Greens Rising

A final look back at Greens Rising — a series of conversations with Green voices across the North East.

From community action to local leadership, this wrap-up brings together the moments that matter.

🎧 Explore the full series:

https://pod.link/1857771190

Produced by Spotty Dog Media.

This podcast is published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

What does real change look like at a local level?

In this episode, Jonathan Elmer is joined by Darlington councillors Matthew Snedker and Bryony Holroyd to explore how Green politics has evolved in the town over the last ten years.

They discuss the move from campaigning to governing, the realities of casework and community engagement, and the strategic wins that come from persistence.

Topics include:

• Responding to flooding and infrastructure pressures

• Securing climate and nature emergency commitments

• Reforming housing policy and challenging national trends

• Supporting communities through the Local Plan process

• Tackling stark inequalities within the same town

• The shifting political landscape and the rise of Green support

The conversation moves from hyperlocal issues like parking and drainage to broader questions about inequality, representation and hope in British politics.

This is a detailed look at how local government works — and how it can work differently.

Key Takeaway:

Local politics shapes daily life more than most people realise. When communities are informed and engaged, change becomes possible.

About the Podcast:

Greens Rising explores how Green politics is evolving across the Northeast — from local councils to national debates — through conversations with people working to build practical, hopeful alternatives.

GET INVOLVED!

Join the Green Party: https://join.greenparty.org.uk

Darlington Borough Greens: https://darlington.greenparty.org.uk

Cllr Matthew Snedker & Cllr Bryony Holroyd: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeWardGreens

Produced by Spotty Dog Media

Published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

Chris Davis, Green councillor for Biddick and All Saints in South Tyneside, talks about why local politics matters and what real change looks like on the ground.

From fixing pavements to protecting community spaces, Chris shares how solidarity, honesty and hard work can rebuild trust in politics.

A grounded, hopeful conversation about doing politics differently.

In this episode:

– Why Chris entered politics

– Brexit and everyday consequences

– Community spaces and belonging

– Standing up to intimidation

– What practical hope really means

Chapters

00:00 Why Chris got involved

02:50 Brexit and real-world impact

03:10 The moment that changed everything

07:00 Losing community spaces

10:00 Fixing the basics

11:50 Standing up to intimidation

14:20 Austerity and inequality

15:15 What hope looks like

LINKS

1. Join the Green Party: https://join.greenparty.org.uk
2. South Tyneside Green Party: https://southtyneside.greenparty.org.uk/
3. Cllr Chris Davies: https://www.facebook.com/XrisDaviesGreen

Produced by Spotty Dog Media

Published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

Young Greens Hollie Mildenhall and Joe Gartland, who is a Green candidate standing in the May local elections in Heaton, Newcastle, come from a background of grassroots activism and community organising. They believe politics should be rooted in care, connection and collective action.

In this episode, they discuss:

● What collective leadership means in practice

● Why third spaces matter to community life

● What residents are saying on the doorstep●

A striking conversation with a Reform voter

● Why international justice and local politics are deeply connected

● Hope as a political strategy

At its heart, this episode asks a simple question: what would local politics look like if it were genuinely grounded in community, rather than power?

GET INVOLVED:

1. Join the Green Party https://join.greenparty.org.uk
2. Newcastle Green Party https://newcastleupontyne.greenparty.org.uk/

Produced by Spotty Dog Media

published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

In this episode of Greens Rising, Jonathan Elmer speaks with Annette Chapman, a former nurse, midwife and primary school teacher who is now stepping into Green politics in South Tyneside.

Annette's story begins not with party loyalty, but frustration. Years of working on the frontline of public services showed her systems under strain and communities under pressure.

They discuss:

From NHS Wards to the Classroom

Annette reflects on decades in nursing, midwifery and teaching, and how those roles shaped her understanding of inequality and resilience.

Losing Trust in Politics

Why she stopped voting and what changed after hearing a Green councillor speak at a local hustings.

Food Banks and Public Service Strain

Rising demand. Burnout. Agency staffing. Communities filling gaps that should not exist.

Reform, Fear and Political Misinformation

A candid conversation about division, presence on the ground and why representation matters.

Hope as Action

Annette talks about hope not as a slogan but as something built through small, consistent steps.

Encouraging Others to Step Up

Why lived experience matters more than polish and why doing something small is better than doing nothing.

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who still believes community care matters.

GET INVOLVED:

1. Join the Green Party: https://join.greenparty.org.uk
2. South Tyneside Green Party: https://southtyneside.greenparty.org.uk/

Produced by Spotty Dog Media

Published and promoted by Ynez Tulsen on behalf of the North East Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

In this episode of Greens Rising, Jonathan Elmer welcomes Khaled Musharraf, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne's first Green councillor of Bangladeshi origin, who shares the journey that led him from flood-hit Bangladesh to the Elswick area in the west end of Newcastle.

Khaled reflects on:

– Resigning from a senior leadership role to honour a commitment to residents

– Witnessing climate devastation as a child

– Building community through cricket

– Working with local school children to secure major investment in Elswick Park

– His vision for restoring pride in the West End

This is a story about grassroots leadership, climate justice and the power of local action.

00:00 Introduction

01:42 Welcome to Greens Rising

02:56 Choosing Community Over Career

05:52 Grassroots Activism & Identity

06:24 Climate Change & Bangladesh

08:48 Why the Green Party?

