Royal Forestry Society & Bags of Ethics team up to launch pioneering Green Tree Badge initiative aiming to reach 1 million children across the country
Initiative is supported by an array of stars, including Ellie Goulding, Sir David Jason, Millie Mackintosh, Clodagh McKenna, and Alice Beer
4TH SEPTEMBER 2023: The Royal Forestry Society, and Bags of Ethics have today joined forces to launch a landmark, nationwide initiative – the Green Tree Badge.
As schools go back, the Green Tree Badge puts trees and nature centre stage for children, parents, teachers, and communities for the year ahead.
The aim is for 1 million children to participate with their families, community groups or schools to learn more about the incredible world of trees. It will deepen understanding of the value of trees and forestry, and the part they play in the battle against Climate Change.
The Green Tree Badge is a partnership between the forestry education charity, the Royal Forestry Society (RFS), and environmentally conscious brand, Bags of Ethics. Together, they share a vision that children are the future planners, managers and custodians of our woodlands. It is also being supported by the Royal Forestry Society (RFS)
The Green Tree Badge challenge begins with an activity book filled with fun tree and environment-oriented activities. When children have completed enough activities, they will earn their own Green Tree Badge.
Launching at a VIP event on 4th September at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, the Badge also has the backing from individuals such as Ellie Goulding, Sir David Jason, Millie Mackintosh, Clodagh Mckenna and Alice Beer.
Sir David Jason said: “I love trees and all that they bring to the planet. I have planted and looked after many of them in my lifetime. The Green Tree Badge with its focus on children – future guardians of our planet- to be better equipped and knowledgeable about trees, nature, and our wider environment is something that deserves our full support, and certainly has mine.” Sir David Jason OBE
The campaign aims to donate at least 5,000 copies of the Activity book to primary schools in disadvantaged communities which will ensure children of all backgrounds to be able to participate.
Smruti Sriram, Chief Executive of Bags of Ethics said: “I have always been passionate about protecting the planet. We have built our business on the basis of promoting reusable products and the people who create them. As a mother, this has become even more important to me. I am therefore incredibly excited to be launching the Green Tree Badge with the Royal Forestry Society. Our mission is to inspire children of all backgrounds to better understand the world of trees -trees are often overlooked but they are wonderful giving us food, shelter, clean air and so much more
The Royal Forestry Society is the longest established forestry education charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Christopher Williams, their Chief Executive, said: “Trees play a special and vital part in all our lives. Now, more than ever we need to inspire the next generation to love, value and grow up wanting to care for them. “Trees are not just beautiful, individually and together. They also play an invaluable role in the fight against climate change. They lock up carbon as they grow and provide a whole range of environmental and economic benefits. By creating a series of fun activities leading to the Green Tree Badge we aim to give children a life-long love of trees.
By taking part, children will be discovering all different types of trees. They will be finding out how they grow; getting hands-on to find out how they benefit wildlife and exploring the uses of timber. There is also an opportunity to go for a special Gold Award.
“The Royal Forestry Society is committed to inspiring a new generation of foresters and people who love woodland. The Green Tree Badge is a natural extension to our work with schools, colleges and university students.”
Supporters for the Green Tree Badge include Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE CStJ FRSA FBCS, HM Lord Lieutenant, Tony Kirkham MBE, VMH, FICFor former Head of the Arboretum at Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, The Hon. Jeremy Soames and several leaders in education, conservation, and forestry.
Activations for the Green Tree Badge will take place across the country with ceremonies for children being held across the country in castles, arboretums and national gardens.
Organisations supporting and partnering with Green Tree Badge include The Scouts, Severn Trent Water, Hamptons and others.
To buy the Activity Passbook and Green Tree Badge tools, or register your interest as a school, community group, individual or corporate donor visit www.bagsofethics.org/greentreebadge
Retailers for the project are asked to contact [email protected]
Social Media @greentreebadge @bagsofethics @royal_forestry
Link to official photos and logos:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TetbZobr7C7a6oUTYpFxW9UHSwA9GFTM?usp=drive_link
About Bags of Ethics
Bags of Ethics is a sustainable brand promoting reusable products for people and planet. Leading several consumer-facing campaigns to promote reusable lifestyles, without using single-use plastic Bags of Ethics is most known for charity collaborations with The British Fashion Council, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tree planting campaign – Queen’s Green Canopy, Fashion Trust Arabia, and celebrity designer collections including with Mulberry, Henry Holland, Zuhair Murad, Julien Macdonald, GILES, Preen and others. The hit campaigns led by Bags of Ethics include the Great British Designer Face Coverings campaign which were worn by celebrities including Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Whitmore, Dermot O’Leary, Sabrina Elba and featured across national press, whilst being Which? Accredited.
Bags of Ethics was founded by entrepreneur Dr Sri Ram on the three pillars of people, planet and product back in 1999. Through his leadership now, and then, billions of single-use plastic bags have been reduced in our supermarkets and shops.
Bags of Ethics create reusable products including tote bags, sustainable packaging and merchandise all out of the 100%-owned factory in Pondicherry, South India, in which 80%+ of the workforce are women, many of whom are the main breadwinners. The company has won several awards including Most Ethical Supply Chain with Business in the Community, a COP 26 ambassador, and Business is GREAT ambassador for the UK.
Dr Sri Ram was given an oak sapling back in the early 2000s by HM King Charles III for award-winning work on ethical supply chains. The tree is now 30ft tall.
About Royal Forestry Society
Contact: Wendy Necar [email protected] 07973 523168
The Royal Forestry Society (RFS) is the largest and most established forest education charity, promoting the wise management of trees and woods in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We aim to inspire passion and excellence in woodland management. We do this through education and knowledge-sharing.
The RFS is committed to inspiring a new generation of skilled foresters and people who love and appreciate woodland:
- Our Forestry Roots scheme is a major gateway into forestry and woodland management for many young people leaving college and university;
- we offer grants and support for college and university students;
- We designed the new Level 1 in Forestry in the Community for young people wanting to gain their first experience and qualifications in Forestry;
- ourJunior Forester Award and Teaching Trees programmes support schools and we are actively involved in career roadshows.
With Bags of Ethics, we have devised a new campaign, the Green Tree Badge, a landmark nature-based initiative challenging children, schools and families to learn more about the amazing world of trees.
The RFS believes bringing neglected woods back into management and sharing knowledge on how to manage woods to a high standard is vital to the long-term health of our woods and trees.
Our policies identify what is required to ensure our woods deliver their full economic, environmental and public benefits in an era of climate change.
Our Members include woodland owners, land managers and those who love woodland
RFS publications and reports can be found at https://www.rfs.org.uk/about/publications/
For information go to https://www.rfs.org.uk/. Follow us: Twitter/X.com: Facebook: Instagram
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- Dr Sri Ram
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- Sir Kenneth Olisa, OBE
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- Tony Kirkham, MBE
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- Alice Beer, TV Producer
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- Clodagh McKenna, Author, TV Chef
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- The Black Gardener, Danny Clarke