Be a hero, help save the planet! It needs you!
Our 3 aims: Rebuild forests · Reverse bee population loss · Expand wildlife habitatsWe don't simply protect the same forests, meadows and wildlife. Every new SoftStep member expands what's protected. You pay to plant a tree, we plant a tree. You pay to protect wildlife, we expand the habitats being protected. Simple and transparent.
Firstly, see the devastation.
The same land, 40 years apart.
Every year, around 10 million hectares of forest are lost globally, roughly the size of Portugal. We're here to help fight the loss of forests, and we need you to join the thousands of people making a difference every day.
10m hectares of forest are lost globally every year. It's time to #ExpandTheForest.
Did you know?
Our planet is changing faster than nature can recover. Forests are disappearing, wildlife habitats are shrinking, and ecosystems are under increasing pressure. These numbers reveal the scale of the challenge, and why protecting and restoring nature matters more than ever.
of the UK's wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s, taking vital food for bees with them.
Source: Plantlifeof tropical forest are lost every minute, on average.
Source: WRI Global Forest Watch, 2023 dataaverage fall in monitored wildlife populations since 1970. The mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians scientists track are, on average, around a quarter of the numbers they were 50 years ago.
Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2024What we're working on
From restoring forests to protecting wildlife and rebuilding natural habitats, we're working to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our planet. Explore the areas where your support can help make a lasting difference.
Expanding Forests & Natural Habitats
Everything starts with the land. By protecting forests and restoring natural habitats, we create the foundations that wildlife and entire ecosystems depend on.
Helping Wildlife & Ecosystems Thrive
When habitats are protected, wildlife has a better chance to flourish. Animals, plants and countless other species all play a part in keeping ecosystems healthy and resilient.
Restoring Pollinators & Biodiversity
Bees, butterflies and other pollinators help plants reproduce, supporting new growth and providing food and shelter for wildlife. As biodiversity flourishes, the whole cycle of nature grows stronger.
How we're making it happen
Protecting nature takes more than good intentions. It takes people, practical action and long-term commitment. Here's how we turn environmental support into meaningful work on the ground.
All 3 go together: expanding the land helps wildlife thrive and restores the balance for nature to live.
- 01
Working with people on the ground
We work with farmers, landowners and local partners to support environmental projects where they're needed, bringing together local knowledge and opportunities for conservation.
- 02
Taking practical action
From planting trees and restoring habitats to supporting forest protection and biodiversity, we focus on activities that help protect and restore the natural world.
- 03
Supporting long-term change
Nature doesn't recover overnight. By supporting ongoing environmental projects, we aim to help create healthier, more resilient ecosystems for the future.
Why we need you
Because caring about the planet is one thing. Doing something about it is another.
Without you, one less tree gets planted.
Imagine everyone in your neighbourhood agreeing that the local park needs more trees. Everyone loves the idea. Everyone thinks someone should do it. But nobody actually plants one.
A year later, nothing has changed.
Good intentions don’t grow forests. Actions do.
Without you, wildlife has one less voice fighting for it.
Imagine someone tearing down your home. You’d fight to protect it, wouldn’t you?
But what about the birds nesting in a disappearing hedgerow? Or the bees losing the wildflowers they depend on?
They can’t speak up or ask us to protect their homes.
That’s why they need people like you.
Without you, one more person leaves it to someone else.
Picture a beach covered in litter. One person walks past, thinking someone else will clean it up. Then another does the same. And another.
Eventually, everyone has walked past, and nothing has changed.
If everyone waits for someone else, who actually makes a difference?
1 person can make a difference. 1 million people can make a change. We're here to round up the million.
Small steps. Happy members.
“Honestly, this was an easy yes for me. Clear idea, good cause, no overcomplication 🌱”
“I appreciated that I could actually understand what my contribution was helping to support. That matters to me.”
“Signed up this morning 🐝🌼 Love the idea of giving wildlife a little more room to thrive.”
“I’m not massively into environmental stuff, but this felt practical and worthwhile, so I joined.”
“Very impressed with the transparency. It feels reassuring to know what the project is actually doing.”
“More bees? More flowers? Say less 😂🐝”
“My daughter was the one who got excited about it first. Now she asks me if ‘our bees’ are doing well 🌻”
“I like projects where you can see a real outcome. SoftStep feels much more concrete than just donating into a general pot.”