09:53 Restoring Pride in Elswick

11:43 Building Community Through Cricket

14:51 Proud Geordie: Belonging & Identity

15:47 Leadership Lessons & Foreign Aid

18:07 Wins as a Councillor – The Park Project

20:17 Politics Shifting in Newcastle

20:36 Vision for the West End

22:35 “It Is Our Time” – Final Call

22:51 Closing Reflections & Outro

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who cares about the future of their community.

Get involved:

1. Join the Green Party: https://join.greenparty.org.uk
2. Newcastle Green Party: https://newcastleupontyne.greenparty.org.uk
3. Muslim Greens: https://muslimgreens.greenparty.org.uk

Greens Rising returns with a new series of conversations recorded in studio across the North East.

In this episode, Jonathan Elmer speaks with Rachael Taylor, Green councillor for Biddick and All Saints and leader of the Green group on South Tyneside Council.

Rachael grew up in the ward she now represents. She has seen youth clubs close, green spaces threatened and residents left without a voice.

Her politics is grounded in lived experience, activism and a deep commitment to social justice.

They talk about:

Youth Provision and Community Loss

Rachael reflects on the disappearance of youth clubs and the impact this has had on children and families in disadvantaged estates.

The Local Plan and Green Belt Protection

A detailed look at how local planning decisions shape communities. Rachael explains her concerns about housing targets, green belt development and the long term consequences for wildlife corridors and public space.

Social Housing vs “Affordable” Housing

Why the distinction matters, particularly in deprived areas.

Tree Campaigns and Developer Pressure

From starting South Tyneside Tree Action Group to saving mature trees from demolition, Rachael shares how grassroots activism really can influence council decisions.

SEND Provision and Lived Experience

As a single mother of five, including three children with autism, Rachael brings firsthand insight into the challenges families face navigating EHCPs and support systems.

A Vision for the Future

Investment in community facilities, protected green space, real cohesion and leadership that shows up.

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who cares about the future of their community.

FIND OUT MORE:

1. Join the Green Party: https://join.greenparty.org.uk
2. South Tyneside Green Party: https://southtyneside.greenparty.org.uk/
3. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenRachaelTaylor

In this episode of Greens Rising, Jonathan sits down with Eaglescliffe West by-election candidate Danny Reed to talk about hope, housing and what it means to step up for your community for the first time.

Danny has lived in the area for ten years. He has delivered prescriptions in lockdown, run a community gym and youth arts projects, supported children through Happy Cactus and now works as a lecturer. Only a few weeks after joining the Greens, he is standing as the candidate for Eaglescliffe West.

They discuss why transport, housing and infrastructure are at breaking point locally, why young people give Danny hope for the future and how his life story – from the Army to amateur dramatics – has shaped his values and his decision to stand.

If you live in or near Eaglescliffe West, or you care about ordinary people stepping into politics with heart and courage, this one is for you.

Key themes

1. Hope as a practical political strategy, not a fluffy slogan
2. New housing without transport, services or affordability
3. The power of local arts, gyms and youth projects in building community
4. Young people as leaders on climate and justice
5. What a proactive, listening councillor could look like in Eaglescliffe West

If you live in Eaglescliffe West, Danny Reed will be on your ballot paper on 11 December. If something in this conversation resonates with you, take a moment to talk to a neighbour, contact your local Greens or share the episode with someone who cares about the area.

Subscribe to Greens Rising for more conversations with people bringing real hope and real change across the North East.

In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Louise Maddison, Green Party candidate for the Red Hall & Lingfield by-election. Louise discusses the challenges facing the ward, including fly-tipping, antisocial behaviour, new housing pressures, and long-standing local neglect.

She shares her experience on the doorstep, the moving story of a Windrush nurse who has lost faith in politics, and why grassroots Green representation matters now more than ever.

This episode explores community trust, listening to residents, housing needs, and the growing influence of Greens in Darlington.

A grounded, honest conversation about local politics and the people it affects.

Green Party UK

North East Greens

Darlington Green Party

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Greens Rising is produced by Spotty Dog Media

New conversations every week as part of the Greens Rising series.

Published And Promoted By Mike McTimoney On Behalf Of Darlington Green Party, PO Box 78066, London, SE16 9GQ

In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Sam Boardman, who is the Green Party candidate for the Nunthorpe by-election and aged just 22. Sam talks about growing up locally, the moment he became politically engaged, and why hope matters in a time when so many people feel let down.

They explore issues facing the community — transport, housing, schools, green space, youth engagement — and reflect on the conversations Sam’s been having on the doorstep.

If you're curious about local politics or just want to hear from someone trying to bring a bit of humanity back into public life, this is a grounded, honest listen.

00:00 GREENS RISING EP1 A New Voice for Nunthorpe: Sam Boardman on Change and Community

00:57 Welcome to Greens Rising

02:05 Who Is Sam Boardman?

02:48 A Memory of Home

03:11 What Pushed Him Into Politics

04:03 Finding Hope Through the Greens

05:48 Young People & Politics

06:34 What Sam’s Hearing on the Doorstep

07:00 Conversations That Stick

08:52 The Housing Crisis Up Close

10:00 What Sam Would Do First if Elected

10:46 Bringing the Community Together

11:27 Vision for Nunthorpe

11:58 Sam’s Message for Residents

12:26 Outro & Call to Action

Green Party UK – https://www.greenparty.org.uk

North East Greens – https://northeast.greenparty.org.uk