West Bromwich Albion is proud to support the WWF’s #WorldWithoutNature social media campaign on World Wildlife Day (Friday, March 3) for the third year running.
The Baggies are once again joining a number of the planet’s most famous corporations and sports teams in removing nature from their branding in an action which aims to highlight the catastrophic loss of biodiversity globally and the social and economic risks it poses.
The iconic throstle bird, which has been an image associated with West Bromwich Albion for more than a century, sitting on the hawthorn tree in the middle of the club’s crest, will be removed for 24 hours across our social media channels.
Former club secretary Tom Smith decided the throstle, a Black Country term for a song thrush, should be the club emblem back in 1884. At that time, the team would get changed in the Plough and Harrow pub which lay adjacent to Stoney Lane, Albion’s former home. The landlady kept a very chirpy throstle which the players would look at as they walked out to the pitch. If the bird made plenty of noise, the players would see that as an omen for success.
Over the last two years, over 400 brands from across the world have taken part in the World Without Nature activation on World Wildlife Day, generating over 900 million impressions online and in the media.
Friday night's Sky Bet Championship opponents Hull City are also participating and will be taking their iconic Tiger out of their badge.
Other football clubs taking part include Albion's West Midlands neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa, as well as Middlesbrough, Burnley, Ipswich Town and Millwall.
About #WorldWithoutNature
Across the world, hundreds of brands will take part in #WorldWithoutNature. Brands are invited to participate on the day by photoshopping the "nature" out of their logo, updating their social media profiles and posting about their support using#WorldWithoutNature.
For more information about #WorldWithoutNature visit WorldWithoutNature.com.
About World Wildlife Day
World Wildlife Day is marked on 3rd March to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. This year, the theme for World Wildlife Day is “Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation”. It will allow us to celebrate all conservation efforts, from intergovernmental to local scale.
About WWF
WWF is an independent conservation organisation, with over 30 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries.
WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit www.panda.org/news for the latest news and media resources and follow us on Twitter.