This year our Palm Crosses come from a project started in 1965 by Fr Alan Talbot, an Anglican Priest who served as a missionary in the Diocese of Masasi, Tanzania. The main aim of Fr Talbot’s project was to give local villagers a chance to earn some extra money to supplement their meagre income, whilst retaining dignity and the ability to carry on their farming work.

The Palm Crosses are handwoven and made from dried branches of dwarf palm Hyphae Coriacia. These trees grow wild in the Masasi area so are not cultivated or chemically treated, furthermore no trees are cut down in the work of collecting Palm leaves for plaiting the Palm Crosses.

Over the years the number of Palm Crosses sold increased and in1986 the company African Palms Ltd was formed. All profits made by African Palms Ltd are covenanted to the African Palms Assosciation, a trust, for use in Educational and Healthcare projects.

For the last eight years the trust has worked closely with the Diocese of Masasi on many projects, including clean water supplies for the Palm Cross villages, the building of hostels, safehouses, dispensaries and a maternity unit.

More information can be found on the website www.africanpalms.co.uk