WICKED And The Woodland Trust Mark Eighth Year Of Partnership

The cast and company of the West End and Broadway musical sensation Wicked are once again aiming to raise thousands of pounds to boost the Woodland Trust's tree planting initiatives.

2018 marks the eighth year of a partnership between the award-winning musical and the charity. Wicked has to date raised over £77,000, directly helping the Trust and enabling over 51,000 trees to be planted. It has done this through various initiatives, such as fundraising photobooths at performances at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, auctioning exclusive Wicked experiences and through the generosity of its audiences.

This year, alongside its special fundraising Wicked Day on Wednesday 31 October, Wicked in partnership with the Woodland Trust is calling on the public and audiences to plant trees this autumn.

Woodland Trust Director of Fundraising Karl Mitchell said: "Over the course of this partnership, the Wicked cast and company have done some amazing work to support us through their creative fundraising endeavours. It is a real achievement that they have helped us plant so many trees. This year we are delighted that they will do so once again. Alongside this, we are looking to harness this interest and encourage people to plant trees this autumn in their gardens, at planting events and on their allotments. Thanks to the Wicked partnership, people can get ten per cent off selected trees by going to our Woodland Trust Shop. Every tree planted will provide cleaner air, boost health and wellbeing and create vital wildlife corridors, much needed as 60% of the UK's plant and animal species have declined in the last 50 years."

Michael McCabe, Executive Producer (UK) of Wicked added: "We are delighted to support the important conservation work of The Woodland Trust. Their protection and creation of incredible woodland spaces - that are free to enjoy - benefits people, wildlife and multiple plant species and we are exceptionally proud to have raised funds to plant over 51,000 new trees in the UK to date. This year, we are hoping to make it our biggest fund-raise yet by calling on people to 'do something Wicked' and plant trees this autumn."

This year, Wicked will for the first time be offering an exclusive Polaroid-photo opportunity with some of the musical's cast members in the foyer of the Apollo Victoria Theatre before the matinee performance on Wednesday 31 October, with an optional donation to the Woodland Trust. There will also be an auction offering exclusive Wicked experiences, such as afternoon tea with members of the cast.

The Woodland Trust is offering an exclusive discount to followers who would like to purchase a tree from the Trust's website. Go to: https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ and use the discount code Wicked.*

Trees that have been directly funded by money raised by Wicked have helped turn Heartwood Forest, St Albans into a thriving wood. This year the money will go towards the Trust's More Woods project - helping people plant trees across the country.

*For use on web and telephone orders only. Valid until midnight on 14/11/2018. Code can be used on Hazel, Blackthorn and Rowan individual trees only. Cannot be used in conjunction with other codes. Prices are subject to change. Please call 0330 333 5310 or visit woodlandtrustshop.com for further details.