A living legacy

Not long ago, I was gazing up at a huge East African camphor tree close to Mount Kenya. It had been planted by communities as part of one of ITF’s early projects in 1956. The people who planted it could never have known who would benefit from it decades later, yet it is still there – part of the forest and producing seed for a new generation of trees. It made me reflect that some of the most worthwhile things we do are those whose full impact we may never live to see.

I often ask people if they have a favourite tree, perhaps one they remember from childhood, one they pass every day, or simply one they love for its beauty. Trees connect us deeply with particular places and moments in our lives.

Working with trees and forests also changes your sense of time. At newly restored sites, there is often not much to see at first: young seedlings, bare ground and a great deal of hope. You have to imagine what might be there in twenty, fifty or a hundred years. Forests recover over decades. Wildlife returns over generations.

That is part of what makes this work so rewarding. We are not only responding to the problems we see today. We are helping communities protect and restore landscapes that will matter to people who have not yet been born.

A gift left to ITF in your Will can become part of that story. It could help communities restore threatened forests, protect rare trees, grow and plant the next generation of native species and create healthier landscapes for people and wildlife. It is a way to carry those values forward, by helping protect and restore forests for people and wildlife long into the future.

Gifts in Wills also help us think further ahead. Restoring a forest cannot be rushed. They give us the confidence to make long-term commitments to communities and landscapes, and to be ambitious about what can be restored and protected.

Thinking about a Will can also prompt conversations about what matters to us. Talking with family and friends about the places, people and causes we care about can be valuable in itself, a chance to share the memories and values behind the choices we make.

Standing beneath that beautiful camphor tree planted in 1956 reminded me that decisions made in one lifetime can still shape a landscape many decades later.

If trees and forests have mattered to you during your life, a gift in your Will can help give them the time they need – to grow, recover and become part of a future none of us will fully see. And if it is something you have been meaning to do, making or updating your Will is a simple way to put those intentions into practice.

Thinking about leaving a gift to ITF?

If you are thinking about making or updating your Will, Esther, who looks after legacy giving at ITF, would be very happy to answer any questions and explain how including a gift to ITF might work. There is no obligation at all and ITF can also contribute up to £150 towards the cost. If it is something you have been meaning to sort out, this could be a simple opportunity to do so.