Greenprint 2020 is an exciting Global Action Plan programme that seeks to engage 3,000 young people in climate change related projects in local communities across Britain.

Greenprint 2020 volunteer, Sydney Fleming-Gale, reflects on her experience interviewing Zac Goldsmith and Professor Stephen Hopper, for The Community Channel.

I was summoned into action on 20 November to interview respected environmentalist and conservative MP candidate Zac Goldsmith. All for the Community Channel’s new programming on climate change.

Starring as their ‘young reporter’ I was asked to arrive bright and early on Friday morning at London’s Kew Gardens to firstly interview the Director of Kew, Professor Stephen Hopper in the stunning interior of the Palm House. The lovely Media Trust crew set up their camera amidst the luscious greenery and began rolling as I started with my questions.

Professor Stephen Hopper, Director of Kew

Passionate about the conservation work being done at Kew, Professor Hopper spoke about the importance of understanding the vital role plants play in our environment. He told me all about the 50 countries who are members of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Partnership working to prevent the extinction of plant species by collecting seeds and storing them for future research. So far they have banked 10% of the world’s plants – that’s 24,200 species.

He was very impressed to hear about all the events and team work that Greenprint 2020 and Global Action Plan volunteers are doing to help the environment and even suggested that his own COPArt* contribution would be:

“A green planet, because I think that it represents the significance of our planet’s vegetation.”

*COPArt is an online visual campaign (supported by Greenprint 2020) in which everyone can take part. The aim is to create an interactive digital picture montage to be shown at Copenhagen. COPArt will form a powerful visual message which can’t be ignored.

After shaking hands with Professor Hopper and thanking him for being such a wonderful interviewee, I had a couple of minutes to enjoy the tropical atmosphere inside the botanical greenhouse before it was time to start interview two, with Zac Goldsmith.

Zac Goldsmith

During the interview we covered a range of topics from his opinions on the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, to his personal views on economy and the environment.

He smiled his way through the questions and took time to explain how he believes deforestation contributes to climate change. He said: “One of the most positive things that I hope to come out of Copenhagen will be a set policy on deforestation around the world.”

Zac runs his own organic farm in Devon and was very interested to hear about the work that the EcoTeams and Greenprint 2020 do in their local communities, saying he would like to find out more about how the projects are going.

Zac decided that his COPArt would simply be a tree, because they are a work of art made from our planet’s natural beauty. 

After a little ‘walk and talk’ filming it was time to call it a day, wrap up the interview and send the footage to be prepared for broadcasting. It was so much fun working with the Community Channel and Media Trust and it was all thanks to the Greenprint 2020.

I’m sure there will be plenty more exciting opportunities to come for all volunteers, so watch this space! The full televised version will be available on the Community Channel from December and on the Community Channel website.

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