Melting glaciers, soaring temperatures, drought instead of monsoon rains, wildfires, lives and livelihoods lost....
Melting glaciers, soaring temperatures, drought instead of monsoon rains, wildfires, lives and livelihoods lost....
Lt Col (Retd) Philip Holmes OBE MSc founded Pipal Tree in January 2015 and runs it from his home in Devon where he is supported by his wife, Bev. That arrangement keeps our costs down! Philip is passionate about networking and collaborating with other small charities to ensure precious funds are used effectively and without duplication. To that end, Pipal Tree is a key member of the Britain and Nepal NGO (BRANNGO) network where we chair the Environment and Climate Change Working Group.
Philip was appointed OBE in the 2023 New Year's Honours List in recognition of his 23 years' support to vulnerable people in Nepal. In March 2024 he ran the Rome Marathon raising £5,000 for Pipal Tree, this being his sixth marathon in support of his work in Nepal.
'To empower the most disadvantaged people in Nepal towards living productive, fulfilling, and healthy lives through improving education and healthcare, offering training opportunities and by the restoration of the natural environment. We focus primarily on women and girls, the lowest castes, marginalised ethnic groups, and people with disabilities.'
We are at the forefront of fighting environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity in Nepal, while helping vulnerable communities to become more resilient..
Our regional focus is primarily Madhesh Province with some important activities in Bagmati Province, including Kathmandu valley. Madhesh Province is the most populous of Nepal’s seven Provinces and arguably its most overlooked. There are huge barriers to social progress within the Province. A large part of the population lacks Nepalese citizenship and doesn't speak Nepali as a first language. These challenges are compounded by ethnic, gender, religious, and caste discrimination.
The Pipal Tree is native to south Asia and is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. It is often to be found in the centre of Nepalese towns and villages where it is a focus for community gatherings and devotion. It therefore epitomises our community engagement and reforestation programmes. And besides that, its distinctive leaves provide artistic inspiration for jewellers, including at our Lily's Leaves workshop in Kathmandu!
We are improving the natural environment in Kathmandu valley and in Madhesh Province by planting forests that help in the fight back against climate change and create livelihoods for underprivileged people. We have afforested totally inhospitable land and been pioneering in Nepal the rapid-growth Miyawaki Method with dramatic success!
We are improving the natural environment in Kathmandu valley and in Madhesh Province by planting forests that help in the fight back against climate change and create livelihoods for underprivileged people. We have afforested totally inhospitable land and been pioneering in Nepal the rapid-growth Miyawaki Method with dramatic success! We have been working on a major reforestation programme in Dhanusha District, Madhesh Province, since 2020. Employing a novel technique, The Mithila Wildlife Trust (MWT) has successfully reforested and afforested 57 hectares of community forest land that was considered too inhospitable to restore (mainly former riverbeds with no soil). Sapling survival has been 93% against a national average of 20%. In August 2021, our main local partner Community User Forest Group (CFUG) was awarded The Ganeshman Singh Forestry Award, a national award presented by the Prime Minister, as the top CFUG out of 22,000.
Since December 2021, we have been pioneering in Nepal the Miyawaki Method, a rapid-reforestation approach. These forests grow ten times faster, are twenty times more biodiverse and thirty times denser than conventional forests. This project work has attracted intense interest, locally and nationally, including in the media and amongst forestry professionals. We expect that our success will be replicated by others. Just what we want!
In July 2023, Lily’s Leaves created the first Miyawaki forest in Kathmandu valley, transforming waste ground with MWT consultancy support. See Downloads for the detail of our Kathmandu valley reforestation project plan.
In Madhesh Province, children from the lowest caste families attend under-resourced community schools. Parents see little educational value in these schools and, if they can afford it at all, will send their sons to private schools. Often girls will drop out of school when they start their periods and are then prone to child marriage.
In Madhesh Province, children from the lowest caste families attend under-resourced community schools. Parents see little educational value in these schools and, if they can afford it at all, will send their sons to private schools. Often girls will drop out of school when they start their periods and are then prone to child marriage. We are working towards levelling up education by improving the community schools so that girls can enjoy a full, quality, education just like their brothers. Our support to mainstream education is underpinned by extra tuition offered through our Community Learning Centres (CLCs) that are highly popular within marginalised communities. Our educational projects are implemented by MWT with the close support of Lily's Leaves. Read all about our education programme in Downloads.
At our Lily's Leaves social enterprise we train vulnerable young women (some of them deaf) in basic and advanced tailoring and in silver jewellery manufacture, alongside other life skills. We fund a production centre where school rucksacks and reusable sanitary pads are made for free distribution to community schools in Madhesh Province.
