Birmingham Trees For Life BTFL
We partner with BTFL, a Birmingham based charity that is devoted to promoting awareness and understanding throughout the city of the value and importance of trees, to raise money to enable more trees to be planted, and to encourage the involvement of everyone, especially young people, in planting trees.
​Birmingham Trees for Life’ (BTFL) is a partnership between The Birmingham Civic Society and Birmingham City Council.
Formed in July 2006, BTFL spreads the message that trees matter, ensures that more trees are planted, and that those we have are valued and looked after. Over 70,000 trees have now been planted across Birmingham in parks and open spaces that are freely accessible to the public.
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BTFL have access to both the land and resources to plant and maintain trees and woodland in Birmingham’s parks and open spaces. They provide training and education for the various volunteering groups.
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Your organisation can chose from the following options depending on the level of involvement you're looking for.
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Who would you like to do the planting?
"In the next decade, the most successful companies will be those that integrate sustainability into their core businesses"
Jim Owens, CEO Caterpillar
Teaching the next generation to connect with the planet
Supporting people dealing with homelessness through the provision of work based planting opportunities
A great opportunity to engage your employees in nature, with fresh air and exercise, being part of the climate change solution
School Children are wonderful tree planters, learning to respect their environment and understand the importance and value of urban trees.
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BTFL wants to involve as many children as possible in tree planting projects in their local park to encourage them to respect their environment and understand the importance and value of urban trees.
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They have Schools and Community Liaison Officers who work directly with teachers and the Birmingham Park Ranger Service to involve children in learning about trees, linking in with their studies of the natural environment.
They also offer school resources that can be used in the classroom.
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See Case Study
Homeless People and Families
Working in partnership with homeless charities we can provide paid tree planting opportunities for people dealing with homelessness.
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This creates the opportunity for individuals and families to earn money, connect with other people, reducing feelings of isolation or exclusion.
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By working together for a common purpose the projects help to create confidence,improved mental health and a sense achievement and belonging
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It also improves physical health through exercise and improves the chances of finding employment
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Transport, lunch and training are provided.
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Helping to create or replace woodlands, and working with local people to improve their green spaces, can help your business to be recognised as a responsible and caring participant in the community.
Your team can put on their wellies and enjoy a hands-on experience working with the community to create a legacy in an urban green space.
Offering a great opportunity for both team building and PR, it's a fantastic way to get staff who don’t normally work together to get to know each other and take photos for PR purposes, websites, internal newsletters etc.
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Smaller contributions
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Small local businesses can get involved with planting trees with BTFL from as little as £250.
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You will contribute to the funding of a community planting by proving one standard native tree or 250 woodland whips (for each £250 given).
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You will receive an invitation to attend a community planting event to plant the trees you have funded.
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You will receive a certificate for display at your workplace and your company will be listed on our sponsors web page, have a blog entry and social media coverage.
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Larger Contributions of between £500 and £2000
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Larger contributions create the planting of new woodland for a minimum donation of £500 – this funds two large trees and a number of saplings at one of our planned planting events. This offers opportunities for both team building and PR, and a great way to get staff to work together to contribute to their local environment. A larger donation of up to £2000 purchases more trees and gives a greater opportunity for staff volunteering
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Contributions over £2000
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BTFL can work with you to develop a tree planting project proposal which can be tailored where possible to your company’s own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives.
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You will be able to contribute to one or more larger projects such as the planting of 10 or more ornamental trees in a park or a larger woodland planting.
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Your staff will be able to come along to plant the trees at a community planting event.
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You will receive a plaque for display at your workplace and your company will be listed on our sponsors’ web page, have a blog entry and social media coverage.
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Corporate Team Building Day – from £750
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BTFL offer the opportunity to work together as a team, planting trees is a is a brilliant way of experiencing something completely different as a group, having fun and crucially achieving something really worthwhile.
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• From 10 employees.
• Learn woodland management skills.
• Take part in team building activities.
• Experience a mixture of work and play.
• With a campfire lunch – weather permitting.
• All equipment provided apart from personal clothing and footwear.
General Information
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BTFL only plant trees when they are dormant, volunteering opportunities are only available between November and March and will be at their larger community planting events. They provide all equipment and instruction on how to plant, all volunteers need to need to bring is enthusiasm, wellies or strong footwear and warm clothing appropriate to the weather.
Your donation helps to fund initial care of the trees for the first two years until they are established.
If you would like to make an online donation to support community tree planting you can do so via the Birmingham Civic Society’s Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/birminghamcs Please remember to state that the donation is to support tree planting with BTFL.
If you would like more information please contact BTFL on info@btfl.org.uk
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Creating a strong business and building a better world are not conflicting goals – they are both essential ingredients for long-term success
William Clay Ford Jr. Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company.
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