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ISLANDERS have been urged to spend their ‘Spend Local’ £100 vouchers at Acorn – and help plant 100 oak trees. This will be benefiting the Island’s environment in more ways than one.
Each customer who uses their bonus £100 from the Government of Jersey, which is due to be distributed next month in an effort to boost the economy, will be given a free acorn-planting mini-kit.
The initiative is a collaboration between Acorn Enterprises and Jersey Trees for Life.
Jersey Trees for Life senior community fundraiser Beverley Dallas-Chapman said: ‘We are thrilled to be working with Acorn Enterprises on this initiative. We are hoping that people will use some or all of their vouchers to purchase items from Acorn Re-use and receive their mini-planting kit to help the Jersey Trees for Life Hedgerow Campaign, which starts again in November.
‘Trees for Life are planting hedgerows and trees around Jersey to create or reconnect living corridors for the benefit of the Island’s biodiversity, as well as providing food and safe passages for wildlife. We are hoping that this initiative will provide much-needed oak saplings to plant within our hedgerow whips. 100 oak saplings would make a huge difference to our campaign.’
In the spring, the two charities will announce how people can return their saplings to them so that they can be taken into the care of Jersey Trees for Life.
Encouraging Islanders to consider spending some of their £100 in charity shops, Acorn general manager Steve Pearce said: ‘We wanted to be able to offer something back to our loyal customers, who have been so great in coming back to us after 15 weeks’ closure. We have lived through unprecedented times and, having had to spend thousands on PPE and new storage systems, we could do with the boost that the Government is hoping for.
‘We are saying there is no better place for you to spend your money than at Acorn, for so many reasons. We are here to provide work and training for people who have a disability or long-term health condition. Buying here is great for the environment, as we are re-using goods that might otherwise have been thrown away.
‘We also know that our service is particularly valuable at this time to people whose incomes have been affected by the pandemic.
‘Every penny we make goes back into helping people with a disability or long-term health condition.
‘Your money really will go further at Acorn – and you can grow an oak for future generations as well.’
