Tree2mydoor Press Coverage in The Manchester Evening News

Gareth offers gifts for life. 

 

Looking for a christmas present for my parents, with more meaning than a box of chocs or a CD, Gareth Mitchell tried to buy a "tree gift". He couldn't find a company to supply one - but it sowed the seeds of an idea. Now 25 year old Gareth has become a budding entrepreneur, launching his own tree gift company which, less than 12 months later, has won an award. Tree2mydoor offers customers the chance to send living gifts of trees or wildflowers instead of cut flowers which only last a few days. Gareth, from Northern Ireland, had learnt a lot about trees and plants from his grandfather, which implanted in him a keen interest in conservation.He first came to Manchester in 2001 to work with the environmental charity Groundwork. When the idea of the tree gift company was born, he completed an entreprenear course at manchester Metropolitan University, and received a £4,000 loan from the Princes Trust to help set up the business. He also received advice and support from the Manchester Business Consortium. 

Ancient wisdom

A full range of Scottish grown sapling gifts and wild flowers are now available on Gareth's company website, which he runs from home in Oldham, but he is already looking to expand the business.  One product range "ancient wisdom" earned him a prize in the Gift Association's national Gift of the Year Awards. His honour came in the category for companies supported by the trust. The prize winning range inspired by the ancient Celtic lore surrounding a selection of UK native trees, including species related to signs of the zodiac. Gareth said: "The throw away culture is passing and a new culture of sustainability is fast becoming the norm. Tree2mydoor will become the name that is synonymous with a new, sustainable, ethical and organic lifestyle. He says the company has been set up to have as little negative impact on the environment as possible. "This means supplying UK-grown tree gifts and living living wild flower gifts to UK consumers. We don't ship in foreign-cut flowers that will only last a few days. Our gifts are grown in Scotland, so they are used to the changeable weather of the British Isles, so they can enjoy lifetimes of growth." 

 

Publication date: Saturday, June 26, 2004