 20 trees and me initiative.

Naomi Hope, ITF communications and fundraising officer, said: "The Mount Kenya tree challenge was a great opportunity to engage Wessanen UK staff in our work on the ground.

"Wessanen UK are the first corporate sponsor of the 20 million trees campaign, and their support allowed us to launch the first tree planting activities in November last year.

“International Tree Foundation values community-led forestry, and the trip allowed us to meet with the community members, many of them women’s groups, who are engaged in reforesting their country."

She added: “It was inspiring to see Beth and Aida working hand in hand with the local community to plant the first trees of the season.

"At a time when Kenya is experiencing widespread drought, the 20 million trees campaign is more important than ever. Trees play a vital role in maintaining the country’s rivers, lakes and drinking water, as well as providing sustainable livelihoods to rural populations and a whole list of other benefits.”