What if your phone could help you care for the trees on your street, not just scroll past them

In this live conversation – recorded in collaboration with Open Area at Camley Street Nature Park in October 2025 – artist Rachy McEwan and technologist, guerrilla gardener and nature rights campaigner Kalpana Arias explore how art, code and community action can work together to protect and restore urban nature.

From felled sycamores behind a London flat to cyber gardens and Tamagotchi-style tree sensors, they ask how we can stop seeing ourselves as just consumers online and start acting as ecological citizens – in our cities, on our streets and inside our digital worlds.

In this episode

We talk about:

Money Trees – how three 100-year old sycamores inspired a multi-year art project turning threatened trees into 3D models and digital assets that fund real-world care

How London currently “values” trees – and why some are worth £1.6m while others are valued at nothing

Using photogrammetry, GIS mapping and blockchain to give community trees visibility and protection

Kalpana’s journey from regenerative agriculture and farmers’ rights to guerrilla gardening and civic tech in London

nowadays and Glitch – a cyber gardening tool that helps people map “cyber gardens”, learn green skills and connect to local species and spaces

The idea of environmental generational amnesia – and why every new generation accepts a more degraded “normal” for nature

Seeing technology as part of our ecology, not the enemy – “naturalising the machine” in the age of the symbiocene

Tree Goji – hacking Tamagotchis and soil sensors so you “look after” a digital pet and a real tree at the same time

Data, rights and forests – what it means to talk about data rights for nature as more trees and habitats are scanned and digitised

Multisensory worlds – why smell, touch and sound matter just as much as screens in how we connect with nature

How projects like Money Trees and Glitch can support children and young people, bridging gaming culture, tech and hands-on time outdoors

About our guests

Rachy McEwan
Rachy is a London-based interdisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, scent, fungi, mycelium sculptures and digital worlds. Her long-term project Money Trees uses 3D scanning, animation and community participation to record threatened trees in London, increase their perceived value and channel resources into their care and protection.

Kalpana Arias
Kalpana is a guerrilla gardener, technologist and nature rights campaigner, and a trustee of London National Park City. Through her social enterprise nowadays, she creates tools and platforms that decentralise technology and put it back in the hands of communities – including Glitch, a cyber gardening tool that helps people learn green skills, map local ecologies and act as ecological citizens.

Links

Open Area

Money Trees – Rachy’s project mapping and modelling London’s threatened trees

Glitch – cyber gardening tool developed by nowadays

Camley Street Nature Park – the urban nature reserve where this conversation was filmed

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We visited a new pocket park carved out from the Coulsdon South station car park, created to tempt the local cycling group (and everyone else) away from the tarmac and into a greener, friendlier meeting place. What started as “somewhere nicer to wait with a coffee” has grown into an outdoor classroom and community hub: rail-safety learning for Cubs, Scouts, nearby schools and adults with learning needs; a rest spot for commuters, cyclists and ramblers; and a platform for local volunteering.

Emily joined volunteers to discuss how the space came together on a tight budget, why planting choices matter, how social value is measured, and how the community will shape the space in the future. 

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Programme Manager Rochelle Shanthakumar talks to Dr. Bushra Schuitemaker about everything from chickens and kayaking in Norfolk to  community-led science and Racial and Ethnic Equality and Diversity in Ecology

What do chickens, kayaking in Norfolk, the right to roam, and community-led science have in common? They’re all part of the expansive, joyful and deeply rooted conversation we had with Dr. Bushra Schuitemaker on this episode of the Do London Differently podcast.

Bushra is a zoologist, microbiologist, science communicator and passionate advocate for land justice, inclusive nature access, and environmental equity. A volunteer with Black Girls Hike UK and co-founder of the REED Network (Racial and Ethnic Equality and Diversity in Ecology), her work bridges everything from poultry welfare and community science to Palestine, public health, and the power of walking.

In this episode, Bushra joins Rochelle Shanthakuma for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation. They discuss how growing up in rural Essex shaped Bushra’s love for nature, how walking can be a joyful form of activism, and why environmental justice must be social justice too.

Whether you’re a curious urban nature lover, someone working in ecology or education, or just wondering how we can make green spaces more welcoming and inclusive—this episode is packed with insight, laughter, and hope.

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What does it take to transform a city? Sometimes it starts with something small, a compost system, a shared idea, a community walk to reimagine our grey spaces as green. That’s what was heard loud and clear at the recent London Assembly Environment Committee, where two members of the London National Park City team were invited to speak about the power of community-led action.

In a special session on the future of London’s parks and green spaces, Programme Manager Rochelle Shanthakumar and Executive Director Mark Cridge shared stories of grassroots transformation, local leadership, and the growing movement to green the parts of London that need it most.

Their message was clear: in the face of a climate and nature emergency, community-led action builds lasting nature connection and environmental resilience

The London Assembly Environment Committee is chaired by Léonie Cooper AM. We had questions from Committee members Thomas Turrell, Keith Prince AM, Bassam Mahfouz AM and  Zack Polanski AM

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Welcome back to another joyful ramble through London’s green and surprising spaces! In this very special episode of the Do London Differently podcast, co-host Emily Langston is joined by two fantastic guests: climate comedian Stuart Goldsmith and Phoenix Garden manager Louise Gates.

