Inspire, Enable & Celebrate:

In 1982 The Conservation Foundation was formed by David Shreeve and David Bellamy and since then we’ve been working to Inspire, Enable and Celebrate positive environmental action.

Inspire.

The Conservation Foundation creates and manages environmental projects, award schemes, awareness campaigns, publications and events covering wide ranging issues and aimed at different and diverse audiences.

Some include the spiritual dimension of concern for the environment. The Foundation is also an environmental incubator, helping fledgling organisations get off the ground and turning good ideas into fundable projects.

We have no members, what we do is funded by sponsors and organisations such as the Heritage Lottery and National Lottery Community Funds and grant giving trusts. As a registered charity, we can also accept donations for projects or to pay running costs.

Our approach is inclusive and fun, never confrontational or strident. Projects are run as partnerships – with corporate and individual sponsors, government departments, media organisations, trusts and foundations.

View our projects

Enable.

Thousands of people have become interested in the environment through a Conservation Foundation project. For some it may have involved planting a tree, creating a pond, or turning a wasteland green – all actions which make their community healthier and more connected. For others, the Foundation has sparked a lifelong concern for the wider world and provided a practical way to get involved.

The past 40 years have seen a recognition of the importance of the environment to our lives. As it looks forward, The Conservation Foundation hopes to continue to encourage and enable people of all ages and backgrounds to make a difference and to inspire sponsors, businesses and individuals to play their part.

View our timeline

Celebrate.

Many individuals, organisations and projects have benefited from The Conservation Foundation’s numerous award schemes to celebrate positive environmental action designed to congratulate those involved and to encourage others. The very first awards supported by the Ford Motor Company eventually grew to cover Europe whilst the Wessex Watermarks support projects in the West Country.

Other awards have been supported by Lloyds Bank, O2, Trusthouse Forte, Disney, The Observer, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times and others.

Get in touch

Meet the team.

David Shreeve Founder & Director

was once described by Harpers and Queen magazine as one of the few conservationists with a sense of humour. David had the idea of the Foundation one day in the bath after organising a successful project involving disease resistant elm trees whilst working in public relations.

Alison Willis, Project Manager

has worked in the voluntary sector for many years including as a campaigner for Oxfam, and later as an events producer at Amnesty International UK. Alison manages the Tools Shed project.

Alex Birch Trustee

has more than 30 years experience as a Consultant and is Partner of OC&C Strategy Consultants. He served as Chairman of Living Earth Foundation an international not-for-profit organisation specialising in working with people to resolve their environmental and social concerns.

Lucy Brazg Trustee

is an experienced non-profit leader and fundraiser with a strong track record in building relationships and advocating for change. She has a background in health and international development. In recent years, Lucy led a complex development programme at the University of Cambridge covering ten world-leading faculties and two museums.

Dorothy Harris Trustee

has had many years working on environmental issues both in the UK and internationally for major commercial organisations. Before joining our board she had been a senior executive with a major company sponsoring Foundation projects.

Libby Kinmonth Trustee / Project Manager

has worked on many of the Foundation’s projects involving elms, yews and tourism management and O₂’s It’s Your Community and Think Big. She was particularly involved in running the Wessex Watermarks awards over many years.

Toby Meadows (Interim) Chair

has a background in consultancy focusing on brand strategy for creative businesses. He has taken recently taken on the role of Interim Chair of Trustees to help shape the Foundation’s future focus in this, the Charity’s 40th year.

Inspire, Enable & Celebrate:

In 1982 The Conservation Foundation was formed by David Shreeve and David Bellamy and since then we’ve been working to Inspire, Enable and Celebrate positive environmental action.

Inspire.

The Conservation Foundation creates and manages environmental projects, award schemes, awareness campaigns, publications and events covering wide ranging issues and aimed at different and diverse audiences.

Some include the spiritual dimension of concern for the environment. The Foundation is also an environmental incubator, helping fledgling organisations get off the ground and turning good ideas into fundable projects.

We have no members, what we do is funded by sponsors and organisations such as the Heritage Lottery and National Lottery Community Funds and grant giving trusts. As a registered charity, we can also accept donations for projects or to pay running costs.

Our approach is inclusive and fun, never confrontational or strident. Projects are run as partnerships – with corporate and individual sponsors, government departments, media organisations, trusts and foundations.

Enable.

Celebrate.

Other awards have been supported by Lloyds Bank, O2, Trusthouse Forte, Disney, The Observer, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times and others.

Meet the team.

was once described by Harpers and Queen magazine as one of the few conservationists with a sense of humour. David had the idea of the Foundation one day in the bath after organising a successful project involving disease resistant elm trees whilst working in public relations.

has worked in the voluntary sector for many years including as a campaigner for Oxfam, and later as an events producer at Amnesty International UK. Alison manages the Tools Shed project.

has more than 30 years experience as a Consultant and is Partner of OC&C Strategy Consultants. He served as Chairman of Living Earth Foundation an international not-for-profit organisation specialising in working with people to resolve their environmental and social concerns.

has had many years working on environmental issues both in the UK and internationally for major commercial organisations. Before joining our board she had been a senior executive with a major company sponsoring Foundation projects.

has worked on many of the Foundation’s projects involving elms, yews and tourism management and O2’s It’s Your Community and Think Big. She was particularly involved in running the Wessex Watermarks awards over many years.

has a background in consultancy focusing on brand strategy for creative businesses. He has taken recently taken on the role of Interim Chair of Trustees to help shape the Foundation’s future focus in this, the Charity’s 40th year.

has worked on many of the Foundation’s projects involving elms, yews and tourism management and O₂’s It’s Your Community and Think Big. She was particularly involved in running the Wessex Watermarks awards over many years.