Programme updates
Hong Kong: Aviva supports tree planting project
Date: 19 May 2008
A dedicated team of Aviva
tree-planters
In April, Aviva participated in an effort led by Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) to restore the ecosystems damaged in Tai Lam country park after it was hit by hill fires in 2007.
Aviva sponsored the FoE (HK) event, and five teams of four Aviva employees participated on the day, planting 250 seedlings in some of the territory's most difficult terrain.
The ‘tree planting challenge' required each participating team to plant 50 seedlings in a designated planting site and complete an approximately 10 km hiking course within six hours. Although the planting site was on a steep slope with loose rocks and dangerous terrain, one of the Aviva teams finished in just under four hours.
Simon Phipps (left) and
Shaun Meadows, Singapore,
HK and Middle-East CEO
(right) with team-mates at
the planting site.
Aviva team members also designed different innovative and environmentally-friendly tools to transport the seedlings to the site, including backpacks made from used carton boxes, laundry baskets, rattan bins and aprons. These tools were either recyclable or reusable.
Simon Phipps, Aviva Hong Kong MD, said: ‘The tree planting competition was a great experience for us. It's not as easy as you'd think, but despite the hard work, aches and pains, it feels great to help make a small difference on such a big issue. We had a lot of fun as a team too.'
As a committed supporter of environmental efforts, Aviva HK is a ‘Jupiter Earth Partner' of Friends of the Earth (HK).