👀 What’s in this episode?
We start in Covent Garden, once a stomping ground for street performer-turned-comedian Stuart Goldsmith, and wind our way to the unexpectedly tranquil Phoenix Garden, tucked behind the bustle of Shaftesbury Avenue. Along the way we chat about:

✨ Climate comedy – what it is, why it matters, and how not to terrify or scold your audience
 🌍 Imperfect climate action, climate confessions, and why your grubby little eco-sins are OK
 🌿 Phoenix Garden’s 41-year history as a biodiversity haven in central London
 🪴 The joy of community gardening and its power to connect people and restore wellbeing
 🐦 Birds, bugs, berries, and bins – we go full urban nature nerd (and we love it)
 📣 How YOU can help protect this vital green space under threat from development

🎧 Highlights & Takeaways
• "Comedy reflects culture – so let’s make the culture greener."
• "Don’t wait to be perfect to take climate action."
• "Volunteering is good for the garden – and even better for the soul."
• “The garden’s existence is a small act of resistance in the heart of the city.”

🌼 Support Phoenix Garden
This unique community garden needs your help to survive and thrive. Please consider donating, volunteering, or simply visiting to enjoy the space.
🔗 www.thephoenixgarden.org
📸 Instagram: @thephoenixgarden

🎤 More from our guests
• Stuart Goldsmith → sign up to his newsletter via his website for more about comedy, climate and communication
• Louise Gates → Catch her at the Phoenix Garden doing everything from event planning to pruning
• Emily Langston → Co-host & ranger with London National Park City

🪕 Also featuring:
 • A visit from Emily’s sister, some very excited birdwatching
 • An Inconvenient Time – Stuart’s climate comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe

💚 About the podcast
Do London Differently explores the wild, green, and surprising sides of city life – meeting the people making London greener, healthier and wilder.

—

📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode if you enjoyed it! Leave a comment with your favourite community garden or your climate confession – we won’t judge 😅

#LondonNationalParkCity #CommunityGardens #ClimateComedy #DoLondonDifferently #UrbanNature #PhoenixGarden #StuartGoldsmith #CoventGarden #Biodiversity #EdinburghFringe #ClimateAction #LondonPodcast

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In this episode of Do London Differently, Michael Shilling sits down with explorer, geographer and campaigner Dan Raven-Ellison - the visionary behind London National Park City and the Slow Ways walking network.

Dan shares how a simple question — "What if London was a National Park?" — sparked a global movement. We talk about:
✅ The story behind London becoming the world's first National Park City
✅ The rise of Slow Ways and how it's transforming how we explore the UK
✅ Why walking is a radical act of connection, belonging, and reimagination
✅ Earth in 100 Seconds — a powerful short film showing UK land use
✅ How walking can change the way we think about space, nature, and each other

Whether you’re a city walker, nature lover, teacher, or curious mind — this episode will inspire you to go outside, walk differently, and see the world with fresh eyes.

🔗 Links below to Dan’s projects, films, and the Slow Ways network

Slow Ways Crowdfunder

See the Slow Ways progress map

You can join the National Parks Trail challenge until the end of August. Find out how to get involved

UK in 100 Seconds 

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Our Director Mark Cridge interviews Kate Stockings – Trust Lead for Geography at Future Academies and London National Park City Ranger.

We have recently launched a free geography tool kit! – the resources showcase five real-world case studies from the London National Park City movement showing how we’re working to make London greener, healthier, and wilder.

The toolkit is designed to be used in the classroom for teaching urban greening, sustainable flood management & much more and we can't wait to see them in use! 

Download the Toolkit

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For the first time London National Park City will be showcasing a garden visioned by Rangers and brought to life by celebrated landscape designer Yoni Carnice and contractors Cultivate London and Froglife.

During the build week we joined contractors and volunteers who are helping bring together the Aster of The Senses Garden. 

We interviewed those involved and we'll be sharing some of these conversations during the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

This is the firth part of this mini series and we join the team from Froglife who were installing the pond. 

This episode was hosted by Ranger Emily Langston and produced by Michael Shilling.

 Explore the stories behind the garden

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For the first time London National Park City will be showcasing a garden visioned by Rangers and brought to life by celebrated landscape designer Yoni Carnice and contractors Cultivate London and Froglife.

During the build week we joined contractors and volunteers who are helping bring together the Aster of The Senses Garden. 

We interviewed those involved and we'll be sharing some of these conversations during the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

This is the forth part of this mini series and we join London National Park City Ranger Lesley Wertheimer who was part of the core garden delivery team.

Along with being a Ranger and volunteer at Stave Hill Ecological Park, beekeeper Lesley is also part of the Orchard Project.

This episode was hosted by Ranger Emily Langston and produced by Michael Shilling.

 Explore the stories behind the garden

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For the first time London National Park City will be showcasing a garden visioned by Rangers and brought to life by celebrated landscape designer Yoni Carnice and contractors Cultivate London and Froglife.

During the build week we joined contractors and volunteers who are helping bring together the Aster of The Senses Garden. 

We interviewed those involved and we'll be sharing some of these conversations during the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

This is the third part of this mini series and we join London National Park City Ranger Katie Blake who was part of the core garden delivery team.

This episode was hosted by Ranger Emily Langston and produced by Michael Shilling.

 Explore the stories behind the garden

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For the first time London National Park City will be showcasing a garden visioned by Rangers and brought to life by celebrated landscape designer Yoni Carnice and contractors Cultivate London and Froglife.

During the build week we joined contractors and volunteers who are helping bring together the Aster of The Senses Garden. 

We interviewed those involved and we'll be sharing some of these conversations during the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

In the second part of this mini series and we join Partnerships Manager Lou Rutherford who just arrived on site with a trolly of goodies from Fat Fox Mushrooms

This episode was hosted by Ranger Emily Langston and produced by Michael Shilling.

 Explore the stories behind the garden

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For the first time London National Park City will be showcasing a garden visioned by Rangers and brought to life by celebrated landscape designer Yoni Carnice and contractors Cultivate London and Froglife.

During the build week we joined contractors and volunteers who are helping bring together the Aster of The Senses Garden. 

