Trust pledges to support more 'green action' in 2019

New #iwill4nature campaign puts young people at heart of environmental social action

The John Muir Trust has pledged its support to a new campaign called #iwill4nature that was launched yesterday at ZSL London Zoo by the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  It's an initiative that puts children and young people at the heart of environmental social action, during the Year of Green Action happening across the United Kingdom during 2019.

Throughout the year activity around #iwill4nature will draw together local and national initiatives in order to promote green action.  By pledging to support #iwill4nature, the Trust is commiting to further inspire, inform and empower young people through the John Muir Award and our wider engagement work across the UK.

Examples of green action can include; taking part in environmental volunteering such as litter picking, planting pollinator-friendly flowers, fundraising to maintain or enhance green spaces and campaigning for the zero plastic waste agenda.

Since 2013 the Trust has joined over 900 other organisations in pledging to support #iwill - a long-term campaign that has been inspiring social action and making it part of life for 10 to 20 year olds across the UK. Launched by the Trust's patron HRH The Prince of Wales in 2013, with cross-party support, the Trust has pledged to support 100,000 ten to twenty year olds complete a John Muir Award by the end of 2020.

At the launch yesterday's new #iwill4nature campaign the Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

“As the future stewards of our planet, children and young people have a leading part to play in tackling the biggest environmental challenges of our time. They have the energy, ideas and drive to address issues in their schools and communities and inspire their peers to do the same. I praise the work of the #iwill campaign, its partners and its young ambassadors. I now invite and challenge every person to consider how they can get involved.” 

24-year-old ‘Step Up To Serve’ trustee and chair of the launch event, Pauline Meyer said:

“#iwill4nature recognises the impact young people already have on improving the environment and challenges them and others around them to make an even bigger difference. Whether it is looking after and appreciating their local green spaces, 2019 is the Year of Green Action, which is an opportunity to encourage connection to the natural environment and collective action to improve it.”

Find out more about The Year of Green Action