Julianne’s Green Team story
Julianne, who has been involved with The Green Team since she was 7, is now 19. Her Green Team story is so inspiring and really helps highlight the positive and lasting impact we have connecting young people with nature and themselves. Here are just a few highlights of Julianne’s Green Team story so far…
From holiday programme to pioneer
Julianne first joined The Green Team at the age of 7 when she took part in a summer holiday programme. She really loved being outside and her enthusiasm for nature and all the activities made her a mainstay of the group. She encouraged others and helped anyone who needed a bit of extra support.
At the age of 10, Julianne joined The Green Team’s Youth Panel, contributing to discussions, fundraising activities and new ideas. Aged 12, she joined Skylarks, our group for girls and non-binary young people.
Through her involvement with The Green Team’s Youth Panel, Julianne pioneered the creation of a new group for young people with autism, ADHD and other neurodivergences. This programme aimed to create a safe and predictable space for neurodivergent young people to come together in the outdoors with the benefits of therapeutically connecting to nature.
In 2025, The Green Team’s programme NeuroSpicy was launched and has been hugely successful, thanks to Julianne.
Over the years, Julianne has planted trees, removed non-native species, created habitats, put on waders to clear ponds, cleaned up litter, camped, hiked, created environmental art and generally made the world a better place. She has been a fantastic ambassador for The Green Team, a climate activist and championed nature and the natural environment.
Finding her voice
Julianne now excels at practical skills and is excellent with hands tool. She is also brilliant in a team as she communicates well and gets on with everyone. She has developed artistic and creativity skills and, best of all, she has found her voice.
Public speaking didn’t use to be something Julianne did, but on several occasions over the last few years she has stood up in front of an audience and spoken. She helped to launch The Green Team’s 5 Year Strategy in April 2025 and has spoken at AGMs and other celebration events.
Leading by example
This year, Julianne embarked on a trip to Canada to take up a position of a summer Camp Counsellor. On her return, she enrolled as a Volunteer Project Leader with The Green Team, supporting young people as she was supported, when she was a young participant.
A pioneer and campaigner
Julianne is an environmental volunteer and campaigner who has opened up the world of environmental volunteering and outdoor learning to young people who are neurodivergent. As a young person with autism, she knows how hard it can be for neurodivergent young people to fit in at school or in youth groups.
Through the development of the NeuroSpicy programme, Julianne continues to support neurodivergent young people, who would otherwise not have been able to engage in a group in the outdoors, to do so. She has worked to remove some of the stigma she herself has faced as a neurodivergent young person.
And more recently Julianne has been a regular volunteer for Skylarks as part of our Young Leaders opportunity, bringing her sense of fun and love of nature, becoming a real favourite with our young people, our staff and wider volunteers.
Over the last decade, Julianne has given a lot to The Green Team and the wider environment and every year, as she grows in experience and confidence, she will have even more to offer.
Thank you, Julianne – we look forward to seeing what the next 10 years will bring!
