Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? We've got answers. If you have some other questions, contact us using email.
Why does Sycamore Lane plant trees?
At Sycamore Lane we strive to be the change we want to see. We are concerned about the lack of action in relation to scientific research warnings that carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions are the biggest cause of global warming and an existential threat to life on our planet. Studied conducted by the United Nations paint a dire picture of irreversible damage to the planet if the problem is not addressed within 10 years. Scientists also warn of accelerated species extinction in the coming decades as ecosystems collapse. Scientific research also shows that tropical forests are incredibly effective at storing carbon and the conservation of ecosystems is often more cost-effective than human-made interventions.
What tree species does Sycamore Lane plant?
A large majority of the trees we plant are mangrove species. A critical feature of mangrove forests is their ability to convert carbon dioxide to organic carbon at higher rates than almost any other habitat on Earth. This ‘blue carbon’ is stored both in the living plants and in their thick peaty soils where it can remain, fixed, for centuries. We only plant native species trees, which vary from nation to nation. We never plant or introduce any invasive species at any of our project sites. We also plant a percentage of agroforestry species for sustainable community use. This prevents the community from going into newly restored forests and provides greater community benefit and involvement in the project.
Where does Sycamore Lane plant trees?
Sycamore Lane supports tree planting projects in 8 different countries in partnership with a world class local planting organization. We plant trees in Haiti, Hondurus, Indonesia, Kenya, Madascar, Mazambique, Nepal, and Nicaragua.
How much carbon does a mangrove tree store?
According to scientific research, mangrove ecosystems can absorb three to four times more carbon than tropical upland forests. The research shows that a hectare of 1000 mangrove trees can sequester 308 metric tonnes of CO² over a 25 year life time. This equates to 308kg per tree, or 12.3kg per tree per year.
How can you plant trees and provide carbon offsets at such low cost?
We are very focused on our purpose and put people and planet before profit. This primary motivation means we are able to offer trees to our customers at smaller profit margins than many of our more expensive competitors, who maximize profit for their shareholders by charging customers more. Other competitors exaggerate the carbon footprint of customers to justify charging a higher cost for offsetting. We performed extensive due diligence before selecting non-governmental organization Eden Reforestation as our tree planting partners. Eden creates livelihoods for millions of people living in extreme poverty by empowering them to restore and protect forests on a massive scale. This level of scale means that Eden is able to plant trees at very low cost relative to smaller organizations or organizations planting trees in more expensive developed countries. We also drive costs down by largely planting Mangrove forests. Since the Mangrove tree is one of the most efficient carbon capture ecosystems on earth, we achieve higher CO² sequestration on a tree-by-tree basis when compared to other forest ecosystems. This, in conjunction with a world class local planting partner means that we can offer customers a cost-effective way to plant trees to offset their carbon footprint.
How do you track the number of trees planted and the survival rate?
Our planting partners have developed reliable systems for counting and sorting the number of seedlings produced in the nurseries and/or the number of mangrove propagules collected. After the seedlings and propagules are collected and sorted, they are planted within designated sites. A percentage of seedling and propagule mortality is inevitable. Mortality becomes irrelevant as natural regeneration begins to occur and begins to multiply impact. Natural regeneration typically exceeds 150% of the original number planted. The same is true of the dry deciduous sites in Madagascar, and the same multiplication effect has been seen in Nepal.
What climate action projects does Sycamore Lane support?
We only buy carbon credits that meet industry-leading carbon standards – primarily Gold Standard Voluntary Emission Reductions (VER) and United Nations Certified Emission Reductions (CER) schemes. We are proud supporters of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through United Nations Certified Emission Reduction schemes.
Will I be charged in EUR?
All orders are payable in EUR and processed in accordance with the currency of your bank account. The value charged to your bank statement is subject to the exchange rate between EUR and your local currency at the time of your purchase.
What are my payment options?
We accept payment from all major credit and debit card providers including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. We also accept payments using Apple pay and Paypal.
Where can I sign up?
You need to create an account with Sycamore Lane to purchase products from the website. This can be done by selecting the ‘Join’ link and completing the required fields in the form.
What is Sycamore Lane's returns and refunds policy?
You may cancel a contract at any time within 14 calendar days, beginning on the day after you received the products. In this case, you will receive a full refund of the price paid for the products in accordance with our refunds policy, payable within 14 days of the day you have given notice of your cancellation, or within 3 days of receipt of the returned products. To cancel a contract, you must inform us in writing or by sending an email to Song.Garden@yahoo.com You must return the product(s) to us as soon as possible at our registered address in an unused, undamaged condition. When you return a product to us: because you have cancelled the contract between us within the 14-day cooling-off period, we will process the refund due to you as soon as possible and, in any case, within 14 days of the day you have given notice of your cancellation, or within 3 days of receipt of the returned products. In this case, we will refund the price of the product in full, including the cost of sending the item to you. However, you will be responsible for the cost of returning the item to us; because the product is defective, we will examine the returned product and replace it or provide a refund. Products returned by you because of a defect will be refunded in full, including a refund of the delivery charges for sending the item to you and the cost incurred by you in returning the item to us. We will usually refund any money to the card used to pay for your purchase. Claims for refunds must be made within 25 days of dispatch for DPD or An Post deliveries. Except where a product is defective, you may not cancel a contract for the supply of perishable goods, including fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish products, and bakery products. Our Returns and Refunds Policy can be found in Customer Terms and Conditions.
How do I contact Sycamore Lane?
We are an online business. Our office hours are from 9 AM - 6 PM GMT Monday through Saturday. Our offices are closed on Sunday as well as national holidays. You can talk to us by chatbot during business hours or you can leave a chatbot message and we will respond as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can reach us by email at Song.Garden@yahoo.com