微密圈

By way of explanation, it was a Monday lunchtime, when even the hardiest Islington wino might feel some restraint was in order.

Fortunately we鈥檙e in The Duke of Cambridge which, as its gastro pub tag would suggest, has a blackboard menu crammed with dishes to match the organic beer and organic wine that we鈥檙e not drinking. With food on the way it鈥檚 time to find out who these London Leaders are. There are 15 of them in all and it鈥檚 their job to promote sustainability in the capital by motivating and inspiring others to take action, says Bryony.

The area of flat roofs in London is 24 times the size of Richmond park, and they could all be green

Dusty 鈥� a former circus performer, cum teacher, cum green-roof-guru stroke urban ecologist 鈥� kicks off with the surprising fact that the area of flat roofs in London is 24 times the size of Richmond park, and they could all be green tomorrow. It emerges that he has pledged to get three corporations to retrofit green roofs to their buildings in the capital this year. So far he鈥檚 got one. 鈥淚鈥檒l get the others but it takes time,鈥� he says. 鈥淧eople say one won鈥檛 make a difference, but you have to look at the cumulative results.鈥� Not that some aren鈥檛 trying. One company he鈥檚 been to visit recently on Gray鈥檚 Inn Road has embraced the concept of green roofs with a passion and is now growing its own potatoes up there, along with strawberries and blackcurrants.

Mark, who鈥檚 created a scheme to encourage Londoners to take up energy efficiency grants, eagerly picks up on the theme of home grown. 鈥淚 pulled up my first potatoes this weekend, they tasted fantastic,鈥� he declares. His next venture is chickens. 鈥淚鈥檓 going halves with my neighbour on four. We鈥檝e agreed to take it in turns feeding and cleaning them out and we鈥檒l share the eggs,鈥� he says, though he鈥檚 quick to point out he鈥檚 not a fan of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, though Jamie Oliver鈥檚 alright, apparently.

鈥業 don鈥檛 think anyone鈥檚 put chickens on a roof yet,鈥� says Dusty, as if a plan is forming

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone鈥檚 put chickens on a roof yet,鈥� says Dusty, as if a plan is forming. Neither Bryony or Helen admits to being green-fingered and neither has plans to own chickens. Which is just as well, says Helen, as she鈥檚 in the process of flat hunting and fears a few feathered friends might not make her welcome.

The talk moves on to the six-month anniversary of the London Leaders launch and the event Bryony is busy organising to mark the occasion. So far they鈥檝e got a speaker from Divine Chocolate. 鈥淚鈥檝e also booked a band,鈥� she says, 鈥� although I haven鈥檛 seen them yet.鈥� 鈥淲hat if they turn out to be a grunge rock band?鈥� asks Helen. Bryony looks a tad anxious at this suggestion and vows to find out before it鈥檚 too late. With our organic drinks drunk we head out into the light drizzle and back to our offices.

Rest assured, normal drinking will be resumed next week 鈥