The Green Pledge @ Gloucestershire Archives

Pucklechurch Woodland in South Gloucestershire was previously farmland about 30 hectares/ 42 football pitches in size. In the space of four months 18 000 new trees have been planted here, and a further 24 000 will be planted next year.  This site is the first major new woodland to be planted as part of the Western Forest – the first national forest in the UK for over 30 years. The aim is for 20 million trees to be planted by 2050 fostering collaboration between local communities, businesses, and landowners,  it will address net zero carbon ambitions drive nature recovery.The Green Pledge Podcast caught up with Safia Gilder-Hodgsen from the Western Forest team, Jette Halling from South Gloucestershire Council Tree Officer and volunteers Daphne Dunning and Tony Riggs. https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/our-projects/the-green-pledge-project/https://www.wenp.org.uk/priority-programmes/western-foresthttps://beta.southglos.gov.uk/tree-planting-programme/

The residents of Frampton Cotterell work hard to protect local nature, enhance the local environment and combat climate change. In this episode we’ll hear about all the incredible projects that the group are spearheading, including wildlife ponds, dead hedging, hibernacula, repair cafes, scything, clean air monitoring, wild life reserves, the climate and nature action plan ... and the list goes on. To find out more about the Green Pledge Project visit https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/our-projects/the-green-pledge-project/

In this episode Christina talks to Jojo Mehta, co-founder of Stop Ecocide. Jojo worked tirelessy with Polly Higgins to support the establishment of ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court.  Hear about Jojo’s early influences, how she met Polly in Stroud, their work together, and also the impact of losing Polly to cancer in April 2019. Find out about what the law of ecocide is, why it's so important, and the huge achievements and milestones that have taken place. The interview was recorded in March 2025, in Stroud, where Jojo lives and where she grew up.

Ian Boyd is the third generation of farmers at Whittington Lodge Farm in the Cotswold Hills near Cheltenham. The Farm looks after a herd of organic, pasture fed, Hereford Cattle. Ian works alongside his wife Cathy. Their daughter Steph has now taken over the farm. The farm’s focus has dramatically changed over the years from concentrating on production for maximum yield to working in harmony with wildlife and the environment. 

Cate Cody lives in Tewkesbury and is a Green Party member. She's on the local town, borough, and county council. Cate has initiated an abundance of green projects, including Plastic Free Tewkesbury, Toads on the Road, and repair cafes. 

Empowering Futures is a care farm in Hambrook, South Gloucestershire. Their mission is to use horticulture and animal therapy to create positive meaningful changes to the lives of people living in the local community who are living with disabilities, who are vulnerable, isolated or disadvantaged. They are passionate about relieving social exclusion, increasing wellbeing and reducing the disparity between those with and without disabilities in employment. And they do all of this through the dedication of caring, sensitive staff and the power of being in nature. For further information visit https://empoweringfutures.co.uk/our-services-and-trainingTo make your own pledge for nature and the environment visit https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/our-projects/the-green-pledge-project/public-pledge/

In this episode, I talk to Claudia MacGregor. Claudia has a master's degree in environmental development and policy. Her work involves finding new and innovative ways to exist in harmony with the planet.Claudia also facilitates Climate Fresk workshops, which teach the fundamental science behind climate change and empowers you to take action.The workshop uses cards to guide you through the findings of reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global authority on climate science. Claudia came to the Heritage Hub to deliver the workshop to archives staff in July 2024. To find out more about Claudia's reminiscence project visit www.celebrationofwildlife.com and her edible food gardens www.soilsnack.comTo find out more about the Green Pledge Project visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/our-projects/the-green-pledge-project/ 

Mollie Meager is a lifelong campaigner for social and environmental justice who lives in the Forest of Dean. In this episode we talk about her work with the Save the Wye campaign, her early influences, and her time with CND and the Greenham Common Peace Camp. 

In the second part of my conversation with George Peterken, we talk about the importance of grassland ecology and why Peter set up the Parish Meadows Group, as well as hearing about his latest project about the ecology of churchyards.  

In this episode, we hear from George Peterken, who lives in the lower Wye Valley in Gloucestershire, and has probably done more than any other living person to protect Britain's ancient woodlands. We talk about his time with Nature Conservancy, and his time as specialist woodland ecologist there. 