“This is such a beautiful idea ❤️ Happy to be part of it.”
“What I liked was the simplicity. I understood the idea in a few seconds and it felt like something useful to support.”
Across all our contracted partners
Helping make a difference globally
Tree planting and environmental impact campaigns
Expected to be planted by our members
The people we work with.
Farmers and landowners grow, plant and look after the trees our members pay for. They live where the trees grow, so every new forest is cared for by the people who depend on it.
These incredible people are doing it, so can you.
Wildlife restoration in the spotlight.
Wider coverage of tree planting and woodland recovery.
Native tree planting begins a rainforest’s return in Devon.
Read the story The Times21 March 2025 · EnvironmentA new national forest, with 20 million trees planned.
Read the story GOV.UK21 March 2025 · Official announcementThe Western Forest: a long-term commitment to woodland.
Read the announcementHow we're helping fight global deforestation
We own our own land, and we focus on exclusive contracts with woodland and forest owners, helping prevent them from resorting to selling their land to governments, large-scale farming operations or construction companies. We also work with farmers and government-owned land partners globally to combat habitat loss for all kinds of wildlife.
7,000+Acres of protected forestry land across all our contracted partnersWhere we work
From growing saplings across Europe and Africa to independently checked forest protection and wildlife habitat projects, the aim is simple: expand what is protected as the SoftStep community grows.
A growing nursery in every country.
Today we have access to farmland across Europe and Africa for growing saplings, and we're constantly reaching out to forestry departments and private landowners.
Protect the forest still standing.
We're not only protecting forests, we also work with Verified Carbon Standard REDD+ projects, so CO2 is offset through a route that's been independently checked.
From Britain's rainy shores to Africa's scorching heat.
We currently work across two continents, each with vastly different climates, landscapes and environmental challenges. Yet both face a common threat: deforestation, habitat loss and growing commercial pressures that see natural spaces cleared for car parks, palm oil plantations, industrial developments and even data centres.
Different landscapes. Different challenges. One shared mission: protecting nature before it's lost.
So now you know this, how much do you think nature is worth?
Forests, meadows, bees and wildlife create the air you breathe, grow the food you eat, keep our rivers and oceans alive and are working every day to protect our planet.
Real reviews from real supporters
Every review here was left by someone planting with SoftStep. Good or bad, we publish them all.
Good concept and easy to get started. I received the certificate and planting location as promised, but I'd appreciate more ongoing updates about how the trees are doing. There's potential here, just hoping to see a little more transparency as the service develops.
MMarcusSoftStep supporter
My husband and I decided to start planting trees around our wedding anniversary. We wanted something that would last longer than flowers or another present we'd eventually forget about. The first certificate arrived almost instantly, and when we got the planting location, we sat together looking it up. It's become something we're both really excited about. ❤️
PPriyaSoftStep supporter
Really happy with the experience overall. The certificate looks lovely and the location update was a nice touch. I'd just like a little more information about what happens to the trees over time. Otherwise, brilliant idea.
EErinSoftStep supporter
Signed up for the daily plan. Takes almost no effort on my part, but the impact adds up. Really happy with it.
TThomasSoftStep supporter
My son keeps asking when our tree is going to be taller than him 😂 We checked the location together after the email arrived. It's been a lovely way to get him interested in nature.
LLilySoftStep supporter
We planted our first tree to celebrate the birth of our daughter. I love thinking that somewhere in the world, a tree will be growing alongside her. One day I'll show her the certificate and tell her about it. 🥰❤️
GGraceSoftStep supporter
I wanted to start doing something a little more meaningful with my money. Not another subscription for something I'll forget about, but something that actually contributes to the world around us. The certificate was such a nice touch, and knowing where the tree was planted made it feel personal. It's a small amount each month, but I'm genuinely glad I started. ❤️
AAmeliaSoftStep supporter
I like the idea and the certificate arrived quickly, which was nice. I just wish there was a bit more detail about the planting process itself. The location update was helpful, but I'd love to see more videos or progress updates too.
NNatashaSoftStep supporter
Seeing the spot where my tree was planted honestly made my day. It feels so much more real when you can actually see where it is. ❤️
CChloeSoftStep supporter
Lovely idea and a really smooth experience. I got my certificate straight away, although I would have loved to receive the planting location a little sooner. Still very happy I signed up. ❤️
SSophieSoftStep supporter
Decided to do something different for my birthday this year. Instead of buying myself something I don't need, I'm planting a tree every day. Best birthday decision I've made in a while
JJamesSoftStep supporter
I was a bit sceptical at first tbh because you see so many environmental ads online and never really know where your money goes. What I liked about SoftStep was receiving my certificate straight away and then an actual planting location 4 days later. That made the whole thing feel much more personal.
