New figures by CSV show that if the population of England and Wales volunteered for a single day they could clean 694,000km of waterways, even longer than the River Nile. (1)

Based on the achievements of last year’s CSV Action Earth environmental volunteering campaign, CSV has calculated that as well as being able to dramatically improve UK rivers, if everyone in England and Wales volunteered just for one day they could:

Improve 534 km² of land - equivalent to a third of the size of London collect 3.7 million tonnes of litter - more than 10% of the refuse dumped each year on UK streets build 373,732,100 bird boxes – enough to house the number of common British breeding birds four times over

The incredible potential environmental impact of volunteering is being highlighted to coincide with the launch of this year’s CSV Action Earth programme, supported by Morrisons. Its launch will take place at 12.30pm on Tuesday 27 February at Bradford City Farm. Attended by Gillian Hall, Morrisons’ Customer Services Director and Councillor Choudhary Rangzeb, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, the launch will see a group of Morrisons volunteers taking part in the first CSV Action Earth 2007 project - to clear a pond at the farm.

Gillian Hall, Customer Services Director, Morrisons says: “We are pleased that the sponsorship we have given CSV is going to help kick-start many excellent community environmental projects. Action Earth is a fantastic programme that makes a real impact in helping to improve local environments. Morrisons volunteers are looking forward to conducting 2007’s first Action Earth project - to clear Bradford City Farm’s pond and encourage biodiversity.”

Mike Williams, CSV Director of Environment, says: “CSV Action Earth is about making a lasting difference to your local environment through volunteering. It is astounding to imagine the potential impact that volunteering could make to river pollution, litter and other issues that people really care about.”

Last year over 15,000 people took part in CSV Action Earth projects in England and Wales giving nearly 300,000 volunteering hours while planting more than 5,500 trees, collecting nearly 10,000 sacks of litter, cleaning nearly 6,000 metres of river bed and overall improving more than 3,300 acres of land.

Morrisons has agreed to provide 750 voluntary groups with £50 grants to help kick start community environmental projects in their local area. CSV Action Earth 2007 runs from March 1 2007 to July 31. To register a project and apply for a grant or get more information on CSV Action Earth, call CSV on Tel: 0121 328 7455 or visit www.csv.org.uk/actionearth.

For further press information:

CSV Press Office: Paul Donohoe 020 7812 0037 / 07779 624 385 / pdonohoe@csv.org.uk or Jason Tanner 020 7812 0038 / jtanner@csv.org.uk

Morrisons Press Office: Harriet Rodgers 0845 611 5363 / 07891 812 833 harriet.rodgers@morrisonsplc.co.uk

Notes for Editors

1. For detailed break down of volunteer contribution see the fact sheet below

2. The launch of CSV Action Earth 2007 will take place at Bradford City Farm at 12.30pm Tuesday 27 February. The launch will be attended by Gillian Hall, Morrisons Customer Services Director and Councillor Choudhary Rangzeb the Lord Mayor of Bradford. Around a dozen volunteers will be taking part in a pond clear up at the farm.

3. CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Each year 227,000 people give 5 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 12,705 people of all ages. www.csv.org.uk 

4. Morrisons is the UK’s 4th largest supermarket with an 11.8% market share. Quality, value and unbeatable service are experienced by nine million customers every week throughout Morrisons network of over 370 stores. The company currently employs more than 130,000 people in its stores, factories, distribution centres and head office functions.  

5. To receive a £50 grant, which covers expenses including materials, projects must: improve the local environment, involve volunteers, or meet a local community need. Examples of projects completed by volunteers last year include: Planting up a wildlife area in a local school, erecting bird/bat/hedgehog boxes in a nearby wood, cleaning up a local beach and clearing and signing local footpaths. To register a project and apply for a grant or get more information on CSV Action Earth, call CSV on Tel: 0121 328 7455 or visit www.csv.org.uk/actionearth. 


FACT SHEET

CSV Action Earth, supported by Morrisons

General info

England/Wales population: 53,390,300
CSV Action Earth average volunteer day = 7 hours
 
1. River bed clearing

In 1 day a CSV Action Earth volunteer can clear nearly 13m of river bed
In 1 day the population of England and Wales could clear 694,074km of river bed - even longer than the River Nile 

2. Land improvement

In 1 day a CSV Action Earth volunteer can improve* 10 sq metres of land
In 1 day the population of England and Wales could improve 534 kilometres squared of land - a third of the size of London. (Size of London 1,579km sq)

* scrub management/coppicing/fence construction/hedge laying/path building.

Source: Greater London’s surface area is 1,579km2, Wikipedia 2007

3. Litter collecting

In 1 day a CSV Action Earth volunteer can collect 70 kg (14 bags) of litter
In 1 day the population of England and Wales could collect 3.7 million tonnes of litter – more than 10% of the litter dumped each year on our streets

Source: Over 30 million tonnes of litter are collected from our streets every year (this does not include beaches, parks and other public spaces), Local Government Association 2005

4. Bird boxes

In 1 day a CSV Action Earth volunteer can build 7 bird boxes

In one day the population of England and Wales could build 373,732,100 bird boxes – enough to house the number of common British breeding birds four times over

Source: There are 88.2 million common British breeding birds in Great Britain, DEFRA, 1999