Blogger - Lili Kumar

Together for Trees is the RSPB’s partnership with Tesco. Together, we can use their influence to educate, inspire and help people and business to embrace a more sustainable way of living and working for the future.

Tesco has been independently acknowledged by the Carbon Disclosure Project as being the UK’s leading business for its work on climate change.

In September, Tesco gave us two days to raise vital funds for our rainforest work by opening their superstores around the UK to our volunteers for a bucket collection. To make the most of this fantastic fundraising opportunity we would need the vision to be seen by the staff, members and public.

An army of over 1500 volunteers took part in collections across the UK in hope of raising up to £60,000.

In the eastern region we recruited a fantastic 323 troops. Their enthusiasm and creativity brought great success!  Individually they raised whopping amounts, more than we have seen in any other RSPB bucket collection; £105 in 2 hours!?  Some, strapped fluffy animals to their ankles and wrists. Ros Blevins who collected in Flitwick dressed in a tree costume borrowed from her daughter’s theatre production at Edinburgh Fringe. There were reports of a Monkey, Tiger, Blackbird and even a Fox collecting in Norfolk.  In Basildon, Vicky Saunders was donated a fabulous parrot costume for the day from her local fancy dress shop Props and Frocks. www.props-n-frocks.co.uk (see photo)

Collection money is still filtering in, so far we have received £10,312 in the eastern region and nationally over £52,000.

A huge thank you to all of you who made Together for Trees a true success. You’re contribution will play a vital part in helping the RSPB to conserve some of the most endangered rainforests in the world. We really couldn’t have done it without you.

Erica, RSPB Communications Team, East