On Sunday, the 1st of September, the Youth Climate Group held a festival in the centre of Gloucester called What Can I Do? WCID for short.  For this episode of the Green Pledge Podcast we asked young people at the festival about their  feelings about the climate and ecological crisis, what they themselves do to address it, what they see as barriers to young people. What they'd like to say about the crisis to people in power now, and to people 50 years in the future.Important records to collect for the archive.The Gloucestershire Youth Climate Group is for 16-25 year olds who live, work or study in the county who want to get involved in taking part in climate action trips/activities in nature, leading community projects and being Youth Voice advocates who attend decision making meeting spaces. You can get involved in as little or as much as you like with the group based on what suits you. Get in touch with Polly for a chat via email: [email protected] or call/text: 07984464906 You can also follow on tiktok @ glosyouthclimateCreative Sustainability facilitates Gloucestershire Youth Climate Group, alongside a range of other youth and community projects. They are a values led organisation that place community at the centre of their work to build a more inclusive and sustainable future. You can find them on social media on Instagram and FacebookThey’ve been working together with Strike A Light on the WCID? Event. Strike a Light is a Gloucester based arts charity who create events that people never imagined would or could happen in their city. They tell people’s stories through performance and create brilliant participation opportunities for young people. You can find them on social media on Tiktok, Instagram and Facebook 

Gail Bradbrook lives in Stroud and is one of the founders of Extinction Rebellion. This global environmental movement uses non-violent civil disobedience to compel government action to avoid tipping point in the climate system, biodiversity loss and the risk of social and ecological collapse. In this conversation, Christina asks Gail about her early influences and what it took for Gail to found a movement which led to 10,000 people protesting in the streets of London in 2018 and being named number one influencer on the globe in 2019. The Green Pledge project at Gloucestershire Archives has been made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund. To find out more and sign up for updates visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/our-projects/the-green-pledge-project/Our pledge is to create awareness and discussion about climate change and biodiversity loss using our environmental records. We are also reducing our ecological footprint, by consciously using less resources, reducing waste, and, in our Heritage Hub garden, by encouraging wildlife and growing local food for local people.If listening to these podcasts has inspired you to make changes in your life, you can also make a pledge through our partners at the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. find out more at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/our-projects/the-green-pledge-project/public-pledge/  (make sure you press the button that says you heard about it through the Green Pledge) 

In this episode of the Green Pledge Podcast we listen to two dawn choruses, recorded in the month of May, in the same place, but 70 years apart. In the 1950s on a couple of May mornings,  Harry Grimes took his reel to reel recorder to a view point on the Old London Road, just as you head out of Wotton Under Edge.  Harry’s son, Hugo, has turned the recordings into a beautiful CD. He tells the story of his dad, interlaced with the sounds of the birds and an oral history recording made of Harry later on his life, The CD is available at Wotton Heritage Centre The full length recordings of the birdsong will become part of the Green Pledge collection at Gloucestershire archives as 70 years later, on May 19th 2024, Green Pledge Project manager, Christina Wheeler, returned to the viewpoint and recorded the dawn chorus again. Hugo and Christina visit Ed Drewitt, a local bird expert, at his home in the Forest of Dean. Ed listened to the two recordings and gives us his insights into what  he heard.For more infothe Green Pledge Project - https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/our-projects/the-green-pledge-project/  Ed's website - https://www.eddrewitt.co.uk/Wotton Heritage Centre https://www.wottonheritage.com/https://wottonheritage.bandcamp.com/track/06-hugo-grimes-introduction

John Meadley has spent a lifetime working in agriculture and overseas development. He lives in the Stroud area and has spearheaded many local green projects. He is the co-founder of Pasture for Life, an organisation focussed on pasture fed livestock for the sake of the animal, the soil and biodiversity. In 2012 John was voted an Environmental Hero by the Heart of Gloucestershire Community Awards. An important part of the Green Pledge Project is collecting oral history or life story interviews. The aim of the collection is to make sure we have an archive which tells the story of what is happening in our area today. The interviews explore the work of people dedicated to bringing change, or protecting the environment, but also digs a little deeper and asks what their influences were.  These longer-form interviews will be available to listen to at the archives. We've edited extracts for these podcasts. If you know someone who's story you think we should record for the project  - please let us know and get in contact with [email protected]

Introducing our busy, brilliant project team, as well catching up with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust volunteer, Sara Kinsey, as she works with Heather Forbes, sorting documents  from the Trust's HQ, including beautiful nature journals and notebooks from the 1930s.