🌍 Turning Up for the Earth: A Celebration of Nature Advocacy

We believe turning up for the Earth is a way of being, not a singular act. It’s found in the soil beneath your fingernails, the protests you attend, the mindful choices you make, and the whispers from the trees. It’s the remembering that we are Nature, and every act of care we offer weaves us back into the fabric of belonging.

As we honour Earth Day, we’re asking each of you to reflect on what turning up for the Earth means to you—not just today, but every day. How do you advocate for our natural world?

Below, you’ll find reflections from TreeSisters staff and board members. Each one offers a glimpse into the many ways we show up for the Earth.

In the spirit of reciprocity, we’re also excited to share that we're taking part in The Big Give. Starting at midday BST on 22 April (Earth Day), every donation made through the Big Give platform will be doubled for one week. A powerful act of advocacy and reciprocity for the Earth. More details on how to give are at the end of this blog.

🌅 Daily Rituals and Personal Connections

People often think of protests, petitions, and disruption when it comes to advocacy, but sometimes it can be ritual, devotion and small everyday actions.

For Abi, our Full Moon Facilitator, turning up for the Earth begins at dawn, where the elements guide her morning rituals:

“I turn up for the earth by taking time as dark turns to light each day to engage with the elements, listening to them, offering them my movement practice and sea swim, being guided and informed by them and giving gratitude for the magnificence that is daybreak every single day.”

For Emily, our Head of Finance, turning up for the Earth is woven into the fabric of family life and daily decisions:

“I turn up by making conscious choices for our family every day. Our mindset is rooted in reducing consumption and minimising waste. Can we reuse it? Repurpose it? Could someone else benefit from it? Before making a purchase, we ask: Do we truly need it? Could we borrow it instead? Is there a way to support local businesses or small suppliers with purpose beyond profit? Every decision is an opportunity to tread more lightly on the planet.”

Madeleine, our Restoration Manager, holds a deep elemental connection at the heart of her daily practices:

“Showing up for the Earth is remembering that we are the Earth—made of water, air, earth, and fire. Reconnecting to her cycles and reclaiming our birthright to live in peace means living in harmony with her daily. This includes choosing organic, local produce, grounding, yoga, and listening to Nature’s sounds. It’s about regular walks, attuning to the trees and other beings of Nature for support and wisdom. Showing up also means saying NO when life is under threat and cultivating a way of living in deep respect and reciprocity with the Earth.”

For Sital, Chair of the Board, connection with the Earth comes through joy, gratitude, and walking daily in ancient woodlands with her dog, Marley:

“We greet Boba, a Buddha-like stump of an Oak tree. Marley and I give thanks, meditate, and allow ourselves to feel the power of the woods. We then go on to celebrate Hi Five and Darcy that lead us to an orchestral canopy that protects from wind and rain. There is something quite reassuring about the wisdom held in those roots. Our daily connection with nature has made me want to show up more for our precious space, whether campaigning locally, petitioning the local council, or volunteering. Little by little, we engage more of our communities with our woodland and its inhabitants.”

✊ Advocacy Through Action and Awareness

Advocacy might begin as a personal shift, a raised voice, or a moment of courage. It can be quiet or bold, inward or outward. However it shows up, it begins with awareness—and grows through action.

For Georgina, our Executive Director, turning up for the Earth is both a personal and professional commitment:

“Showing up for the Earth is not just part of my job—it’s at the very heart of everything we do. Every decision we make and every action we take is rooted in the understanding that we are all interconnected with Mother Earth. It means using the privilege and platform to amplify the message that Nature needs us to act with urgency, respect, and love. It’s about making conscious, intentional choices to reduce my impact and maximise the positive ways I interact with the world. Becoming vegan, prioritising second-hand, recycling, composting... we’ve also started restoring the land with wildflowers and fruit trees. My vision is to be self-sufficient while nurturing the soil and wildlife. I’m not perfect and still learning, but I’m more attuned to the wisdom that trees offer, and I feel a deep sense of gratitude each time we meet.”

For Kirsten, our Communications Manager, advocacy is a blend of reconnection, action and the courage to challenge systems:

“When we harm the Earth, we harm ourselves. It’s that simple truth that’s been forgotten. It’s about the world we want to live in and the one we’ll leave behind. It means dismantling (or at least chipping away at) systems of power that perpetuate harm, and pushing for care, equity and justice for all. It’s showing up, even when it’s hard or inconvenient. Making daily choices. Donating. Writing. Challenging. But it’s also joy, hope and solidarity. It’s recognising the incredible power of community and the importance of caring for ourselves and each other. It’s making time to connect deeply with nature. That connection is a reminder of who you truly are, what we’re fighting for, and the belief that something better is possible.”

For our Head of Impact and Engagement, Ashley, being an advocate means refusing to wait and choosing to act—every day, in every way:

“Being an advocate for the Earth means refusing to wait for someone else to fix things. It’s about showing up—in big ways like voting for climate action and pushing for systemic change, and in smaller, everyday ways like talking about the climate crisis with honesty, calling out greenwashing, protecting local wild spaces, and helping others reconnect with nature. I believe that when people experience nature and really feel it, they begin to love it. And when we love and understand something, we protect it. Advocacy also means not needing permission to care. We don’t need another campaign to remind us that the Earth matters—we already know it does. I feel it when I watch my children climb trees, when I walk through an untouched forest, when I read the science on what we’re losing. We’re in a mass extinction. The climate is breaking. And yet, I still believe in what’s possible. Being an advocate doesn’t require perfection—it requires persistence, truth, and a deep love for the only home we have.”

For Maria Ines, one of our Board Members, advocacy is rooted in her life’s work and a profound belief in biocultural care:

“I chose to study forest engineering. Back then, I had no idea how urgent and vital it would become to dedicate myself to protecting forests. Today, I channel my energy into conserving and restoring biodiversity, firmly believing that in doing so, we are also caring for the people who inhabit these territories. I work for their well-being, their autonomy, and to strengthen the ties that bind us to the land. To speak for Nature is, in truth, to speak for ourselves. It is allowing its ancient wisdom to guide us and letting its voice resonate through our actions.”

And for Rhia, our Project Coordinator, awareness and grounded connection are the foundations of meaningful change:

“It means using my voice to stand up for people and the planet when harm or injustice occurs. Advocacy starts with awareness and continues through accountability. It’s about recognising our well-being is tied to the health of our environment, and with that comes the responsibility to protect and care for each other. Advocacy means speaking up and pushing for systems that honour sustainability, equity, and respect for all life. Living near both mountains and the sea, I ground myself daily. These moments reconnect me to something bigger than myself and fuel my sense of purpose. When we build a relationship with Nature, we’re more likely to protect it—and that connection forms the foundation of lasting advocacy.”

🌱 A Living Tapestry of Earth Advocacy

Advocacy can be as grand as a movement or as gentle as a morning ritual. This Earth Day, we invite you to reflect on how you show up for the Earth—through action, attention, or deepening your connection to the natural world.

We are proud to be part of a global movement that restores, protects, and listens to the natural world. An easy way to advocate for and give back to the Earth this Earth Day is by donating. We’re taking part in the Big Give, where your donations will be doubled to support women-, Indigenous-, and community-led restoration, while also helping us advocate for Nature’s rights and reconnect more people with the Earth. Click the button below and please give what you can.

DOUBLE MY DONATION

Together, we can nurture a greener, more resilient planet for generations to come.

Thank you!

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