A new nature campaign, Plant for our Planet, has been launched today (5 June) by the government in collaboration with a group of organisations.
The organisations involved include the National Trust, Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, RHS and Horticultural Trades Association.
The project aims to encourage the nation to get planting in a bid to tackle climate change.
In a release, Director General of the RHS, Sue Biggs, said, “Plants, gardens, and gardening play a vital role in protecting the planet and help mitigate the increasing threat of climate change and biodiversity loss.”
The scheme hopes to get individuals, communities and businesses on board to plant trees and flowers and create nature habitats, all over the nation to help rebuild lost biodiversity.
Plant for our Planet was designed to encourage everyone to join in with their efforts, however small. This might mean letting the grass grow out for a while to encourage wildlife, planting summer bulbs in your garden or on your balcony, or building an insect hotel.
The various organisations supporting the campaign are working with the government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Environment Minister Rebecca Pow.
“Plant For Our Planet is a chance for the public to take part, planting flowers and trees, restoring a community space and getting out into nature,” said Rebecca. “Through thousands of individual actions, we want to send a simple message – we are in this together for our planet.”
A “Nature Heroes” scheme will also run as part of the project and allows people, groups or projects to be nominated for their outstanding contribution to supporting nature. Those chosen will receive a personal thank you letter from ministers.
The campaign has launched to coincide with World Environment Day (5 June) and comes ahead of the UK hosting the G7 climate summit later this year in Cornwall.
There are a number of existing projects run by the various organisations involved which anyone can take part in to support the campaign, such as the National Trust’s Blossom Watch and the Wildlife Trust’s 30 Days Wild.
Participants can share their progress on social media using #PlantForOurPlanet and you can download the Plant for our Planet toolkit online.
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