General News

The Woodland Trust was delighted this week to receive a donation of over £4,250 thanks to the contributions of Ski Club GB members.

Looking to the future
With climate change now a reality, and skiing being dependent on the climate for its future, the Ski Club believes that unless we all take action now, the mountains we love may not be the same for our grandchildren. Some scientists even predict that by the end of the 21st Century, 90% of the Alpine glaciers will have melted as global warming pushes up temperatures.

As a result, the Ski Club of Great Britain has developed a focus on the environment that is just the start of the ’Going Green’ process. They have drawn up an Environmental Policy Statement:

"To seek to improve the environmental performance of the Club and its members in a way that helps safeguard the natural environment and the long-term future of skiing, and of the Club itself"

Green initiatives
In addition, by increasing its membership subscription by 50p the Ski Club has been able to fund two environmentally responsible initiatives:

• Firstly, a direct donation to a long-term tree planting campaign, close to home in the UK and run by the Woodland Trust. As they establish the trees will not only enhance the environment and provide homes for wildlife but they will absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
• The second initiative involves the funding of an academic research project directed towards examining the effect of skiing on the environment, to provide information on what we should do in the future.

Tree for all
The generous donation made by Ski Club members will enable over 400 trees to be planted as part of the Trust’s new Tree For All campaign. Tree For All is the largest children’s tree planting initiative the UK has ever seen inspiring today’s youngsters to become environmental custodians of the future. It is a bold campaign with the vision that every child should have the chance to plant trees. Over the next five years Tree For All will see:

• 12 million trees planted across the UK - one for every child under the age of 16 in the UK
• One million people, especially children, involved in planting trees through school planting events, public events and even in their own back gardens;

Further information can be found at www.treeforall.org.uk

The Ski Club of Great Britain has also developed an environmental policy and seven ways to preserve the mountain.

Buy your RESPECT THE MOUNTAIN wristband online
Those of you who love the mountains and care about your future can now show your support and respect by wearing the Respect the Mountain green wristband. Each band will sell for £2 and can be acquired by calling 09065 224 698, or bought in our online shop.