We interviewed those involved and we'll be sharing some of these conversations during the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

This is the first part of this mini series and we join garden designer Yoni Carnice who was taking a well earned break in the shade.

This episode was hosted by Ranger Emily Langston and produced by Michael Shilling.

 Explore the stories behind the garden

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Community voices shaping a new kind of park in East London

At the launch of The Listening Project report, we spoke with volunteers and directors from East London Waterworks Park about what four years of paid listening taught them, and how co-design can turn a fenced concrete depot into a free, biodiverse park with natural swimming, learning spaces, and a genuine sense of welcome for everyone.

In this episode you will hear

• Why ELWP put inclusivity at the heart of the project, and what they learned from 100+ participants across 19 community groups
• Practical design ideas that make people feel safe and included, from friendly wardens to clean accessible loos, quiet spaces, and end-to-end access
• How cultural relationships with nature shape comfort with wildness and swimming, and how to introduce blue space well
• Consent-based governance, inclusive volunteering, and how charities can use these findings in their own work

Links and resources

• Read and share the Inclusivity page, with the Listening Project report and principles: https://www.elwp.org.uk/Inclusivity.htm
  
  elwp.org.uk
• Join a volunteer circle, from Inclusivity to Design to Learning: https://www.elwp.org.uk/JoinUs.htm

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During the London Walking Festival Instepp Founder Julie Ford dropped by the London National Park City Visitor Centre to speak to Michael Shilling about walking for fitness. 
Instepp is built on the established methods of exercise therapists to combine the benefits of resistance training with fundamental movement. 

Julie, also hosted a workout for the London National Park City team says "for me, health and fitness have always been at the centre of my life, from teaching Physical Education in schools, to personal training across all ages from 18-80. I have explored and embraced every innovative idea, trend and fad and try to keep abreast of the latest scientific research.'

This episode was hosted and produced by Michael Shilling

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Author Paul Wood joined Ranger Dipa Patel at the Visitor Centre for a talk about his new book Tree Hunting: 1,000 Trees to Find in Britain and Ireland’s Towns and Cities. 

Over the past five years Paul has been researching and writing Tree Hunting, a book of 1,000 urban trees you can find in the cities, towns, villages and the roadsides of Britain and Ireland.

From a stumpy sycamore in Shetland, contorted by wind and hard weather, to the shining jewel in Brighton’s unlikely treasure trove of elms, Paul travels on a quest from north to south rooting out the legends and tall tales behind these marvellous specimens. As he delves into this rich ecosystem, he reveals how trees are inextricably bound to the story of our towns and cities: they have always meant a great deal to those that live near them, and they continue to shape the fabric of urban life in deep, and often surprising ways.

Including sumptuous maps, grid references and charming travel notes so you can plan adventures of your own, Tree Hunting will help you unlock the secrets of Britain and Ireland’s urban forests.

About Paul Wood - 
A constant explorer of cities and the irrepressible, boisterous nature they support, Paul Wood is the author of several books, including London is a Forest. He has been fascinated by trees ever since he noticed a beech seedling unfurling in his back garden as a child. He lives in London under the canopy of a pair of Victorian plane trees.

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Recorded at the London National Park City Visitor Centre during the 2025 London Walking Festival.

Illustrator, author & map maker of London guide books, David Fathers was interviewed by Walking Class hero Des Garrahan.

Green London

From parks and rivers to heaths and woodlands, discover London’s most beautiful natural spaces with this captivating and insightful guide.
Featuring 14 wonderful walks with delightfully illustrated route maps, David Fathers not only shows you how to plan these adventures along the green corridors connecting the city, using old railway tracks, towpaths and riverside trails, but also enriches your journey with insights into well-known landmarks, historical events, famous figures, diverse wildlife and so much more.

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This week we take a look back at some of the events from the London Walking Festival.

Emily joins The Green Londoner Gautier Houel and Stephen Lavery from Friends of Bishop’s park for a mindful journey along the Thames through the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Richmond.

The walk highlighted two legendary trees that have outlived monarchs, survived centuries of storms, and continue to stand tall, offering vital ecological benefits with quiet strength:

🌳 Barnie — believed to be the largest tree in Greater London 🌳 A Holm Oak — nestled in Fulham Palace Gardens and thought to be one of the city’s oldest living trees

Michael speaks to Clara Lee, volunteer with both ESEA Outdoors and Every Body Outdoors about her walks.

We also included a preview for forthcoming interviews with Annabel Abbs, Julie Ford and Dan Raven Ellison.  

The episode rounds off with some teasers of Michael's films which will be shown at London Nature Films on the 14th and 15th June.

Hosted by Ranger Emily Langston. Co-hosted and produced by Michael Shilling.

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London National Park City Ranger Divya Hariramani Herrero is an urban fruit tree forager and Renewable Energy Consultant.

Her project Fruity Walks invites you to reconnect with nature's resilience in unexpected urban corners and reimagine London's future—one olive tree at a time.

The initial concept behind Fruity Walks was the novelty of finding these more unexpected species within the city centre, a page on Instagram to inspire people to pay more attention to their surroundings while going from point A to B during their day-to-day. That has now evolved slightly into more of an emphasis on understanding the stories behind these trees, how they arrived here and the people that planted them.

After delivering a London Walking Festival Fruity Walk exploring Marylebone's many olive tree Divya joined our podcast host Emily for a chat about the project and her exciting plans for the future.

Join us at londonnaturefilms.org

Hosted by Ranger Emily Langston. Produced by Michael Shilling.

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See full details of the London Walking Festival walks and events.

In Episode 2 covering the festival Walking Class Hero Des Garrahan talks to attendees at the New perspectives on walking and wheeling in the city Conference hosted by The University of Westminster.

