Welcome Sophia into the BTfL Fold

I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Project Manager working with Birmingham Trees for Life. I was excited by the opportunity to undertake a role where I could make a positive difference and actively be part of tree planting in my own city of Birmingham. Coming from a local authority background and more recently working in the voluntary sector I hope the range of skills and experience I bring to the role will benefit the organisation, its supporters and the local community as well as the environment.

Adult life can be very demanding, challenging and in some cases stressful but I found that taking time out to walk through the woods, appreciate the trees and reconnect with nature helped me to reduce my anxiety and stress levels and became an essential coping tool for me in everyday life, enabling me to function more efficiently by regularly taking time out to enjoy nature. I don’t know what I would do now without regular walks in the woods or forest and feel this is an experience everyone should get to enjoy. Of course there is so much more to tree planting and the essential benefits of trees but I thought I would share with you just one of the reasons I am so passionate about planting and protecting trees, particularly in more urbanised areas where there are typically less green spaces for communities to enjoy.

I have learned so much already from the team and Committee members but look forward to learning lots more. It is woeful that our usual planting season is interrupted due to covid-19 and government restrictions but we won’t let this stop us and look forward to delivering some alternative activities for this planting season whilst we still hope to make it possible to do some planting towards the end of the season. I look forward to meeting our regular friends and sponsors as well as meeting new communities and volunteers when possible.

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