By Isabelle Mack, Age 11, Young Reporter for the Environment, Scotland
Running Out Of Time is going from COP26 Scotland to COP27 in Egypt. Runners, cyclists and sailors passing through lots of places in the UK to show the baton which carries an important inspiring message inside. Running Out of Time is on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @climaterelay.
Due to weather conditions, the relay took off at Sunnyside Primary instead of Glasgow Green. The runners did fantastically, they were 3 minutes late but very determined on making up the time to get to Boswell community garden.
Grow 73 is in Rutherglen, in the south of Glasgow. It’s a community garden open to the public to come along and do some gardening. There’s a wide range of ages helping out. Grow 73 all about growing food, growing the community and growing diversity.
One of the runners, Kenny Alexander, had finished running for the relay while the other 2 went on. Kenny started at the Peoples Palace to Grow 73! Kenny ran because he wanted to apologise to me and my generation having to live in such a horrible world that adults are handing over too us. He hopes that at COP27 world leaders will have seen the changes in our climate due to climate change and will make adult decisions and take action now. He said “NO MORE BLAH BLAH, some actual changes!”
I spoke to Barbra who tried to come as much as she could when she has free time and hoping to come more regularly. She thinks that climate change is a huge issue and makes sure she puts her rubbish in the correct bin. Although it’s only a small change it makes a big difference and if everyone did that the world would be a much better place.
Lesley Jones is the President of FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). FEE is an NGO and one of the world’s largest organisations for education for the sustainable development. It’s active in 81 countries! Lesley is also the Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy.
Lesley Jones was at Grow 73!!! Lesley said “FEE was created 40 years ago by a couple of people that had visited a big conference about the importance of environmental education in 1977. The 4 people that went came back demanded the UK need to do something about this. They’d bring people together and explain why we need to change. 30 years ago France created a program called Blue Flag. France thought it would be better if it wasn’t just run in France, so many other countries joined in including Scotland and Wales. She hopes that at COP27 things will actually start happening now and we’ll see the changes, businesses need to be forced to make a difference and of course raise awareness to everyone so everyone can make a difference”.
Susie from Community Rails came to Grow 73 to share why it’s good to take the train and how it’s more sustainable too take the train and to chat to people, become a part a community. She said people can make smarter but simple changes in their life; take the train, plant more plants, recycle and tell others ways to recycle.
I spoke to Eugenie the co-founder of Grow 73. She said, “Grow 73 tackles climate by using what they can find so recycling old materials”.
Not only was it a more sustainable way it was a cheaper way as they didn’t have much money but a lot of old materials. There’s all old barrows to planet things in, there’s old telephone poles they’re planning on cutting so can make a fence. She tries to get people outside but it can be hard as some children think if there isn’t a swing there’s nothing to do outside. But once you get people out they really enjoying chatting and playing. She hopes that people will see potential like she did when she saw the old piece of locked up landed that’s turned into Grow 73. Everyone can make difference even if you’re really struggling with money, whether it’s turning an old whisky barrel into a plant pot. You don’t have to be a professional gardener to plant a potato.
If you’re in the area I definitely would recommend visiting Grow 73! It’s such a positive safe place to go a relax but still be proactive.
About Isabelle
“My name is Isabelle, I am eleven and live in Stow in the Scottish Borders. I was born in France and moved to Scotland when I was four. My primary school was very active in promoting Learning for Sustainability which inspired my interest in climate action. I enjoy using persuasive writing to encourage others including world leaders to make a difference and change the world. I’ve had replies from Nicola Sturgeon, Netta Meadows (the chief executive of my local authority), Jane Goodall and a handwritten letter from David Attenborough!”
Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is a programme developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In Scotland, the YRE programme is coordinated by our member, Keep Scotland Beautiful.