Emily speaks to attendees on our Ranger led walk along the Capital Ring section 6 from Wimbledon to Richmond.

Presented and produced by Michael Shilling

Interviews by Des Garrahan & Emily Langston.

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This is a new season of the London National Park City Podcast - we’re calling it Do London Differently.

We begin with some updates on what has been happening this year and look ahead to the London Walking Festival which runs for the whole month of May.

Join the Walk London Challenge for free on Go Jauntly.

Get Your Own Copy Of The 2025 Paper

12 ways to connect people & nature in London is the second print publication from London National Park City

Elly Platt's Ranger Story

Check out our Instagram page for Wassai, Earth Day and Repair Week fun! 

Explore the Green Link Walk with Footways maps

Join our free online community for everyone who wants to make London greener, healthier and wilder.

Members can effortlessly navigate and discover all that we have to offer; explore our engaging activity feed, search our unique Maker profiles and groups, stay updated with events and activities, and uncover hidden gems in our Discovery section.

Other mentions - 

Pedestrianists 

Annabel Abbs 

Walking Post 

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Rejoice:

To rejoice is to celebrate, to feel joyful, delighted, happy, or glad. 

Where do we find joy today? In an age of eco-anxiety, with a mental health pandemic piled on top of a viral one, how can we bring joy into our lives?

Many are deeply concerned about the future - ecological collapse, and future pandemics, to name just a couple. Meanwhile, short-term dopamine hits like online shopping and scrolling through TikTok might placate our urges, but can they truly make us feel longer-term joy? How can we build joyful foundations that form the building blocks of a happier life?

As many of us found during lockdowns, often joy can come from noticing and being mindful of the rhythms and details of the living world around us. Being overwhelmed by a meadow in bloom, by the flash of a Kingfisher, or the smell of trees and grass. 

Does the rest of nature rejoice also? Who hasn’t stepped out on a spring morning and felt like the earth itself was happy? 

Science speaks of the benefits of 'natural prescribing’, but might it benefit more than our own well-being? And if so, how can we ensure more of this rejoicing, for ourselves and others, human or otherwise?

--

Host: Emily Langstone 

Emily loves exploring London’s nature and is passionate about wildlife and bird photography. Emily has volunteered for lots of local organisations and loves to discover, learn from, and share knowledge from wildlife organisations. 

Chantal Woodun

Chantal is a Londoner who loves hiking and has recently discovered the joys of walking in her own city. Always having had an interest in animals and the natural world, she graduated in Zoology & Psychology. She strongly believes that a connection with nature is critical for mutual health and wellbeing and will result in a natural respect of the environment. She understands how important it is to draw people’s attention to green spaces particularly in cities and has a Shinrin Yoku (Forest bathing) guiding certificate. She is currently working on the Wanderful London project which aims to uncover the amazing wildlife, green spaces and events and knowledge across London by creating a green platform accessible to Londoners. In her spare time, she enjoys creating habitats for wildlife in her garden.

Dipa Patel

Dipa is involved in Transition Town Tooting and volunteers at her local community garden. Dipa has worked with refugees and asylum seekers and set up Taste of Tooting, which offered visitors a taste of Tooting’s rich cultural heritage through tours of local food-growing spaces and independent food businesses. Dipa will be working with Ranger Ingrina Shieh to connect with underrepresented individuals and groups in the boroughs of Lambeth, Wandsworth, and Southwark who are actively growing their cultural food from seed.

Ingrina Shieh

Ingrina has a passion for urban social design and is keen to address how she can involve ethnic minority communities in London’s urban agriculture scene. She also has a personal interest in active travel, sustainability, and making the city a people-friendly environment. She loves being active outdoors, whether it's running from park to park, walking, or hiking. 

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 Rebirth can mean different things to different people. For some it speaks of seasonal cycles, of vegetation renewed, and natural processes. Yet for others, and historically, it also holds more metaphysical connotations, of resurrection, or reincarnation. A renewal and a renaissance, a rebirth can seem to offer a second chance, the opportunity to reset the clock, and begin again from the beginning. Yet will this time be any different? And would we want it to be? To what extent does rebirth mean a break with the past, and to what extent does it imply a recycling of it, an ultimate continuity, an eternal return? And to be reborn, does something first have to die? Can we bridge these gaps between a physical, and a more spiritual, or cultural renewal? What are the dangers of wanting to wipe the slate clean? And what is the potential.

--

 Siv Watkins is an academically trained microbiologist, independent scholar, and ritualist. She is the founder of Microanimism, a platform for examining and developing relationships between humans and the microbial world, and she specializes in helping folks sit at the murky intersection of science and esotericism. Since 2003, Siv has held scientific positions in industry, commercial, and academic research and faculty settings. Her doctoral studies examined communities of bacteria in satellite wastewater treatment systems, and she has also performed scientific research in the areas of conservation microbiology, freshwater pollution and bioremediation, environmental virus population analysis, and the use of microbiomes and microbial communities in sustaining responsible stewardship of the extended natural environment. Originally from the UK, she currently lives near Albuquerque, New Mexico (homeland of the Pueblo peoples) where she makes home with two cats, one horse, and one human man. 

Carlos Zepeda began his academic career in economics and international development focusing on solidarity economics and the politics of alternative development in Latin America. Inspired by his experience studying and working first with the Jesuits, and later, as political advocacy campaigner for international development NGOs and civil society organisations in El Salvador and Central America, Carlos explored how power shapes the root causes of social and environmental degradation. His work has investigated how poor people, especially women, suffer social exclusion from the human right to water.

As Assistant Director in Policy and Practice, Carlos works as a catalyst to network and translate the Institute’s cutting-edge research on integral ecology into action. He mediates between the Institute’s academic research on integral ecology, on the one hand, and national and global policy actors, global civil society actors, faith communities, and the public at large, on the other. 

