Love nature? Want to give back to the environment? Then try getting involved with one of these pro-active environmental groups in the London-Middlesex area to promote going green.

Nature London

Nature London (McIlwraith Field Naturalists of London) works all year long in preserving and protecting the environment. Originally founded in 1864 under a different name, Nature London has grown to inform and show the public the beauty of nature and what people can do to make the green stay.

In January and February, Nature London in partnership with the London Public Library, hold “Nature in the City”, a series of presentations from naturalist experts. According to Pat Tripp, chair of the committee for “Nature in the City,” the event works to inform over a thousand attendees of the role that the environment plays in their city, hoping that people will become aware of the impact we have on nature and look after what greenery exists here in London. The event is held at the Wolf Performance Hall at the central library in downtown London.

Potential members and volunteers are encouraged to come out to general meetings and bird watching events once a month from fall to spring at the Civic Garden Complex on Springbank Drive.

For more information on Nature London or how to become a member or volunteer visit naturelondon.com.

Fanshawe Sustainability

Fanshawe Sustainability (Sustainability) works within Fanshawe College to promote a positive impact socially, economically and environmentally on all campus' grounds. Students and faculty are welcomed to join to help create a space geared towards being as green as the college can be.

Amanda Whittingham, Fanshawe's sustainability coordinator, said Sustainability working in conjunction with the facilities management of Fanshawe tries to save energy, decrease water consumption and reduce waste. At the start of every semester, Whittingham goes around to the new students' classrooms to present information about Sustainability, what they do and what students can do to be more sustainable. Once a month, the group holds a Lunch and Learn series where a guest speaker presents information or holds a workshop related to helping students live sustainably at the school while in the winter, Sustainability encourages students to reduce their energy consumption by holding an Energy Reduction Challenge between the residences to see which one can save the most.

For more information visit fanshawec.ca/about-fanshawe/corporate-information/sustainability.

Thames Region Ecological Association

The Thames Region Ecological Association (TREA) is a local non-organization that works to educate the public and members of the association on how to live sustainable lifestyles on various subjects. TREA has a rich history providing leadership for sustainable practices while being in the forefront of programs such as the Blue Box program, Home Composting Training, Active Transportation and initiating campaigns about fossil fuels and the air quality in London.

Interim president of TREA, Diane Szoller, said that TREA focuses on getting long term projects up and going so that they will leave a positive impact on the environment in London for a long time such as encouraging the use of compost boxes and clothing lines.

Szoller said the group also helps direct people to their interests. For example, if someone is interested in tree planting TREA would redirect them to ReForest London.

General meetings are held by TREA the second Thursday of every month (except August) at Grosvenor Lodge on Western Road. The meetings and workshops at the Lodge are free for the public to attend and share their opinions and ideas with members of TREA about new ways to live environmentally friendly.

For more information on TREA visit trea.ca.

ReForest London

ReForest London is a charitable, non-profi t organization that is devoted to sustaining the health of the environment through the benefi t of planting trees over the past 12 years.

According to Sheila Creighton, partnerships and marketing manager of ReForest London and the Million Tree Challenge, ReForest London's goals are to create a tree canopy cover to bring the Forest City back to being a true forest city and one that will increase the health of both the people of now and future generations.

The group focuses on inspiring and educating citizens of London about the benefits trees have on the ecosystem of London. Furthermore, Creighton said trees can add to your property tax, prevent flooding, help fi lter water and are known to improve respiratory and cardiovascular health and encourage healthy social interaction.

ReForest London is a partner founder along with the City of London of the Million Tree Challenge project. The Million Tree Challenge is a campaign with the initiative to plant a million trees throughout the entire city. The challenge engages Londoners to plant trees and register them at milliontrees.ca so that we can all contribute to increasing the green canopy of the Forest City. ReForest London has a bulk of opportunities in the spring and fall for volunteers to help bring in more green. Volunteers can help by planting trees, going door to door to give trees out, give away saplings at events throughout the city, educate others on plants and much more.

If you're interested in volunteering email volunteer@reforestlondon.ca and for more information visit reforestlondon.ca.