On September 8th, 2011 the UK branch of the international conservation charity, WWF, announced that Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, would be its president during it's fiftieth anniversary year. Two weeks later, an unknown protester nicknamed Snoz received widespread media coverage as he took residence up a 100-year-old beech tree threatened with the chop in the village of Irton, near Scarborough, north-east Yorkshire, England.
Prince Charles Becomes President of WWF-UK
A WWF-UK press release on September 8th announced that Prince Charles would become its president for a landmark year.
The conservation charity with a panda logo takes pride in trying to conserve the environment while working with local populations, businesses and governments.
The WWF press release reported that Charles's presidency 'was announced at a WWF event, held at St James’ Palace in London, to mark the 20th anniversary of the Global Forest Trade Network (GFTN). The GFTN is an initiative established by WWF to improve the management of the world's forests.'
Prince Charles Speaks of Environmental Importance
The WWF press release reported that Charles was a seasoned environmentalist, and that he'd spoken of his and the WWF's mutual concerns for conservation: 'There is an urgent need for all of us to concentrate our efforts on sustaining, nurturing and protecting the Earth's natural capital and, moreover, reshaping our economic systems so that Nature sits at the very heart of our thinking.'
This means that the two most powerful British royals will be deeply involved in protecting the environment this year, with the Queen leading a project to plant millions of new trees in celebration of her diamond jubilee.
Snoz and the Irton Beech Tree
Less than a fortnight after Prince Charles was announced as the new president of WWF-UK, a century old beech tree in the middle of the village of Irton, near Scarborough in north-east Yorkshire, was due to be felled on Monday 19th September, after its roots were reported to have damaged local property.
However, a protest by locals stopped the felling, and then Mark 'Snoz' Snow climbed up the tree and took residence to stop it being cut down.
Snoz is still up the tree at the time of writing, on day four, and his protest has attracted local and national media interest. A historical parallel has widely been drawn with Swampy, who also became a household name after a similar treetop protest in the 1990s.
Marc Latham - Doctor of Philosophy and experienced freelance writer searching for truth and meaning, and reporting it in clear and concise copy.
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