Green Talks – March 2025

Reclaiming The Commons

Join us at The Brookmill to meet up with neighbours, pioneers and international experts. Our shared resources are all around us so we easily forget their potential. The idea of The Commons’ originally meant ‘common land’ but by applying it to any shared resource or asset we may find new benefits for local communities. Our last event explored the idea of the ‘Energy Commons’. Most of us are so focused on energy bills that we can easily forget that sunshine is the free fuel that will last a billion years at least! This next session will think about biodiversity as another type of ‘Commons’.

First Speaker: DUSTY GEDGE

is a local man who pioneered the use of green roofs as a way to introduce more biodiversity across large built-up areas. By recognising the potential for ‘grey roofs’ within the construction industry he inspired changes that are now mainstream in London. Today, Dusty is in demand around the world. His early passion for birds and other wildlife continues to drive his award-winning activities – from consultancy to photography. Originally trained as a performer, Dusty is also a renowned public speaker.

Second Speaker: SUBO JAMES

Subo is a community activist who lives near St Johns (SE14 is a mere stone’s throw from SE8). She chairs the Florence Road Residents Group where she inspires members to promote, protect and enhance the quality of life. Florence Road is home to many residents already struggling with financial health difficulties and it is classed as a ‘Very High Pollution’ area. One way to mitigate poor air quality is to encourage a greater diversity of species. Increasing urban biodiversity also gives cities a chance to become more climate resilient. Although tiny rooftops or neglected spaces may seem insignificant, together they constitute an important aspect of the ‘commons’.

Third speaker: JEFF MASH

Jeff is part of an organisation called ‘Connecting the Commons’ and is currently exploring the collective potential of urban front gardens. Seen from a real estate perspective, front gardens are private spaces that we use to express our personalities to the neighbourhood. For other living creatures, however, they are part of a much larger ‘Commons’ that nourishes them. Unfortunately, a third of front gardens in the UK (around five million) are devoid of plants. A quarter are completely covered by paving slabs, tarmac or concrete. This helps to explain why our global biodiversity ratings are near the bottom of the league tables and why flooding will cause more damage in the future. However, we can ensure that we help more species to colonise large urban spaces by cultivating marginal pockets of land or by installing green roofs. This is not just a positive practical initiative. It is also a fantastic analogy for bringing about a diversity-of-diversities.