Plant trees in their memory

A tribute that keeps growing

A tree planted in someone’s memory is a living legacy, with a whole lifetime of growing ahead of it. Trees restore and protect fragile ecosystems, providing shelter, food, habitats and joy.

When you plant trees to remember someone, we make sure each tree is tended by communities of passionate people, in places where they’ll be loved and cared for long after planting day. We’ve been planting trees and restoring forests since 1922, so your trees will be in safe hands.

How we make sure their legacy lasts

Every tree planted through an ITF project starts as a seed, grown in partnership with local people through community nurseries. Each tree is only planted in its permanent home when it’s strong enough to thrive.

After planting, we monitor and protect trees for at least three years, until they’re fully rooted in the environment and strong enough to thrive on their own.

We go beyond simply planting trees. We always choose the right species for the right places, and work through local communities, ensuring trees are loved and protected for decades to come.

When we plant a tree in someone’s memory, we make sure it’s planted properly, with the knowledge and care of generations behind it.

Create a lasting legacy for people and planet

Trees live beyond us all, providing clean air, habitats, shelter and beauty. Trees and forests sustain all living things and protect life on earth.

Your gift today will create a lasting legacy in memory of your loved one, doing good for generations to come.

A gift of any size will be planted with the same care and attention, in a landscape where it will be genuinely needed, loved and cared for.

The cost for planting a single tree starts at £2. If you’d like to plant one or more trees in someone’s memory, we’d be honoured to help.

Where memorial trees are planted

Your trees may one day shelter an elephant calf in Kenya or protect a hillside in Uganda from landslides that threaten the community below.

Read about the projects memorial tree are planted in.

Kenya: restoring habitats for animals

On the slopes of Mount Elgon, internationally recognised as one of the most important wildlife habitats in East Africa, we’re helping to restore Kaboywo forest.

So far, 24,800 trees have gone into the ground, with more than 300 local people involved in planting and caring for them. Their hard work is already paying off – as the forest recovers, wildlife is returning. Kaboywo is one of the places local elephants have chosen to raise their calves and the return of native tree species is creating habitats for birds, insects and other animals that depend on a diverse, functioning forest ecosystem.

Uganda: reducing landslides

On the steep hillsides of Kasese District in western Uganda, where soil erosion and landslides are an increasing threat, we’re supporting the delivery of agroforestry training for local people, then providing hands-on roles in planting and caring for the trees around them.

On Kasese’s steep hillsides these new trees can do vital work: their roots anchor soil, slowing the surface flow of rainwater and reducing the risk of landslides that threaten communities below. The trees we’ve planted here are part of the district’s natural defence against a landscape that, without them, would become increasingly unstable as climate conditions get tougher.

Tanzania: the nursery that changed everything

Near the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, Saumu Salimu checks on rows of seedlings in a community tree nursery we’re supporting, watching for the signs that tell her which ones are ready to be planted out and which need a little longer. It’s careful, patient work, but it’s changed her life.

“This has enabled me to earn an income, which has become my source of a livelihood, to meet my needs and sustain my entire family.”

Salimu is one of many people whose lives are being transformed through ITF projects.

How dedicating trees works

Decide how many trees to plant
Every £2 plants one tree in an ITF project in East Africa.
Select dedicate your donation and follow the steps to complete your gift.
Write a personal message - optional
You can pick a card design and add a dedication to be sent to an email recipient or you can choose to skip this step if you’d prefer.
We plant the trees
We’ll plant your trees and ensure they thrive for generations to come.

If you have any questions about how the planting works, or if you would like to explore a larger or more tailored memorial planting please get in touch with our team at hello@internationaltreehoundation.org.

Why trees matter

Billy Kiptoch is a teacher at a local school involved in our Mount Elgon project. Ask him why his students spend time planting trees and he’ll give you three clear reasons: “We plant trees because we understand their importance. First, some of the trees will produce fruit, secondly, they will help reduce soil erosion and thirdly they will help in cleaning the air.”

Planting trees properly

As the world’s oldest tree planting organisation we have more than a century of experience working with communities to plant trees that restore forests.

We partner with local organisations and communities to help address local problems.
We focus on long term stewardship, we don’t just plant trees we grow them from seed to sapling to thriving forests.
We believe local action creates global change.