Carlos lives in Petersfield, at the heart of the South Downs National Park in Hampshire, England with his wife and two children. He loves walking and cycling in the countryside, creative art and literature, listening to West African kora music, and dancing Latin American rhythms (a wide range!).

Alastair Mant is Director of Business Transformation at the UK Green Building Council.

Alastair leads the scoping and delivery of co-created projects that provide the built environment industry with tools and guidance to radically improve its environmental and social impact. Current project topics include net zero carbon, climate resilience, circular economy, biodiversity, and innovation.  He is a Member of the RICS and a Practitioner of IEMA.

Away from work, Alastair's favourite hobbies are Japanese culture and rugby, and he has very fond memories of the 2019 rugby world cup in Japan. He previously spent three years in Japan teaching English and exploring the archipelago's amazing natural and built environments.

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Recorded on-site at Cultivate Colindale with Heather Ring and Thomas Kendall of Wayward—in partnership with Energy Garden—transforming 4,000 m² beside Heybourne Park into a meanwhile destination for sustainability, creativity and community. 

Guests
• Heather Ring & Thomas Kendall — Wayward: https://www.wayward.co.uk/

• Project page — Cultivate Colindale: https://wayward.co.uk/index.php/project/cultivate-colindale
 

Partners & Place
• Energy Garden: https://www.energygarden.org.uk/

• Energy Garden × Wayward blog: https://www.energygarden.org.uk/blog/energy-garden-amp-wayward-present-cultivate-colindale

• Notting Hill Genesis (regeneration partner): https://www.nhg.org.uk/

• Heybourne Park (location): https://heybournepark.co.uk/

What we cover
• Building the House of Wayward Plants Reuse Centre to redistribute rescued plants, trees and reclaimed landscaping materials across London
• How community gardens are a test-bed for circular landscapes and reclaimed materials
• A walk-through of the site: materials yard & reuse centre → propagation greenhouse → courtyard → workshop greenhouse & cultural hub → allotments → tree nursery & pavilion → biodiverse meadow & nature play
• Weekly open gardening sessions with Energy Garden; allotment opportunities; volunteer roles and skills sharing
• Linking old and new Colindale residents through growing, culture and education
(About the House of Wayward Plants: https://www.wayward.co.uk/project/house-wayward-plants
• RHS: https://www.rhs.org.uk/

Get involved
• Join the Cultivate Colindale Community Build (volunteer sign-ups, sessions, updates):
https://www.wayward.co.uk/news-article/join-our-cultivate-colindale-community-build

• Follow @waywardplants on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waywardplants/

• Follow @energygardenldn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energygardenldn/
 

 • Podcast hub (National Park City): https://nationalparkcity.london/podcast

Credits
Hosted by Do London Differently (London National Park City). Recorded at Cultivate Colindale with Wayward. Special thanks to the volunteer build crew and local partners.

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Reboot means switching off a machine or device to update it, or get it working again if it's malfunctioning. With this episode of Regrowth we want to think about Rebooting society, focusing in particular on businesses, big tech companies, leaders, governments, and civic organisations.

As we come out of lockdown, we have a huge opportunity to Reboot our approach to sustainability and be on a more actively eco-conscious path that goes beyond individual actions. What does Reboot mean to us in this sense? What role do the organisations that form our society play? And just how urgent is it that we use this opportunity to address the climate crisis?

Speakers

Ben Smith is an environmental consultant working predominantly with local and city government administrations. He has led work focussed on energy efficiency, low carbon and renewable energy feasibility, climate change adaptation, urban resilience, smart technology and environmental / sustainable development strategy. Ben is the partnership director for Arup’s long-standing partnership with C40 Cities, and was a global judge for the 2019 Climathon, and for WWF’s One Planet Cities Challenge. He is a volunteer Founding Trustee of the National Park City Foundation.

Immy Kaur is focused on convening and building community, the role of citizens in radical systemic change, and how we together create more democratic, distributed, open source social and civic infrastructure. Immy is Co-Founder and Director of CIVIC SQUARE, a public square, neighbourhood lab, and creative + participatory platform focused on regenerative civic and social infrastructure within neighbourhoods. She is also part of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab Advisory Team, and was a founding director of Impact Hub Birmingham.

Mac Macartney is an international speaker, writer and change-maker. He contributes to diverse organisations and communities, including universities, schools, social enterprises and grassroots initiatives. He is the founder of Embercombe, a centre in Devon (UK) which seeks to explore and promote the profound regeneration of land, society, and people. Mac led a leadership development business in the UK, working with organisations such as Unilever supporting their Sustainable Living Plan, Vodafone, HSBC, and many others. Mac has also worked with Danone and sat on the sustainability advisory panels for Lafarge, Lend Lease, and Procter & Gamble.

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The concept of Rewilding is restoring a piece of land to its natural, uncultivated state - often by allowing native species to regrow there, namely flora and fauna. This podcast will explore the topic of physical Rewilding; but also the concept of Rewilding our minds. Has working from home allowed us to reconnect with our local spaces? Can we rewild our relationship with our local communities to be stronger and more caring? How can we better use the spaces we have available to us in our local areas?

Speakers 

Alice Vincent is a journalist, gardener and author. The founder of urban gardening Instagram account Noughticulture, she has always championed accessible organic gardening for beginners. In 2020 she released her nature memoir, Rootbound, Rewilding A Life. She is a gardening columnist for The Telegraph, and is working on her third book, Why Women Grow.

