Meet our new Junior Committee
The Little Environmental Action Foundation is supporting the development of the next generation’s leaders through its junior trustee programme. Meet our first junior committee here:
Hannah Barnett
What is your role at LEAF?
I’m Hannah and I’m the chair of the junior committee.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
I’m a geography undergraduate and studying climate change and carbon sequestration as part of my degree. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to become involved with this exciting new environmental charity that plants trees to combat climate change, making real-world positive impacts for a more sustainable future.
What is your Favourite UK Tree Species?
My favourite UK tree species is the Oak tree, they support more lifeforms than any other UK tree! I am lucky enough to live near one of the largest and oldest oak trees, steeped in the legend of Robin Hood: the Major Oak!
What is your Favourite Tree Species worldwide?
My favourite species worldwide is the Giant Sequoia! They have adapted to their wild-fire prone environment, and are impressively tall - there is a lot of room to sequester carbon!
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
I am most excited to be part of a team who are proactively making a difference!
Emily Becconsall
What is your role at LEAF?
My role at LEAF is a junior trustee as part of the volunteering team. I will help out with tasks that need to be done within the charity.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
I am passionate about sustainability and the environment and eager to learn more, as well as being able to be part of an organisation where it feels that I am able to give back to the community.
What is your Favourite UK Tree Species?
Weeping Willow tree (Salicaceae)
What is your Favourite Tree Species worldwide?
Red Mangrove
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
To spread the awareness of the importance of trees in our environment through educating pupils at schools.
Dominic Belli
What is your role at LEAF?
Hi I’m Dom and I’m the junior trustee for the ethics and diversity sub-committee.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
As a physical geography student, climate change is at the core of my interests, and getting involved in the LEAF has been a great opportunity to see climate action happening in real time.
What is your Favourite UK Tree Species?
My favourite UK tree species is probably the bramley apple tree because apple crumble is my favourite!
What is your Favourite Tree Species worldwide?
My favourite international tree species is the mangrove as they help stabilise coastal environments.
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
I’m most excited to see the results of our hard work.
Joanna Davies
What is your role at LEAF?
I am part of the junior committee helping with the education committee.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
I got involved as it is a great opportunity for me to be part of a positive moment in helping our planet and gives me greater understanding of the ways we create a sustainable world from the perspective of a small charity.
What is your Favourite UK Tree Species?
Probably the horse chestnut tree, because of the conkers.
What is your Favourite Tree Species worldwide?
Worldwide my favourite type of trees are mangrove trees. Their ability to protect land from flooding and tsunamis amazes me.
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
What excites me the most is that in years to come we will be able to look back and see the difference this small charity has had in this global problem.
Rachel Davis
What is your role at LEAF?
I'm a Junior Trustee and help to run the Twitter page, write blogs and I am shadowing our Director of Fundraising.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
Increasingly passionate about making a difference through my actions and choices in this world, I wanted to be involved with a charity whose work was something I really believed in - I came across The LEAF Charity and immediately knew I wanted to be involved in any way I could be.
What is your Favourite UK Tree Species?
Horse Chestnut Tree - beautiful flowers in the Spring and then spikey cases holding soft shiny conkers drop which from the trees in Autumn.
What is your Favourite Tree Species worldwide?
It has to be pine trees! They tower over me and make me feel tiny (or tinier), they smell amazing, their pine cones are gorgeous, they represent skiing and being in the mountains, their needles fall and cover the woodland ground so it's sort of spongy, and you can make lots of nice things from their wood. What's not to love?
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
I am of course excited by any and all LEAF projects and progress and, coming from a background in education, I enjoy hearing about anything where knowledge is being shared and built upon. I look forward to LEAF working with schools in the UK as well.
Alice Gibson
What is your role at LEAF?
Hi my name’s Al. I’ve recently become a junior trustee for the projects committee of LEAF.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
Due to human impact we have lost around half of our planet’s trees, meaning the habitats and ecosystems they created have also been lost. LEAF is a charity which aims to help rectify this human impact by reforestation, awareness and restoration. I wish to be a part of this positive impact and get involved in projects which will have a huge impact on this planet’s future.
What is your Favourite UK Tree Species?
My favourite UK tree has got to be the elder. It is said that having an elder in your garden keeps the devil away. It is a beautiful tree with both flowers and berries appearing throughout the seasons (both can be foraged to make delicious wine).
What is your Favourite Tree Species worldwide?
My favourite tree in the world is the Japanese maple. It has stunning shades of red, yellow, green and orange appearing throughout the seasons. In Japan it is called ‘Kito’ meaning ‘at peace’.
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
I’m excited to see LEAF’s projects really take off creating beautifully diverse ecosystems and bringing a global awareness for a more sustainable, greener future.
Isaac Hogan
What is your role at LEAF?
I’m the education officer, I’ll be one of the people running workshops and education events.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
Joined LEAF because I believe working with them can help reconnect people with nature.
What is your Favourite UK Tree Species?
Favourite species ever, native and abroad: penduculate oak (Quercus robur)
What is your Favourite Tree Species worldwide?
Still the penduculate oak but if you need another one then the baobab of Madagascar.
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
I’m most excited about getting some junior trees in the ground, then to just watch and wait as over time they grow and transform into beautiful beings.