Conservation Foundation (United Kingdom)

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The Conservation Foundation is a registered charity in the United Kingdom, founded on 5 March 1982 by David Bellamy [1] and David Shreeve. [2] Bellamy served as the president of the foundation. As of 2022, the foundation's chair is Dorothy Harris and David Shreeve is its executive director.

Contents

History

The charity was founded in 1982, [2] establishing the Ford Conservation Awards in the same year. The Ford Conservation Awards later extended beyond the UK, throughout Europe, and ended after 18 years. [3]

The Ford Conservation Awards recognised the work of a diverse array of recipients, including leaders of local environmental efforts and local historians. In 1987, local historian Daphne Munday received the award for her book A Parish Patchwork which documented the history of Sandford, Newbuildings, and other local settlements in Mid Devon. [4]

The 1999 Ford Conservation Awards were presented at London Zoo by Prince Philip. [5]

In 2023, David Shreeve was awarded an MBE by King Charles III in the King's Birthday Honours, in recognition of his "service to the environment" through the foundation. [6] [7]

Structure

The charity is governed by a board of directors and supported by a council. Based in the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington, London, the activities of the organisation primarily cover the UK, but past projects have covered countries around the world and on every continent.

Activities

The foundation runs a number of projects to engage the public in environmental issues. Most are aimed at communities around the UK, whilst others target specific regions of the UK or operate internationally.

In 2000, the foundation worked with the Church of England to plant yew trees as part of the millennium yew project. [8] [9] Around 8,000 yews were planted in around 7,000 Church of England parishes. [9]

In 2013, the foundation's Tool Shed project coordinated with female prisoners at HMP Edinburgh to repair and refurbish donated hand tools, which were then offered to schools and communities for free as part of a giveaway labelled the Great Garden Tool Giveaway. [10]

In 2015, it launched a campaign to preserve and protect Britain's yew trees with the Bishop of Salisbury. The campaign, We Love Yew, aimed to educate people about the yew tree's history in Britain, and offered yew saplings to schools and communities. [11]

Funding

The charity is supported through government funding, charitable trusts and foundations, individuals, and business sponsorship through corporate social responsibility projects. It is not a membership organisation.

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References

  1. ↑ "Naturalist and presenter David Bellamy dies at 86". BBC News . 11 December 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 "History". The Conservation Foundation. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ↑ Lake, Howard (6 July 2007). "Conservation Foundation to fund up to 60 projects a month". UK Fundraising. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Read, Sue (6 July 2018). "Sandford and the Crediton community remembers 'articulate, eloquent and discerning lady' Daphne Munday". Crediton Courier. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "HRH Prince Philip". The Conservation Foundation. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ↑ "Chiswick resident receives MBE at Windsor Castle". Hounslow Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "KING'S BIRTHDAY HONOUR FOR OUR FOUNDER & DIRECTOR DAVID SHREEVE". The Conservation Foundation. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  8. ↑ Davies, Madeline (17 October 2019). "Are the Millennium Yew trees casting their shade?". Church Times. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  9. 1 2 Bevan-Jones, Robert (2016). The Ancient Yew: A History of Taxus baccata. Windgather Press. p. 106. ISBN   978-1-911188-12-4.
  10. ↑ "Tools fixed by prisoners given away free at Saughton Prison". BBC News . 23 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Bishop of Salisbury launches yew tree protection campaign". BBC News . 20 May 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
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