 
Giles Hutchins is a pioneering Regenerative Leadership practitioner and senior adviser at the fore-front of the [r]evolution in organizational and leadership consciousness and developmental approaches that enhance personal, organizational and systemic agility and vitality. He runs a 60 acre leadership centre at Springwood Farm, an area of outstanding natural beauty near London, UK.

Ian Solomon-Kawall leads positive social change and raises awareness for a multitude of social issues through Hip Hop and a non-exhaustive passion for the environment and conservation. Ian founded the community-led food growing space May Project Gardens which he designed using permaculture principles. Here he mentors young people, nurturing ideas through music and a connection to the environment, through the award winning programme,Hip Hop Gardens

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As the UK slowly starts to open up again, we want to Reimagine a new world that could emerge as we come out of lockdown and return to some form of normality. Thinking back on the past 12 months - what have been some of the biggest shifts in behaviours and perceptions across all levels of society - individuals, communities, and companies? Has the pandemic fast-tracked the need to Reimagine our societal structures, tackle inequality, and added urgency to the climate crisis? Is some of that already happening?

Speakers

Bruce Parry is an English documentary maker who in the past worked with the BBC for a number of documentaries exploring indigenous communities, climate change, and globalisation. He is an indigenous rights advocate, author, explorer, trek leader and former Royal Marines commando officer. Bruce works on feature films, including Tawai - a Voice from the Forest,

 Charmian Love is Co-Founder and Activist in Residence at B-Lab UK and Social Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Skoll Centre at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. She is a member of the ‘Regenerative Capitalism’ working group at the Institute of Directors (IoD), teaches an MBA elective on The Regenerative Economy and is the co-programme director of the Oxford Climate Emergency Programme

 Indy Johar is a founding Director of 00 and Dark Matter Labs. An architect by training, Indy is a Senior Innovation Associate with the Young Foundation and a visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield. He co-founded Impact Hub Birmingham and Open Systems Lab, was a member of the RSA’s Inclusive Growth Commission. He is a thought leader in system change, the future of urban infrastructure finance, outcome-based investment, and the future of governance.

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Emma Griffin (co-founder of Footways London) sits down with the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, to explore why walking is the best way to experience the city from side-road zebras and dropped kerbs to blue plaques, park corridors and the brand-new West End public toilets (yes, really). Recorded live at the London National Park City Visitor Centre during Open House Festival.

• Westminster Footways map & routes: footways.london/westminster
  
  

In this episode

• Why Paul calls himself the “Walking Lord Mayor” and how walking shapes civic life
• How the Westminster Footways
  map helps residents find calmer, greener everyday routes
• Small changes with big impact: dropped kerbs, side-road zebras, lighting, seating, planting, and better toilets
• Favourite routes: Paddington → Hyde Park → Green Park → St James’s Park → Victoria, Serpentine North past the wildlife sanctuary, and Marylebone → Bell Street → Edgware Road
• Themed strolls: tree walks, pub heritage walks, blue plaque trails, and even Nordic walking in Hyde Park

Try these this weekend

• Three-Park Green Corridor: Paddington → Hyde Park → Green Park → St James’s Park → Victoria
• Hyde Park Sanctuary Stroll: Serpentine North path up to Bayswater Road
• Marylebone Heritage Meander: Marylebone Station → Bell Street → Edgware Road

Guest
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, Lord Mayor of Westminster; Westminster councillor since 1982; former Cabinet Member for City Management & Air Quality (2022–2025).

Host
Emma Griffin, co-founder of Footways London

Recorded at
London National Park City Visitor Centre (Open House Festival, live audience) — learn more about the movement: nationalparkcity.london

If you enjoyed this conversation, share the Westminster Footways map
with a neighbour, pick a themed route, and tell us your favourite Westminster walk in the comments.

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Recorded live at the London National Park City Visitor Centre (80 Mortimer Street), host Michael Shilling speaks with Oli Back, Head of Operations at Street Trees for Living (STfL).

We dig into how community-led planting and long-term care can transform streets: from sponsorship and guardianship, to cooling overheated playgrounds, to tackling tree equity and choosing the right tree, right place — and right reason. We also cover timelines, funding realities, and simple ways you can get involved in your neighbourhood.

In this episode

• Bottom-up planting that lasts: sponsorship, guardianship and three-year care
• Shade, cooling and calmer streets around schools
• Tree equity: targeting low-canopy, high-need areas
• Species choice and the “right tree, right place (and right reason)” approach
• Practical routes to action for residents, businesses and schools

Links & resources

• Street Trees for Living — home: streettreesforliving.org
• Sponsor a street tree (Lewisham residents): I’m a Lewisham Resident
• Schools programme: Plant Trees — I’m a School
• Targeted planting & vacant pits: Grow Back Together
• How to get new trees planted (Lewisham Council): lewisham.gov.uk guidance
• Citywide strategy: London Urban Forest Partnership (GLA)
• Explore trees near you: TreeTalk map
• Environmental data hub: GiGL – Greenspace Information for Greater London
• Visit us: London National Park City Visitor Centre
• Join the movement: London National Park City – website | Join the community

Credits
Recorded live during Open House Festival London.
Host: Michael Shilling (London National Park City).
Guest: Oli Back (Street Trees for Living).

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Underground Connections: London Fungi Festival (4–12 Oct 2025)

Artist–educator Poppy Flint and Lex from Fat Fox Mushrooms join Do London Differently to reveal how art, sound and science come together for a week-long celebration of fungi across London — including (un)common threads, a free interactive exhibition at the London National Park City Visitor Centre, plus Shroom Sunday, workshops and a guided “Walk Under the Trees”.

