It started as a simple question: with most of the world in lockdown and social distancing, what could we do to encourage people to connect to nature, and feel connected to each other? Something that was fun and uplifting in these difficult times.
We’re already big fans of hugging trees, and at time when we can’t hug each other it seemed even more poignant… so on March 20th the hashtag #hugatreenotme was born (even better, it rhymed!).
We launched the campaign around a month ago – asking people to upload pictures of themselves with a tree and the hashtag. Those who couldn’t leave the house were challenged to hug a plant instead.
We even decided to plant a tree for free for everyone who took part.
The response was great. On Earth Day alone over 100 people tagged themselves with their arboreal friends. Across all continents our supporters were hugging trees and helping to plant them. From Romania, the UK, France and Sweden in Europe to El Salvador and the United States… we loved seeing your pictures so much we’ve decided to keep the campaign going a little longer.
Hugging a tree makes you feel better. It can help us feel calmer, grounded, more connected to Mother Nature and remind us of the interconnectedness of life: trees absorb carbon monoxide and release oxygen; we breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon monoxide. We’re perfect partners.
The first tree-huggers are said to have been a group of 69 women and 294 men from the Bishnois branch of Hinduism, who clung to trees in their village to stop them being cut down. This led to the non-violent movement inspired by Ghandi’s philosophy of peaceful resistance, the Chipko Andolan movement. Sadly the original tree protectors were killed by the foresters – but their sacrifice led to a royal decree prohibiting the cutting of trees in any Bishnoi village which remain wooded oases today.
“Ecology is the permanent economy” - Sunderlal Bahuguna, eco activist.
The Chipko Andolan Forest Conservation Movement began in the 1970’s. The word chipko means "to stick" or "to hug" in Hindi.
Keep hugging those trees… post your picture with the hashtag #hugatreenotme and tag us @forestswithoutfrontiers and we’ll plant a tree for you.