From the City to the Wild Wood – 30 years of positive impact
In early October, sixty people gathered in the European Room at Edinburgh City Chambers to celebrate 30 years of The Green Team. In the same week, we enjoyed another birthday celebration when a whole host of Green Team folk spent the day in our wild wood at Glenlude planting trees.
Both occasions focused on the past and future positive impact of The Green Team.
Centre stage with The Green Team
We were invited to the City Chambers by City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Councillor Jane Meagher. Our guests included key partners, funders and representatives from the schools we work with across the city.
We were also delighted that members of our Youth Panel, trustees and volunteers were able to join us.
A story of gradual growth
Following a warm introduction from Councillor Meagher, our Co-CEO, Penny Radway, presented a ‘potted history’ of The Green Team. Covering 30 years of our charity’s ground-breaking and life-changing impact on people and nature in just a few minutes was no mean feat!
‘It’s a story of gradual growth of staff and programmes to reach the 12 strong staff team we have to day. Over the 30 years, we have managed to never lose funding for a programme or member of staff and growth has been slow but steady. At the last count, The Green Team delivered 450 outdoor sessions in a year. We are delighted that in 2025, our 30th year, we are managing to thrive, although tricky times are always looming.’
Penny also shared a special Green Team 30th Birthday video, created by students from Edinburgh College with a BIG thank you to them.
Two members of The Green Team’s Youth Panel, Anika Sodhi and Julianne Herbert, then took to the stage with their brilliant contribution which focused on the vital role The Green Team has played in connecting them to fun and nature.
Julianne was also able to share news of Neurospicy, a new Green Team pilot project especially created for neurodiverse people.
Green Team Volunteer, Alexis Camble, added the essential voice of our volunteers and, Levi Fletcher, a Trustee of The Green Team, brought his perspective, outlining the impact and value of our small but mighty charity.
The next 30 years
Looking to the future, Julia Duncan, Co-CEO of The Green Team, outlined some of the opportunities and challenges ahead of us,
‘Tonight is not only a celebration of what we’ve achieved, but also a moment to look ahead – to the next 5, 10, even 30 years.
‘Right now, we are living in challenging times. Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and more of our young people are struggling with anxiety, isolation, and disconnection from nature and community. Our young people across the city and beyond face a range of pressures often amplified through screens and social media. This means that our work is more vital than ever.’
Julia highlighted The Green Team’s 2025–2030 strategy which sets out an ambitious vision to:
- widen engagement, reaching the young people who face the greatest barriers to nature.
- expand outdoor learning and green skills, helping young people gain confidence, qualifications, and pathways into employment.
- develop young environmental stewards, empowering the next generation to take action on biodiversity and climate.
- strengthen our Green Team community, working alongside families, schools, partners, and businesses to create a Scotland where everyone values and enjoys the natural environment
Julia emphasised the need for strong partnerships and creativity,
‘To deliver this vision, we cannot act alone. Over the next five years, we will need strong partnerships and we need to find creative ways to widen income streams to develop our programmes, deepen our impact, and respond to the growing demand for our work.
‘As we mark 30 years of connecting young people with nature, I invite you to stand with us in shaping the next chapter. Help us grow opportunities, strengthen communities, and build a future where young people, nature, and society flourish together.’
‘Together, we can ensure that in another 30 years, we will look back not only on what we have achieved – but on what we dared to dream and then made possible.’
Cheers to The Green Team
On the night, Council Leader, Councillor Meagher, acknowledged her gratitude for the achievements of The Green Team over the last 30 years,
‘Progressing any organisation for three decades is a landmark achievement, and alongside the Lord Provost, I offer my gratitude to the Patron Peter Wright, the Board, Staff, Volunteers and partners, past and present, for all that has been achieved.’
She also acknowledged the role and importance of our continued partnership with City of Edinburgh Council and raised a toast to The Green Team,
‘I am pleased to say that City of Edinburgh Council supported the development of The Green Team, with both start-up support and space within The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award office. And the Council has remained a key partner and continues to support The Green Team in many ways.
‘Let’s raise a glass to the enormous contribution The Green Team has made to the City of Edinburgh over the last 30 years, and here’s to many more.’
We say cheers to that!
Our Birthday trip to our wild wood
Enjoy highlights from our celebration at Glenlude planting trees.
Ten years ago, we planted the first 200 trees, a wonderful mix of native woodland species. In October, we gathered to plant some more!
Glenlude covers 149 hectares on the edge of the Southern Uplands. We want to involve a wide range of people in our 20-year plan to restore this former sheep farm and conifer plantation to a mosaic of native habitats.
And, a BIG thank you to our friends at Young Spirits for helping cover the cost of the trees for our latest visit.