Hendrix and his wife Loveness have planted 10,000 trees over the past four years. Planting a combination of blue gum and senna siamea, they have been able to harvest poles from some of the trees planted in 2017 – and these trees are already growing again.

Hendrix farms tobacco so needed the poles to build drying barns but he has learnt a new technology and one that can leave the trees growing while still providing a barn.

Live barns, as they are known, are trees planted in rows which can then have the shelter built around them so that the tree is not cut down but continues growing.

You can plant trees with us this Christmas, visit https://rippleafrica.org/xmastree/