At our Lily's Leaves social enterprise we train vulnerable young women (some of them deaf) in basic and advanced tailoring and in silver jewellery manufacture, alongside other life skills. We fund a production centre where school rucksacks and reusable sanitary pads are made for free distribution to community schools in Madhesh Province. In October 2020, we supported dynamic businesswoman and entrepreneur Lily Katuwal KC in setting up a new social enterprise, Lily's Leaves, in Kathmandu. Since then we have been providing monthly financial support as the initiative works towards becoming self-sustaining. The trainees and workforce include able-bodied young women from rural Madhesh Province and Kathmandu valley, working alongside deaf women.
Gender-based Violence (GBV), including rape, is endemic in south Nepal. In March 2020, with Our Sansar, we set up a girls' refuge in the provincial capital, Janakpur. This is a 30-bed facility where we can offer protection and rehabilitation of survivors as we seek to reintegrate them with families and communities (if safe to do so). In p
Gender-based Violence (GBV), including rape, is endemic in south Nepal. In March 2020, with Our Sansar, we set up a girls' refuge in the provincial capital, Janakpur. This is a 30-bed facility where we can offer protection and rehabilitation of survivors as we seek to reintegrate them with families and communities (if safe to do so). In parallel, we work towards bringing the perpetrators of GBV to justice. We co-fund the monthly programme costs with Our Sansar on a 50:50 basis, with Our Sansar taking the operational lead through its eponymous NGO in Nepal.
Check out this short film about the refuge:
We provided support after the two great Nepal earthquakes of 2015, with Philip and Bev Holmes running the London Marathon the day after the first earthquake to raise relief funds. We delivered relief after the devastating 2017 floods. More recently, we brought food supplies to 43,000 people in the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. Our s
We provided support after the two great Nepal earthquakes of 2015, with Philip and Bev Holmes running the London Marathon the day after the first earthquake to raise relief funds. We delivered relief after the devastating 2017 floods. More recently, we brought food supplies to 43,000 people in the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. Our support was life-saving as we fed desperate people who lacked citizenship and did not qualify for government aid. We now have to be prepared for natural disasters such as further floods and landslides that are a tragic consequence of climate change.
It's important that we build the capacity and effectiveness of our partner organisations. In short, providing the tools do allow them to do the job themselves. Those tools include funds, volunteer consultancy and mentoring. Philip visits Lily and Dev regularly to monitor, evaluate and advise on our joint projects. In between visits, he is readily available by Zoom!
Dev Narayan Mandal set up The Mithila Wildlife Trust (MWT) in 2013 as an environmental and conservation NGO that is based in his home District of Dhanusha, Madhesh Province. It is unique within Nepal in that it is embedded within the rural community. Dev is convinced that conservation can only happen when it enjoys community ownership.
Dev Narayan Mandal set up The Mithila Wildlife Trust (MWT) in 2013 as an environmental and conservation NGO that is based in his home District of Dhanusha, Madhesh Province. It is unique within Nepal in that it is embedded within the rural community. Dev is convinced that conservation can only happen when it enjoys community ownership. MWT's founding followed Dev's return home for what should have been nothing more than a long leave after his spending six years working with SOS Animal Rescue in Delhi. This meant happy reunions with family and friends, but in the midst of that he was shocked and saddened at how the local forests that he had enjoyed as a child had been stripped through illegal felling. He also struck by how the local environment and wildlife had been diminished through lack of protection. Unfortunately, Nepal’s wildlife conservation has traditionally been focussed on protected areas and national parks. Yet many endangered species are to be found in community areas. So, he decided to leave his well-paid job and start from scratch by setting up The Mithila Wildlife Trust (MWT) that would be based within the community. For Dev, environmental restoration and protection must go hand in hand with community upliftment and especially the education of the children from the lowest castes.
Since its inception, MWT has been highly successful in mobilising community support from schools, colleges, youth groups, Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) and villages that can complement the inputs from the Division Forestry Offices, local and national authorities. MWT now operates across all eight Districts of Madhesh Province and into the adjacent Hetauda District. In addition, he has engaged with the academic world and MWT has authored some important scientific research papers.
In February 2020, Philip Holmes met Dev while he was researching possible development projects in the District. There was an immediate meeting of minds from which sprang our joint reforestation and education projects, building upon the success that Dev had already enjoyed. Our role is to underpin Dev’s commitment and passion, providing the resources and mentoring he requires to build the capacity of MWT and make it even more effective. And to be ready to support MWT with relief supplies when disaster strikes.
Philip Holmes got to know Lily Katuwal KC during the time that he lived and worked in Nepal, between 2004 and 2012. He could see immediately how resourceful and energetic Lily was as an entrepreneur and businesswoman. We helped harness that dynamism for social good, with the set up of the Lily's Leaves social enterprise in October 2020.
