Apple tech guru Sir Jonathan Ive donates £100,000 to the Mail’s tree-planting campaign
- Sir Jonathan Ive said the Be A Tree Angel campaign was dear to his heart
- Donation will fund 1,000 orchards to be planted in 1,000 schools across Britain
- Network Rail pledged £1million over four years planting 20,000 trees in first year
He’s best known as the creative genius behind Apple’s technological innovations.
But now, Sir Jonathan Ive has turned his hand to orchards – generously donating £100,000 to the Daily Mail’s tree-planting campaign.
Sir Jony said the Be A Tree Angel campaign, in which thousands of trees will be planted across Britain, was dear to his heart as he finds trees ‘profoundly good for learning and creating’.
The incredible six-figure donation will fund 1,000 orchards to be planted in 1,000 schools across Britain – a fitting legacy from a British designer whose work has fuelled Apple’s huge success. Our campaign, organised with The Tree Council has had a phenomenally successful week.
Sir Jonathan Ive has generously donated £100,000 to the Daily Mail’s tree-planting campaign. Pictured: Sir Jonathan and his wife Heather Pegg Ive
On Saturday, Network Rail pledged £1million over four years – planting 20,000 trees in the first year alone as part of a pilot project.
It came after great generosity from business leaders last week, as restaurant mogul Richard Caring, tycoon Lord Sugar and an anonymous businessman each donated £100,000. Together with Sir Jony’s pledge of £100,000, their donations total £400,000 – enough to fund 4,000 orchards in schools.
The money will also provide aftercare to ensure the trees thrive – helping to fight pollution around schools, help to curb climate change and make Britain greener.
The campaign has been backed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, celebrities such as Joanna Lumley and Ben Fogle and organisations such as the National Trust, RSPB, the Woodland Trust and CPRE. Further donations have come from Sainsbury’s, Lloyds Bank and Dobbies garden centres.
Sir Jony said the Be A Tree Angel campaign, in which thousands of trees will be planted across Britain, was dear to his heart
Sir Jony, who now runs a design business, LoveFrom – which continues to work with Apple – told of why he donated to the campaign – and how he created acres of orchards when creating Apple’s California headquarters.
The designer, originally from Stafford, said: ‘I love trees and over the years have climbed them, eaten and fallen from them, and planted as many as I can.’
He added: ‘I love sitting in their shade. One of the ideas that was fundamental to Apple Park’s design was creating acres of parkland and orchards. Being able to contribute to a project so close to my heart is fabulous.’ As well as accepting donations from corporate and business donors, the campaign is urging Daily Mail readers to contribute either cash or nectar points, and so far funds have been pledged to plant more than 35,000 trees – with many more to come.
This newspaper has also given away thousands of holly, willow, oak, birch and living Christmas trees as part of the campaign.
Want to find out more or donate? Visit www.beatreeangel.com