Programme & tickets

• Festival hub & full listings: London Fungi Festival

Exhibition

• Free drop-in exhibition (4–12 Oct): (un)common threads
  
  

Guests & collaborators

• Urban mycology lab & workshops: Fat Fox Mushrooms
• Interactive systems & lighting: Bailes & Light
  
  

Research thread mentioned

• Profile: Dr Laura Martinez-Suz (Kew Gardens)
• Background explainer: Europe’s forest fungi & nitrogen deposition
• Supporter: British Mycological Society – Massee Arts Grant
  
  

In this episode: biosonification soundscapes; why nitrogen pollution reshapes fungal diversity; cultivating UK-native strains; mycelium materials you can make at home; and a “loosely guided” walk that sends imaginations underground.

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What if walking was more than just a way to get from A to B?
 In this episode of Do London Differently, author Annabel Abbs (also writing as Annabel Streets) shares the powerful benefits of walking for health, wellbeing and inspiration.

We talk about her books Windswept, 52 Ways to Walk and The Walking Cure, and explore why walking matters — from London’s hidden gardens and Wren’s churches to the science of sea air, forest terpenes and mountain hormones.

👣 Topics covered:

• Benefits of walking for mental and physical health
• Hidden walking routes in London, from Temple Gardens to the City
• How posture and small walking hacks build confidence and endurance
• Walking in cemeteries and finding perspective in grief and gratitude
• The London Walking Festival and making walking more accessible

If you love walking, London’s history or exploring the science of wellbeing, this episode is for you.

📚 Learn more about Annabel Abbs

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In this episode, host Emily Langston heads to Morden Hall Park in South London, one of the National Trust’s lesser-known gems, to explore how history, ecology, and art come together in a unique creative project.

Our guest is textile artist Ranger Elly Platt, who has been running an inspiring week-long workshop with young people, helping them connect with the rare chalk stream habitat of the River Wandle through embroidery and reclaimed fabrics. Alongside her are Isabelle Bryan (Programming & Partnerships Officer) and Emma Hutchinson (Volunteer & Community Manager) from the National Trust, who share why projects like this matter for both biodiversity and community engagement.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• 🌿 Lockdown walks and hidden histories: Ellie shares how walking along the River Wandle during lockdown led her to discover the river’s fascinating past as a hub of the textile industry – from William Morris’ natural dye revolution to Liberty print works.
  🎨 From chalk streams to stitchwork: How the habitats of the Wandle – gravel beds, water weeds, caddisfly larvae, and fish – inspired textile artworks created by young people.
• ♻️ Sustainability in practice: Using reclaimed fabrics from scrap stores, community donations, and personal stashes to keep the project eco-friendly.
• 👩‍🎨 Empowering young people: Aged 15–23, the group learned sewing techniques, built friendships, and curated their own exhibition in the historic Snuff Mill building.
• 🦋 The magic of caddisflies: Why these tiny invertebrates became the glamorous stars of the embroidery hoops – and how hands-on river monitoring inspired the artworks.
• 🏭 Industrial heritage: A walk through Morden Hall’s Snuff Mill and the story of the Wandle’s 90 mills, once producing everything from gunpowder to flour.
• 🌊 Protecting a rare chalk stream: The ecological importance of the River Wandle, recent pollution threats, and why it remains a habitat worth fighting for.
• 🤝 Community, creativity, and connection: How the project helped combat loneliness, gave young people portfolio-ready work, and strengthened ties with nature.
• 🧵 Textiles as activism: From Elly’s wearable art piece Wandle vs the Wet Wipes to playful "walking and stitching" workshops, discover how fabric and thread can tell stories about rivers, waste, and resilience.
  
  

Exhibition Details

The young people’s work is on display in the Kiln Room at Morden Hall Park until 3rd November. Entry is free, and visitors are encouraged to explore the park, the Snuff Mill, and the river while they’re here.

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When Andrea Perry first looked at the neglected green patch near her home in Addiscombe, Croydon, it was a no-go zone nicknamed “Dog Poo Park” — littered with syringes, broken glass, and rubbish. Few dared to step inside.

Fast forward a few years, and the same space is now Dartnell Park — alive with fruit trees, wildflowers, colourful benches, and even a wiggly path for children and dogs. It’s all thanks to Andrea and a group of neighbours who went on to create Croydon’s first official Green Street on Laurier Road.

In this episode, we explore:

🌱 The seed of an idea – How Andrea’s community greening journey began with 12 neighbours in a rainy church hall.
🌸 What makes a Green Street – From pollinator planting in tree pits to negotiating with the council to stop glyphosate spraying.
🤝 Building community through gardening – How monthly working parties (fuelled by coffee and cake!) brought people together and reduced fly-tipping.
🐝 Why glyphosate matters – The case against harmful weedkillers and Croydon Climate Action’s push for spray-free streets.
💡 Practical tips – How you can start your own Green Street, from winning neighbour support to choosing safe, pollinator-friendly plants.
🌍 The bigger vision – Connecting streets into biodiversity corridors that link parks, schools, and neighbourhoods across London.

Andrea’s story is proof that persistence, planting, and people-power can turn bleak spaces into thriving ones. As she says:
 “Gardening and sweeping are exercise outdoors. Do it with other people and you’re ticking every wellbeing box possible — plus you’re building a sense of belonging.”

Croydon Climate Action Group

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Recorded live at Camley Street Nature Park, in collaboration with Open Area.

Moja Collective founder Shukura Babirye sits down with Ijaz Kato for a warm, honest conversation about how an Instagram page celebrating diverse experiences in nature unexpectedly grew into a monthly walking community - and why slowing down, paying attention and sharing access matters.