Philip Holmes got to know Lily Katuwal KC during the time that he lived and worked in Nepal, between 2004 and 2012. He could see immediately how resourceful and energetic Lily was as an entrepreneur and businesswoman. We helped harness that dynamism for social good, with the set up of the Lily's Leaves social enterprise in October 2020. The name Lily's Leaves reflected our original interest in working alongside MWT to develop forest products commercially, but that has had to be delayed because of COVID restrictions. Instead, Lily's Leaves focussed on training of vulnerable young women, support to MWT's education programme and, from 2023, a reforestation project in Kathmandu valley itself.
We fully expect Lily's Leaves' green credentials to grow and flourish in the years ahead!
Julia Krepska founded registered charity Our Sansar in 2009 primarily to focus on street children, education, child labour and child protection issues in Madhesh Province. In 2020, it was an obvious partner charity for us to work with in setting up a girls' refuge in Janakpur for the victims of Gender-based Violence (GBV), including rape.
Julia Krepska founded registered charity Our Sansar in 2009 primarily to focus on street children, education, child labour and child protection issues in Madhesh Province. In 2020, it was an obvious partner charity for us to work with in setting up a girls' refuge in Janakpur for the victims of Gender-based Violence (GBV), including rape.
Our Sansar works through an eponymous, but independent, Nepalese NGO that is based in Birgunj on the border with India. This NGO is the lead implementer in operating the girls' refuge that we co-fund as a Joint Venture on a 50:50 basis,
In 2020/2021 we collaborated with Our Sansar in the distribution of food relief during COVID lockdowns. This coordination ensured that there was no duplication of effort and that no one missed out on life-saving supplies.
Lately, Our Sansar has been reaching out to child labourers in brick factories.
Our Sansar is a fellow member of BRANNGO.
We can accept donations in any major currency either as a one-off or as a regular gift. And if you are a UK taxpayer, we can add 25% to your donation as Gift Aid. Just visit our secure online site through the button below or, if you prefer, just send a cheque to the charity postal address in sunny Devon! We use all Gift Aid tax reclaims to help us meet our general operating costs. You can find a Gift Aid declaration form in the Downloads section below. You only need to complete this once to cover all future gifts.
We are creating a Gurkha Memorial Forest in Nepal to honour the 130,000 young Nepalese soldiers who have served in the Indian and British Armies since 1939. We will plant one tree per soldier and one forest cluster for each of the 13 Victoria Cross winners.
Would you like to fundraise for us? You can use the button below to set up your own personal fundraising page - that's the easy bit! You might like to organise an event for a few friends, or take up a personal challenge such as a trek, a race or jumping out of a plane. Maybe you'd like to set up a page to celebrate a special event such as a birthday or anniversary or an in memoriam site for a loved one who has passed away. We are very happy to advise. Whatever you choose, thank you!
If you are writing or updating your Will, please consider leaving us a small bequest after you have made allowance for your loved ones and other existing causes. We can ensure that your final gift can be made to go a long way and you could help us to save lives when disaster strikes Nepal.
We have trained young deaf women at our Lily's Leaves social enterprise to become talented silversmiths. Their distinctive products are available to purchase either wholesale (see the catalogue under Downloads) or retail through the Gurkha Museum online shop. Each sale helps us to train and employ more deaf women who are highly stigmatised in Nepal.
We mainly communicate by email but we believe strongly in treating our supporters with respect. We take pride in not being intrusive or haranguing, confining our correspondence to brief updates and requests that we issue monthly, on average. We don't share supporter details with anyone else and you can of course opt out at any time.
Clearly there is a plethora of social media that we could use to present our work. However, as a small charity, we only have the resources to feature regularly on two platforms. You can follow us on LinkedIn or like us on Facebook. Maybe you can invite your Facebook friends to mark your birthday with a gift to Pipal Tree? That won't cost you anything!
Rob Salamon,
Field Advisor,
Lloyd George Asia Foundation.
“I have known and worked with Philip for a number of years, both in the remote countryside of Nepal and in Kathmandu. I have always been struck by the intnse dedication he brings to his work -- helping poor and vulnerable communities, especially children -- as well as his integrity, clear-sightedness and his genuine compassion for people in difficult or dangerous circumstances. I believe his devotion to helping others has been grounded on Philip's personal life experiences, his intelligent understanding and appreciation of the challenges presented by charitable undertakings, his honesty, and his strength of character.”
Actor
Pipal Tree Ambassador
“Part of having a platform as an actor means you can improve visibility for great causes. I was searching for something that I could believe in and stand behind, that would allow me to put something back.
