Woolworths is celebrating Arbour Week by donating 4309 indigenous trees to a low income housing project in the Western Cape and schools in Limpopo and the Western Cape. Woolworths will donate 2309 trees to Kuyasa – a low income housing project in Khayelitsha. Each household will receive a tree. To ensure the sustainability of the venture, the households will receive basic training about the need for trees, composting, mulching and watering. The project will create short-term employment for unemployed residents, who will work as community based educators, teaching fellow residents about the importance of trees and how to care for them. One of their first tasks will be overseeing the planting of the trees. In addition, 2000 trees have been donated to primary schools in Limpopo and the Western Cape. As members of the Woolworths Trust EduPlant programme, the schools have already been encouraged to develop sustainable gardens. These trees will be sourced from Woolworths Trust EduPlant school nurseries, contributing to income generation for the schools. Woolworths Trust EduPlant programme is a leading schools food gardening and greening programme that promotes the growing of food using permaculture techniques. Planting will be overseen by Food and Trees for Africa – a non profit organisation working on environmental issues. This initiative forms part of Woolworths Good business journey – our plan to help our communities, our country and our world. National Arbour Week takes place from 1 to 7 September 2008 and aims to motivate schools, businesses and communities to plant, sponsor and look after South Africa’s natural tree heritage. “Trees provide many benefits for the environment. These include providing an ecosystem for fauna and preventing soil erosion. By producing oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere – trees also help us fight climate change” says Jeunesse Park, CEO of Food and Trees for Africa. “Arbour Week reminds us that we should all do our bit to protect South Africa’s tree heritage. In line with our Good business journey plan, this greening project is one of many to come for Woolworths.” says Justin Smith, Woolworths Good business journey manager. Planting will commence before the end of September 2008. The total number of trees donated by Woolworths since the announcement of the Good business journey in April 2007 now stands at over 5000. Woolworths aims to plant another 12 000 trees by 2012. Ends. Editor’s notes Woolworths Good business journey Woolworths Good business journey is a five year plan launched in 2007 that is changing the way Woolworths does business. It incorporates a series of challenging targets and commitments, centred on four key priorities: accelerating transformation, driving social development, enhancing our environmental focus, and addressing climate change. Woolworths is committed to supporting ‘greening projects’ as they contribute to offsetting Woolworths carbon footprint. Woolworths aims to reduce the business’ relative carbon footprint by 30% by 2012. For more information on the Good business journey please explore this website. The Woolworths Trust EduPlant Programme Through their participation in Woolworths Trust EduPlant, thousands of schools across the country have become champions of community development promoting food security, improved nutrition and sustainability. Schools that participate in Woolworths Trust EduPlant benefit from: •Permaculture food gardens that provide nutritious food for school children. •Healthy school environments where waste is managed, water is conserved and soil is enriched. •The life skill of producing their own food in harmony with nature. •A deep awareness of sustainable living and know how to care for the earth. A deep awareness of the impact of nutrition on health, especially with regard to HIV/Aids. •An opportunity to participate in outreach projects – teaching other schools, parents and community members on how to develop their own permaculture food gardens.

Woolworths is celebrating Arbour Week by donating 4309 indigenous trees to a low income housing project in the Western Cape and schools in Limpopo and the Western Cape.