Trunk Films
Will Billany

Hometree’s purpose is land regeneration, how does this align with your company / organisation?
We make films and tell stories. We believe there’s a place for positive narratives, that are real and that can move people. Hometree is an example of a positive story that includes people, the land and the ecosystem. The opportunity to plant trees gives companies like ours a way to contribute in a positive way when we’re still operating in a socio-economic system which prevents us from working and being carbon neutral. Ultimately our work means that we do occasionally fly, this is not ideal and currently, this is a useful method for us to put something back.

What is inspiring you to work with a regeneration process like Hometree?
Rewilding and restoring nature are an obvious choice for any organisation wanting to put something back. Planting indigenous woodlands helps draw carbon from the atmosphere, it restores ecosystems under threat and it gives people the means to appreciate the importance of nature, to reconnect and improve their health. It’s a positive and reasonably cost-efficient solution to make an immediate impact.

Some of the trees you are planting you will not see mature, together we are working towards a more abundant and biodiverse future, in three or four sentences please describe what you would like to invite into the future?
We would like to invite a wilder future. A future of a woodland that is left to tell its own story. See what wildlife, however unexpected, can benefit when we give nature the space to grow.

List two ways you support this invitation at present?
Supporting the project directly by offsetting our flights by purchasing trees. We’ve also done this elsewhere at the UN IPCC approved Gold Standard and at Trees For Life. We also support businesses that also donate to hometree.

List two ways you would like to support this invitation in the future? 
We’d like to come and plant trees, although we’re based in London and other organisations are currently easier for us to reach.

Do you have a memory to share about a tree/forests/nature?
I’ve been lucky enough to travel, I’ve spent some time in pristine rainforests and temperate rainforests throughout the world and they’re my favourite place to reconnect and get excited about the world and nature. I’d like to see a return of some of that here in Ireland and the UK with the return of some of our temperate rainforest.

Other than Hometree can you celebrate other ways you or your organisation supports a  healthier environment? 
We buy produce and support local CSA/organic farms, where we get our energy from, where we keep our money, how we invest, what products we use and which companies we use, how we travel and what we eat. It’s still not enough.

Have there been any key moments that you can share about how you or your organisation decided to support a more abundant and healthier world? 
We’re doing a week of tree planting to help restore the Caledonian rainforest in Scotland this autumn. We said yes to an advertisement for a major drinks manufacturer, who has done a lot of damage to the environment but they wanted to hold up their hand and take some responsibility. Some people will disagree but we believed it would be better to start a positive conversation and build bridges than trying to keep views generalised and polarised.

We’d love to hear and share any key lessons that life has taught you, in as little or many words as you like?
There’s more to be gained by listening and understanding others. Keep an open mind. Don’t forget to smile.