MMatthewSoftStep supporter
One action.
Five real steps.
What happens after you join is simple. Your contribution starts with one clear choice, becomes real environmental work, expands what is protected and ends with impact you can understand.
Choose What You Want to Grow
Plant new trees, help expand and protect existing forests, or restore wildflower meadows. Choose the part of nature you'd most like to support and help create more space for wildlife and biodiversity to thrive.
You Choose. You Pay. We Deliver.
No vague donations or promises of change. You're paying for real environmental services. Whether it's planting trees, protecting forests or restoring wildflower meadows, we arrange the work you've paid us to do. It's that simple.
We Put Your Support to Work
Through our network of environmental projects and local partners, we turn your contribution into practical action: planting trees, supporting forest protection and helping restore natural habitats.
Nature Gets the Benefits
New trees have the opportunity to grow, protected forests continue providing vital habitats, and wildflower meadows support bees, butterflies and other wildlife. Every action contributes to a healthier, more connected natural world.
Your Impact Keeps Growing
Nature needs long-term care, not just one-off action. With ongoing support, we can continue planting, protecting and restoring more of the natural world, helping your positive impact grow over time.
What else we're doing
Not every step towards a better planet starts with planting. SoftStep also supports pollinators, cleaner environments and wildlife rehabilitation, because healthy habitats are built from more than trees alone.
Bees do far more than make honey.
They pollinate the plants, crops and wildflowers that keep whole ecosystems alive. Supporting bee projects strengthens local biodiversity beyond planting trees.
Cleaner places start with what we leave behind.
Sometimes the softer step is simply picking up what somebody else left behind. Cleaner, safer environments are small actions that genuinely add up.
Give recovering wildlife somewhere safe to recover into.
Protecting nature means protecting the animals that depend on it. We support rehabilitation habitats and safeguard vulnerable species while the surrounding environment recovers.
The SoftStep Stamp for businesses
Working with companies to make their carbon footprint that little bit softer.
We work with companies to reduce their impact on the planet. It's a simple system: you pay to plant a tree for every customer, or lorry, or anything else you want. We then work with you to quantify your current carbon footprint and see how much you're offsetting by planting trees.
Similar to an energy efficiency rating on a boiler, we provide a rating that shows how soft your carbon footprint really is.
We don't offer verified carbon offsetting, and we're not charging £1000s for little impact. We give businesses the ability to calculate their impact and take the steps to combat it.
We make it affordable for companies to make a change. We keep it cheap, transparent and simple.
Good people. A growing difference.
“I was a little sceptical at first, but the way everything is explained gave me confidence. It feels genuine.”
“I can’t give much of my time, so supporting a project like this financially is a good fit for me.”
“Simple, useful, positive. I joined straight away ✅”
“There is something very motivating about seeing a project grow over time. It makes the support feel more personal.”
“Bees deserve all the help they can get 🐝💛”
“I’ve been trying to make better choices for the environment, and this felt like a very manageable one.”
“For me, trust is everything. I want to know what I’m supporting and where the impact is. SoftStep does a good job of making that clear.”
“Joined for the wildflowers, staying for the tiny fuzzy workers 😂🌸🐝”
“I started cautiously with a small amount. The updates made me feel comfortable continuing.”
“I know one person can only do so much, but lots of people doing a little can still add up to something real. That’s what appealed to me.”
3 great tips to having a softer carbon footprint
These do not replace large-scale forest protection, but they are practical ways to keep the same idea moving through everyday life: grow something, use less and think more carefully about what you eat.
Grow something yourself.
While this does not reduce your carbon footprint on its own, it does help towards carbon offsetting. If everyone in the world did this, we would be in a much better place.
Use it less.
If it makes noise, makes light or moves, there is a good chance it is consuming some form of fuel. Use it less and, mainly, be conscious about it.
Eat healthily. Eat local. Waste less.
We are not pretending to be vegans or vegetarians, but mass consumption of meat has a huge impact. Where possible, avoid heavily processed choices and think more carefully about where food comes from.