Show support for hedge planting
The UK’s hedgerows have been in trouble, and decline, for decades. In the 1950s-90s there was a significant loss of hedgerows in the UK and, although this outright loss has now stalled, there is a worrying decline in hedgerow condition and they continue to vanish for our countryside - between 1998 and 2007 the total length of managed hedgerow decreased by 6.1% (Hedgelink.org.uk).
However, these essential features of the UK’s countryside hold so much potential in the fight against climate change. By eating carbon, drinking water and growing tall, hedges slow climate change, protect against floods and soil erosion, and provide homes for wildlife - and they help farmers manage their fields, crops and livestock.
This potential is why we dreamed up Hedge Fund - our mission is to bring communities together to restore, repair and expand UK hedgerows. But like any big idea, we need resources to make it a reality.
Back in July, the cleaning brand Ecover announced that it would be donating over £500,000 from their profits during the pandemic to charities, like Possible, working to help tackle climate change using nature-based solutions.
We applied for £160,000 to run year two of our Hedge Fund project and, out of 776 applications, we are one of just 7 UK finalists (there are others in Belgium and Germany).
With this money we would be able to run community hedge planting days at 9 farms around the UK. These hedges would have the capacity to absorb up to xx carbon dioxide by 2030 and will engage over 800 volunteers from new and wider communities in hands-on climate action.
However, we’re not the only group looking to fund a great project and, we know how difficult it can be to get noticed when bigger organisations are competing with you for the same resource. So why not also check out the other finalists and their fantastic projects, such as Action for Conservation, an amazing young organisation that is galvanising a whole new generation of activists for nature. You can see all the finalists here!
These other finalists include some great projects from charities such as Kent Wildlife Trust, Norfolk Rivers Trust, and Action for Conservation (you can see all the finalists here). So if we want to win, we will have to show just how much support there is for Hedge Fund.
To run this incredible project, we need this funding, and for that we need your help.
The final decision will be influenced by the ‘People’s Choice’, so please show your support for Hedge Fund by using the hashtag #PossiblexEcover on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram) before 7th December 2020.
Some suggested wording for your posts:
I’m supporting the Hedge Fund project to win the @EcoverUK #FertiliseTheFuture fund! Good luck @_wearepossible ! #PossiblexEcover #NationalTreeWeek
Join me in voting for #PossiblexEcover to win the @Ecover_UK #FertiliseTheFuture fund. Let’s plant hedges and help the climate, together!
My support goes to #PossiblexEcover for the Hedge Fund project to win the @Ecover #FertiliseTheFuture fund. #NatureBasedSolutions #NoPlanetB
I’m supporting #PossiblexEcover to win the @Ecover_UK #FertiliseTheFuture fund. Let’s plant hedges and help the climate, together! #Hedges #NationalTreeWeek
