By Juliet

Last week I found myself crossing the Thames at Lambeth bridge on a busy Monday morning, with some trepidation as my cycling skills seem to have declined since my recent pregnancy! I'm off to be interviewed by a Danish journalist who is writing a book to be published for the Copenhagen climate talks, about people round the world actively working to create a low carbon future. The journalist, Lone Theils, asked to meet at one of Good Energy’s renewable generators - and so I headed off to Roots and Shoots, a Lambeth-based charity that trains young people in a range of environmental skills under the banner ‘environmental education for all’.

 The first thing you notice after the busy Lambeth road is how quiet the centre is -- a haven in the midst of the city. When I arrived, the director and head of environment, Linda Phillips, was already showing Lone round the centre. We then went to look at the solar panels on a south facing roof -- only their slightly shiny appearance and ourselves reflected in it gave a clue as to its real purpose!  Linda had obviously been keeping on top of what the site produced and was mildly berating the team for the electricity usage, as we debated how many cups of tea it took to use 100 kWh.  By generating their own power, Roots and Shoots definitely had a better handle than most on their energy usage.

It was lovely to see the pride and continued excitement the solar panels created, sitting  there quietly generating electricity.  I really enjoy visiting the generators Good Energy supports, as each one is different and they all have their own stories to tell – but they’re all extraordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Roots and Shoots holds regular events in Lambeth – the next is their Apple Day on the 12th October celebrating a huge variety of Apples – as well as the usual bobbing and peeling competitions, there’ll be displays of birds of prey and story telling! 

For more info visit www.rootsandshoots.org.uk

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