Terence Mallinson continued his campaign to develop the Forest Education Initiative with a speech to the London Softwood Club (LSC) annual meeting.
Mr Mallinson is aiming to raise £2.6m over the next three to five years to expand the network of FEI “clusters” around the UK (TTJ February 8/15). These groups of timber and forestry businesses, environmental trusts and other organisations arrange field trips, factory visits and classroom presentations for schools. The aim is to raise awareness among young people of the value of the timber industry and counter misinformation about its environmental performance.
Mr Mallinson told LSC members that he was not at the meeting to ask for their money. “I’m asking for your time, energy and involvement with the Initiative,” he said.
He maintained that since the FEI’s launch, 512,000 children had taken part in its activities.
He urged LSC members to help establish new FEI clusters – “the aim is to take the total to over 100” – and to get in touch with their local schools and supply them with the Initiative’s range of learning materials and teachers’ aids.
“Don’t forget the future of your businesses and careers depends on shaping the perceptions of timber and future purchasing habits of children at school now.”
