Our Story
Tree2mydoor is the UK’s original living gift company. Since 2003 we have been on a mission to restore the meaning of gifting. We help people celebrate life’s moments with gifts that last a lifetime with trees, plants and roses that grow with memory, love and connection. This is our story.
Where it all began
The seed of Tree2mydoor was planted in 2000. Gareth Mitchell, our founder, had just moved to London after graduating. With Christmas approaching, he wanted to send something meaningful and lasting to his parents back home in Northern Ireland.
He thought of fruit trees. A gift that would keep on giving with every blossom and harvest. But when he searched online, he found no one delivering trees as gifts. Carrying them through an airport wasn’t exactly practical either. So the idea was put aside for the time being.
That gap in the market kept coming back to him. Why shouldn’t we give trees instead of flowers or plastic-filled hampers? Why couldn’t gifting be both thoughtful and sustainable? A living gift seemed the obvious answer. In Gareth’s words, “a gift that grows, not one that goes.”
Roots in nature
The idea of Tree2mydoor didn’t just come from frustration with the gift industry. It grew from Gareth’s childhood in the wild beauty of Northern Ireland.
Roots that shaped a lifelong bond with nature.
Raised near the Glens of Antrim, he spent his Tuesdays exploring windswept cliffs and rural valleys with his grandfather Tom, a butcher with a quiet soul and a deep connection to the land. They gathered seaweed on the shore, foraged hazelnuts and blackberries, and cut walking sticks from blackthorn. Those simple traditions created a lifelong bond with nature.
Years later, after working in corporate publishing and marketing positions, Gareth joined a small charity focused on regeneration. But the thought of gifting a tree, something rooted in care for people and planet, never left him. Eventually he handed in his notice, determined to make the vision real.
From kitchen table to national stage
Tree2mydoor.com quietly launched in 2002. By 2003, with support from The Prince’s Trust, the new Tree2mydoor Ltd company was born and the website went live again in November during National Tree Week. The mission was simple: to transform gifting by offering trees and plants that carried lasting meaning.
Seven months later, the Ancient Wisdom Tree Gifts collection, native UK trees with Celtic symbolism and lore, won a national Gift of the Year Award. The award ceremony, held at The Savoy Hotel in London, turned a personal idea into a recognised national brand. Customers, press and partners all began to take notice.
Since then, Tree2mydoor has grown steadily. We have delivered over half a million trees and plants across the UK and beyond. Our gifts have been chosen for weddings, anniversaries, new homes, memorials and milestones. Some have even been sent by members of the Royal Family and well-known public figures. Every order represents something bigger: love, remembrance and sustainability taking root.
Award winning innovation
Over the years, Tree2mydoor has been at the forefront of gifting innovation and our company has been recognised with multiple awards for innovation and service. These accolades reflect our commitment to combining heritage, innovation and care in everything we do. You can find out more about our past awards by visiting our Awards page.
Weathering storms
Like the trees we send, Tree2mydoor has faced its own seasons of challenge. As a small independent business we have weathered tough times: the financial recession of the late 2000s, the uncertainty of Covid in the early 2020s, and deeply personal trials.
In 2014, our founder Gareth and his family faced the premature birth of their son. The impact on life and business was immense, but with support and resilience, both family and company pulled through. Gareth’s wife went on to establish the family neonatal support charity Spoons, turning personal challenge into lasting support for other families.
These experiences shaped us. They reminded us that growth is rarely simple, but always possible. Just as every tree bends with the wind and stands tall again, Tree2mydoor has kept going. We are rooted in purpose, sustained by our customers, and determined to keep gifting meaningfully for years to come.
Changing the story of gifting
Every year billions are spent on mass-produced gifts: bottles of fizz, cut flowers, vouchers and novelty items that end up forgotten, wasted or in landfill. We wanted to tell a different story. One where gifting restores connection rather than clutter.
Our purpose is simple. We help people give gifts that last. A tree planted in a garden or a rose bush by the front door becomes a living reminder of love. It grows with the seasons, shelters wildlife, and stands as a marker of special occasions.
“We give our best when we are present.” — Tree2mydoor brand story
By choosing living gifts, our customers are not only creating memories but also joining a quiet movement for change. A movement away from industrial gifting and towards gifts rooted in nature.
What makes us different?
- Exclusive packaging: our patented tree gift boxes ensure safe delivery and a magical unboxing moment.
- Recipient support: every gift is backed by our MyTree™ care service with seasonal tips and a lifetime warranty.
- Sustainable sourcing: we work with trusted UK growers who share our values and minimise impact on the planet.
- Ethical partnerships: we have collaborated with charities including Trees for Cities and Fauna & Flora International to support wider planting initiatives.
- Customer care: when something goes wrong, we put it right. We believe gifting should feel joyful, not stressful.
Looking ahead
Two decades on, Tree2mydoor continues to grow. Our aim is not just to deliver gifts, but to change the way people think about gifting. We see a future where living gifts become the norm. We want people to celebrate milestones with something real, lasting and nature-positive.
We will continue to innovate with packaging, expand our ranges of trees, roses and plants, and work with partners who share our values. Whether you are an individual sending love to a friend or a business recognising colleagues and clients, we invite you to gift differently: to gift with meaning.
With opportunities for expansion into new territories, its an exciting time for the future of our brand. Visit our investors page if you are interested in funding and investment opportunities.
Join our quiet movement
Tree2mydoor began with one person’s search for a better way to give. Today it is a community of thousands, planting memories across the UK and beyond. Every order is a step towards restoring connection, between people, between generations, and between us and nature.
When you choose a living gift, you are part of this story. Together, we are bringing back the humanity of gifting, one tree at a time.
Browse our living gifts and send something meaningful today.