Over the last six years, SBF GB&I has worked in partnership with Hubbub to deliver the “#LoveYourForest” campaign. The phenomenally successful anti-littering and recycling campaign – praised in the UK Government’s Litter Strategy for England – has engaged over 15,000 residents and has boosted local pride in the Forest of Dean.
Each year 250 tonnes of rubbish are removed from the Forest of Dean costing local taxpayers £450,000 per year to clean up. #LoveYourForest was created by SBF GB&I in partnership with leading environmental charity Hubbub, Forest of Dean District Council, Forestry England, Foresters’ Forest, and Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism, to trial creative ways of tackling littering and boosting recycling rates in the forest. Over 1,500 bags of litter have been collected from the forest through the campaign.
During the six year campaign, #LoveYourForest has organised over 120 community events, including an anti-pollution peloton event last September hosted by former 4X (four cross) World Mountain Biking Champion Katy Curd. Local schools, scouts and guides have also been taught the importance of taking responsibility for litter through educational workshops and community litter picks. And the Trashconverter – a converted horsebox turned into a litter-picking machine – has toured the forest enabling locals to exchange litter for treats.
The partnership has also delivered on-the-go recycling infrastructure in the area, including seven recycling bins and two recycle reward machines named by local people as ‘Sir Recyclesalot’ and ‘Buddy The Bottle Crusher’ following an online naming competition.
Importantly, #LoveYourForest has become a blueprint for other local authorities across the country looking to encourage positive behavioural changes around littering and recycling in rural environments. A full inspiration guide has been created and is freely available for other rural areas to adopt.
Over the course of six years it has been a pleasure to work closely with Hubbub and equally passionate partners to deliver #LoveYourForest, which has proven to be a powerful way of bringing to light the importance of taking pride in our rural areas. It was great to see how our activities helped influence the behaviour of the local community in a positive way, and we are looking forward to seeing these lessons picked up more widely. We’re pleased to have been able to make such a difference, and proud that the programme will continue under the leadership of Forest of Dean District Council and Forestry England.
#LoveYourForest has tested a wide variety of ideas on how to reduce litter within local communities. Hubbub have learnt so much from working with our incredible partners to reduce litter and boost recycling in the area. We hope that other communities around the UK are encouraged to use the #LoveYourForest inspiration guide and create change in their local area. We can't wait to see what happens with #LoveYourForest in the future.
#LoveYourForest was launched as part of SBF GB&I’s wider commitment to its Growing for Good vision, to make a positive impact on the community and environment. After six successful years, the campaign is now being handed over to local partners, the Forest of Dean District Council and Forestry England, who will be responsible for managing the recycling bin infrastructure and engaging local residents.
We’ve been immensely proud to have been a partner to the #LoveYourForest campaign over the last 6 years. The project is a great example of how working together, across organisations, for a common goal, can have much greater reach and impact. We know many people in our local community now recognise the #LoveYourForest brand which demonstrates just how successful the campaign has been. We very much hope to build on that success as this important project to combat litter in the Forest of Dean now enters a new phase under the guardianship of the District Council and Forestry England.
Working together over the past 6 years has been such a positive experience and together we have achieved so much. We are pleased to be able to continue this important work with the Forest of Dean District Council and having access to the Trashconverter will be an important part of educating and engaging with through workshops, school visits and events.
To find out more about #LoveYourForest, its impact and the inspiration guide visit:
https://www.hubbub.org.uk/love-your-forest