Press Pack
Biography
Protect Earth is a charity which facilitates the planting of trees and wildflower meadows in the UK to tackle biodiversity loss and the effects of climate change.
Founded in 2020, the charity works with local landowners such as farmers to help plant trees on their land. This can be as part of reforestation and restoration efforts on degraded land, or planting new trees where previously there were none, a practice known as afforestation.
The specialist team at Protect Earth assist landowners with such tasks as securing permits and undertaking local site research, as well as the physical work of planting and monitoring the trees themselves. As a result, landowners are able to contribute to a good cause without diverting time and energy from their main income sources. Protect Earth also buy degraded farmland to reforest themselves.
The charity understands that protecting the planet for future generations can’t happen in a vacuum, but requires the buy-in of everyone. As well as working with landowners, Protect Earth fosters strong relationships with local people, environmental organisations, housing developers and local authorities to plant trees responsibly, thus achieving mutually beneficial outcomes for all stakeholders involved.
Besides sourcing land and planting trees, Protect Earth also assists with resources and education, project management and ongoing support for the forests planted. The charity’s holistic approach to greenifying the UK extends to its dedication to transparency and good governance, ensuring that every penny spent goes towards preserving the planet for future generations.
Context
Temperate Forest Restoration is listed by Project Drawdown — a leading climate change mitigation project — as number 15 on the list of things humanity can do to reverse the effects of climate change.
The world’s 1.9 billion acres of temperate forests are a net-carbon sink. According to the World Resources Institute, more than 1.4 billion additional acres are candidates for restoration, and with restoration comes additional carbon sequestration.
While temperate forests like those in the UK are not threatened by the same large-scale deforestation that afflicts the tropics, they continue to be fragmented by development. They also are experiencing hotter and more frequent droughts, longer heat waves, and more severe wildfires, as well as worsening insect and pathogen outbreaks. These disturbances can push temperate forests beyond their capacity for resilience.
Hence, Protect Earth’s work addresses the growing threats to the UK’s temperate forests and biodiversity, and takes advantage of the huge potential of tree planting as a means to tackle climate change. Furthermore, tree planting has numerous other ecological benefits — from enhancing air quality, to reducing risk of flooding and sustaining wildlife.
Key People
Phil Sturgeon, Chairman
Phil is a software engineer by trade, and the only person on the team without a dog. This might need to change. Phil grew up between Bristol and Bath, and moved to New York City to “make it big” in tech. After spending some time trying to save the world with a carpooling app, he ended up working for a company that sold expensive coworking spaces, and realised he wasn’t doing much to help fight for the climate anymore.
Escaping the concrete jungle, Phil spent the next 2 years cycling around Europe as a bike nomad, fundraising to plant 100,000 trees with various charities, and pushing people to get their carbon footprint as low as possible. Protect Earth was a logical extension of those goals, as Phil now cycles from site to site, putting up fences, weeding, planting trees, then off on the bike to the next one.
Andy Herd, Trustee
Andy is a software engineer based in West Lothian, Scotland.
Prior to Protect Earth he coordinated a whitewater canoe slalom competition for many years and also volunteered with Livingston Round Table, helping to raise £100,000 for local charities and good causes.
He enjoys spending time enjoying the great British outdoors and he’s passionate about fighting climate change to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy this beautiful planet.
Edd Stone, Treasurer
Edd is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years’ experience of working with charitable organisations of various sizes. Having trained with a large accountancy firm specialising in the charitable sector, he went on to act as Finance Manager for a local charity for three years to get some hands-on experience. Edd now manages the finances of several charities and businesses, applying his love for technology to help them achieve their goals.
Edd lives in Corsham and enjoys keeping active in the Great Outdoors with his dog Rufus. Be it kayaking, climbing, hiking, cycling, running, he rarely sits still!
Steve Wiltshire
Steve has been fascinated with the natural world since childhood. He has worked in nature conservation for 15 years with organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Wildlife Trusts and Natural England. He enjoys reading and writing about wildlife, and has written numerous articles for ‘Birdwatching’ magazine. Steve currently lives in rural Herefordshire where he enjoys looking for butterflies, dragonflies, and birds… often accompanied by his Jack Russell ‘Stanley Kubrick.’
Images
For access to branding, project and team photos, please contact chris@tmd.scot
