One Tree Per Child initiative launches in Bristol
Bristol has been chosen as the first city in the world to rollout the launch of a new international initiative called One Tree Per Child.
The project aims to have every one of the 36,000 children in Bristol’s primary schools planting at least one tree each.
It will also include expansive education and engagement of young people in trees and the natural world, including work to understand more about local endangered tree species and conservation projects.
Children from three different schools from across the city will be joined by CBBC TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson and Mayor George Ferguson at the launch in Avonmouth.
Bristol City Council’s Tree Pips schools project will be absorbed into the new wider ranging One Tree Per Child initiative.
George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, said:
“When I stood to be Mayor in 2012, I proposed that every Bristol primary school child should be given a tree to plant – that is 36,000 trees across 130 schools. We are now taking this concept to another level as the launch city for the global One Tree Per Child initiative.
As a child’s tree grows, their commitment to the environment and their local community grows as well.
“Bristol’s role as the European Green Capital for 2015 makes us the ideal city to adopt this vision. Planting trees and shrubs is a great way for school children to connect to the environment and their local community.
“As a child’s tree grows, their commitment to the environment and their local community grows as well.
“I very much look forward to working with Jon, Olivia and others to inspire and educate our children about the importance of planting for our urban environment and for their future wellbeing.”
One Tree Per Child was started by Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee, the founders of Australia’s highly successful National Tree Day.
When Olivia and Jon fronted Tree Day, 10 million native trees and shrubs were planted across Australia and hundreds of thousands of children were involved.
Olivia Newton-John, one of Australia’s best known environmentalists, has planted over 10,000 trees at her home. She is delighted that Bristol is the first city to launch the project.
She said: “I believe that society benefits when young children get out, get their hands in the earth, and plant trees. Planting trees and shrubs is a great way for kids in Bristol to connect to the environment and their community.
“That’s why it’s so exciting for us that Bristol will be the first city in the world to roll out the One Tree Per Child project.
“In addition to helping the environment, having children plant a tree in 2015 is a great way to celebrate Bristol’s year as the European Green Capital.
“In years to come, the children who plant a tree will be able to look back and say “that was my tree – I really made a difference!””
Jon Dee, the Director and co-Founder of One Tree Per Child, is in Bristol to launch the initiative with the Mayor.
He said: “Together with Bristol City Council, our aim is to have all 36,000 children in Bristol’s 130 primary schools planting at least one tree each, but to achieve that, we need every head teacher to sign their school up to the project.”
“Involving Bristol’s children in the project has a number of benefits. As a child grows so does the tree that they plant.
Our experience shows that as their tree grows, so does the child’s commitment to looking after the environment and the community around them.”
Lord Stern, one of the world’s leading researchers on climate change, is a patron of One Tree Per Child.
He hopes that Bristol will be the first of many cities and towns around the world to adopt the policy of planting one tree per child.
He said: “The commitment of Bristol to environmental sustainability has been recognised by its designation as the 2015 European Green Capital.
“As a patron of One Tree Per Child, I would like to join Olivia Newton-John in offering my congratulations to the City of Bristol on the launch of One Tree Per Child.
“Having tens of thousands of children involved in tree planting will make Bristol a wonderful role model.
If other cities follow Bristol’s example by planting one tree per child, millions of trees could be planted around the world.”