I was delighted when this charity was introduced to me as an organisation worthy of support. With its roots in Nepal and a huge belief in access to education, Philip’s work was exactly what I was hoping for. A chat with him, as well as reading his brutally honest memoir, further cemented my impression that this was a genuine organisation with true heart.
Philip is structured, no nonsense and has the biggest of hearts. He doesn’t shy away from the absolute worst and is incredibly aware of the circumstances he is dealing with. He is a realist when it comes to Nepal - his love for the country and passion for his project is admirable and inspiring but he certainly doesn’t view the country through rose-tinted specs. His hard graft and caution deliver results.”
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Colonel (Retd) Nick Hinton MBE
Chairman
“Pipal Tree is a much valued and respected member of the Britain-Nepal NGO Network (BRANNGO). Their generous-spirited involvement provides others with inspirational insights into the remarkable work they do for the benefit of people and communities in Nepal, and helps them by engaging them collaboratively with the wider circle of British NGOs operating in the country.
In late 2023 I was very fortunate to visit the Mithila Wildlife Trust in Madhesh province, and was immensely impressed not only by how much they have achieved so far but also the coherence of their strategy and plans and the passionate enthusiasm and dedication of those involved. It really is a splendid organisation which deserves our admiration and support.”
Founder and Executive Director
“I have been working with Philip since 2007, and I am extremely grateful for his leadership in the field and his partnership.
Philip is a person of the highest integrity. He has a beautiful vision of giving the most vulnerable women and children the means to lift themselves out of poverty and exploitation. No matter what obstacles he faces (and they have been many), Philip remains steadfast, and quickly adapts to overcome problems and move forward.
Philip and his team were instrumental in eradicating a most destructive form of slavery: the trafficking and exploitation of Nepali children into Indian circuses, where they experienced severe sexual and physical abuse. Philip courageously led rescue raids of the circuses, brought kids home to Nepal, and created shelters where they could recover, and facilitated their return to families in cases where this was possible. He worked not just on one aspect of the issue, but holistically, on all aspects of the problem from prevention to rescue to aftercare to reintegration. His current projects are equally impactful, and I'm excited to see more and more lives changed and communities transformed.”
Nigel Clarke
Former Head of Information Design and Brand, Heathrow Airport
“You hay have heard of the saying 'If you want to get something done, give it to a busy man'.
I first met Philip over 20 years ago when he was certainly very busy! He devised an event to raise funds for his charity at The Drapers’ Hall in the City of London. He formed a team with different skill sets to help deliver the event, then had a plan for the proceeds which delivered tangible actions and results - so you could see first-hand where your money went. In this case, he set up an art studio in Nepal where the rescued children were trained and created pieces of art. They had new purpose which ended in tangible achievements.
Philip is well organised, reliable and robust. But most of all he can be trusted to deliver. You know with him that there will be actions and results and you can be sure he will be driving it.”
Teacher Horizons is the world's leading community of international teachers. Run by teachers, for teachers, it connects qualified teachers with international school jobs, worldwide. We are honoured to be Teacher Horizons' Charity of the Year 2023.
VICTVS is a UK-based company that specialises in supporting learners worldwide (just like us!) and in providing exam solutions, including invigilation. The company has been providing core financial support since 2021.
The Mountain Company is an award-winning specialist UK-based tour operator that has clients from all around the world. It organises treks of a lifetime to the Everest and Annapurna regions in Nepal, with safety being of paramount importance. The company has been supporting our Gurkha Memorial Forest project, with the reforestation reflecting their commitment to carbon offset and sustainability.
We are proud to have worked alongside UK registered charity Guy's Trust in providing food relief during lockdowns and in school classroom construction. The Joseph family founded the charity in memory of Guy Joseph who died in a tragic accident in 2011, aged just 25. Guy was a great lover of Nepal and our joint project work is a befitting tribute to an energetic and passionate young man.
Her Future Coalition is a U.S. non-profit founded by Sarah Symons in 2005 that adopts a real "can-do" approach. It creates powerful and positive change in the lives of women and girls in Nepal and India who are highly vulnerable or trafficking survivors. Her Future Coalition breaks the cycle of poverty and exploitation by providing education – and a full range of services that support education – including training in silver jewellery skills. Her Future Coalition has provided us with funding support and with silversmiths as volunteer trainers.
Just email, write (we love receiving good old-fashioned letters!) or give us a call. We are very happy to set up a Zoom call or a face-to-face meeting to discuss funding opportunities.
Three Ways, Ledstone, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 2HQ, United Kingdom.
+44 (0)1548 852816 philip@pipaltree.org.uk Pipal Tree is a UK registered charity, reg. no. 1159770 We are registered with The Fundraising Regulator, ID-081855
