A story of unexpected and incredible support from ian chan fans
What does a Hong Kong pop music sensation and a UK tree planting charity have in common? They’re both supported by the amazing work of the Ian Chan International Fan Club!
Digging to music
It was a clear and chilly winter’s day in a field in West London, and 150 volunteers were planting baby trees in the ground, creating the beginnings of an urban woodland that future generations will enjoy. Amongst them were 30 individuals, digging to the music of actor and singer-songwriter Ian Chan.
That was the scene at our 30th anniversary planting event in Horsenden last November, where the UK members of the Ian Chan International Fan Club joined us in helping us plant over 3,700 whips, work they’d helped fund by raising over £5000!
It’s a beautiful story of people united through a common interest, and using that admiration to give back to their community.
Nature connection
We chatted with Patricia, a London-based helper in the fan club, to find out: what does environmentalism have to do with Ian Chan?
We soon learnt Ian Chan is a man of many skills, so it was to no one's surprise that when he branched out into a singing career five years ago, he was an instant hit. The Ian Chan International Fan Club started up to help promote his music, not just in his home of Hong Kong, but around the world.
Patricia moved over to the UK in 2020, and has made many friends through the fan club. She helps with activities like promoting his songs (including hiring vans to go round cities playing his music!) and encouraging people to attend his events.
But amongst these promotional activities are also altruistic events all in the name of a shared love for Ian Chan.
Clubs all around the world take part in volunteer activities. For example in Australia they raise money towards koalas, and in Hong Kong they do a lot of beach cleaning. We just want to gather the members around together to do something good for the community and for our planet.
Patricia, Ian Chan International Fan Club helper
Celebrating 30 years
Just like Trees for Cities, Ian Chan turned 30 in 2023, and as a nature-lover, the fan club wanted to give him a gift. And what better way to do it than fundraise to support an environmental charity, and then plant several hundred trees in his name?
“Many of his songs are related to nature and tell us to love the environment,” Patricia explains, “for example, Last Flower on Earth speaks to the importance of holding on to hope amidst the scary and sometimes deadly impact of climate change. So this is why we choose to do something good for nature as a gift for him.”
These are lyrics we can get behind! So did the club enjoy the planting day?
The planting day was great! It was quite like a carnival because there was also a performance and music. People came together and talked, and then planted trees. After the event my kids also like planting a lot and joined an eco club at their school, and our fan club members definitely want to go back to plant again!
Thank you to everyone in the UK Ian Chan International Fan Club for raising over £5000 to help us plant more trees, and thank you to Ian Chan himself - keep inspiring future environmentalists with your beautiful songs!
Feeling inspired?
Do you or your club want to raise money or join us for a planting day? Head over to our volunteer page to find out more, or reach out to enquire about opportunities to support our work in greening cities.
check out volunteering opportunitiesDonate to Trees for Cities and together we can help cities grow into greener, cleaner and healthier places for people to live and work worldwide.
Donate