Tesco and RSPB Cymru have joined forces for an exciting new partnership, Together For Trees, to help save the world's tropical rainforest.

Through the Together For Trees partnership, RSPB Cymru has been invited to carry out fundraising bucket collections at the Tesco Extra store in Pembroke Dock on Friday and Saturday, September 21 and 22.

These collections could generate a tremendous amount of vital income to fund the work that RSPB Cymru has already started, but to achieve this more volunteers are urgently needed. There are several participating stores across Wales.

The wildlife conservation charity is looking for volunteers to spend between two and three hours of their time covering the Tesco Extra store in Pembroke Dock.

Michele Hunt, head of fundraising for RSPB Cymru, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for RSPB Cymru and a new way for us to raise awareness and vital funds for our rainforest project in Gola and our partnerships with Tesco and Size of Wales.

She added: "We're very grateful for those volunteers that have already committed support for this fantastic event, but we need more volunteers if we're to make the most of this opportunity and hit every slot that has been made available. You don't need any prior knowledge to take part in one of our bucket collections as you will be briefed before the collection - but a winning smile goes a long way!"

Robert Curtis, who has volunteered in previous fundraising collections for RSPB Cymru, said: "Registering to get involved was really easy; the RSPB staff made the whole process incredibly simple. I was pleased to hear about this partnership with Tesco and am looking forward to collecting again; it is really satisfying to know that you are helping to protect rainforest wildlife."

The RSPB has been involved with Gola Forest since 1990, and it is hoped that the collections across South Wales will raise up to £3,000 and this money will go specifically towards our research station in Gola. The Size of Wales initiative have kindly agreed to match fund all money raised over the course of these days in Wales, doubling the income efforts.

Gola rainforest is home to hundreds of bird species, chimpanzees and the world's most important population of pygmy hippo. If Gola rainforest were razed to the ground, the release of carbon would be equal to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by nearly 14 million cars in a year.

These incredible tropical forests are in trouble. Every four seconds an area the size of a football pitch is chopped down for commercial gain. The RSPB is working to protect and restore rainforests in several countries across the globe, from Asia and Africa to the Caribbean, to save threatened species.

For more information on the Together For Trees partnership, please visit http://www.togetherfortrees.com">www.togetherfortrees.com and if you would like to sign up for a collection at a Tesco store, please call Lina Birkenhead on 02920 353 000 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] . You can also visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/bucketcollections">www.rspb.org.uk/bucketcollections for more information.

By taking part and volunteering for Together for Trees, all volunteers will automatically be entered into a free prize draw for a fantastic opportunity to visit one of the RSPB reserves in Wales. The prize comprises a personalised tour for four people around one of the spectacular reserves.