They explore how Moja Collective’s walks evolved from social hikes into mindfulness-led outdoor experiences, what it means to “lead” as a facilitator rather than a figurehead, and the practical realities of making nature feel safer and more welcoming - from risk assessments and group size, to storytelling, land stewardship and the subtle ways we can reduce our impact on wildlife and other visitors.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Moja Collective started - and how it evolved “by accident”
• Making nature feel closer than people think - from London to the North Downs
• Turning a hike into a mindfulness practice - silence, senses and slowing down
• Community building without burnout - and how to design for longevity
• Safety on walks - preparation, accessibility and helping people feel settled
• Storytelling, land oversight, and what stewardship looks like in practice
• How Moja Collective signposts other groups and opportunities (no gatekeeping)
• Balancing people’s wellbeing with respect for place - sound, space and wildlife

Guests:

• Shukura Babirye - Moja Collective founder
  
  
• Ijaz Kato - interviewer
  
  

Find Moja Collective events:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mojacollective-76841278903

Recorded at: Camley Street Nature Park
In collaboration with: Open Area

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Recorded live at This is Nature+ at Camley Street Natural Park, this episode brings together London National Park City Ranger Becky Lyon and Imogen Malpas (founder of climate-conscious clubbing collective Club SOL) to explore how we can make contact with nature through everyday culture, sound, and the senses. 

In this episode

• What counts as “nature engagement”, and who gets to define it
• Raves, coffee, sculpture, and other “unexpected” routes into nature connection
• Touch, sound, smell, and the body as forms of knowledge (and resistance)
• Participation over perfection, making invitations rather than outputs
• Community, conflict, joy, and why gathering still matters

About the guests

Becky Lyon - artist, PhD researcher, and London National Park City Ranger (Barnet)

• Read: Becky Lyon’s Ranger story
  
  London National Park City
• Explore: The Department of Artecology
  
  London National Park City
• Follow: @elastic_fiction

Imogen Malpas - founder of Club SOL, former environmental journalist, currently at medical school

• Follow: @clubs0l Instagram
• Read more: In conversation with Imogen Malpas 

Links and references

• Visit: Camley Street Natural Park
  
  London Wildlife Trust
• Follow: OpenAREA on Instagram
• More from this series:
  • Open Area Podcast Ep 1 - Rachy McEwan and Kalpana Arias
    
    London National Park City
  • Open Area Podcast Ep 2 - Moja Collective (Shukura Babirye)
    
    London National Park City

Credits

Part of a limited edition podcast series created in collaboration with Open Area, recorded live at Camley Street Nature Park during the Open Area This is Nature+ takeover.
London National Park City

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Paula Harvey is building something rare in North London: a permanent outdoor learning and wellbeing space where every family can belong, including SEND families who are too often split apart by inaccessible provision. Through Urban Forest Tribe CIC, she is turning a blank canvas site in N11 into a thriving Forest School home, but she needs support now - funding, materials (especially timber), and volunteers. You can help by donating to the Tribe Roots for Resilience campaign and sharing it with your network: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/tribe-roots-for-resilience

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In this New Year episode we’re taking a quick look back at what’s been happening across London National Park City in 2025, from £80,000 redistributed through 112 community projects to a Ranger community now 160+ strong, Then we’ll set your 2026 walking intentions with three Go Jauntly challenges, build towards the London Walking Festival’s big May goal, and open the first page of our book club pick, 52 Ways to Walk by Annabel Streets, including a clip from my interview with Annabel Abbs about The Walking Cure. Ready? Let’s trade the feed for the field, pop your earphones in, step outside, and let London do what it does best, surprise you. 

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In this episode, London National Park City Ranger Nancy Turner shares the story of how Heston Action Group grew from simple litter picks into a thriving community garden and a wider movement to “green the grey”.

Nancy talks about:

• How the group started, and how volunteering on Sunday mornings helped shape the space
• The reality of community gardening, big jobs, limited hands, and learning as you go
• A sustainable drainage planting scheme, and the joy of seeing it thrive
• Nancy’s Ranger project, Pocket Gardens, turning depaved pavement patches into mini habitats
• How the London National Park City show garden at RHS Hampton Court helped unlock donated plants for local greening
• A small grant supporting edging, signage and explaining the “why” behind the pocket gardens
• The missed opportunities when pavements get fully tarmacked instead of leaving verges or tree pits
• The bigger challenge of front gardens being paved over, and the need for a proper local campaign
• Skills sharing, training, and workshops that helped build confidence (plus the eternal regret of not taking better notes!)
• New infrastructure on site, including a gazebo and compost toilet, opening the door to longer sessions and more community events
• Ambitions for film nights, workshops, more partner organisations using the space, and welcoming school visits back

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Is Paris really a benchmark for cycling?

At the end of last year I joined MPs, peers and cycling leaders on an All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking day trip to Paris. I wasn’t there as a lobbyist, or as London National Park City, but as the videographer and photographer, capturing a two dozen strong group whizzing through Parisian streets on Lime bikes.

We boarded the 7am Eurostar from St Pancras with one question:
Is cycling in Paris really that good, and how did they pull it off?

Spoiler, yes. It’s good. And it happened because Paris chose political will over perfection, moved fast, learned in public, and rebalanced street space away from cars. But it’s not flawless, junctions and signals still feel like the stress-test.

In this film you’ll hear quick interviews and takeaways from MPs, peers and active travel leaders, what impressed them, what still felt sketchy, and what London could steal tomorrow.

Featuring interviews with:
- Mike Kane MP, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East
- Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair, APPG Cycling and Walking
- Brian Mathew MP, MP for Melksham and Devizes
- Olly Glover MP, Vice Chair, APPG Cycling and Walking
- Ruth Cadbury MP, Chair, Transport Select Committee, MP for Brentford and Isleworth
- Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, House of Lords
- Alice Pleasant, Senior Public Affairs Manager, Lime
- Xavier Bryce, CEO, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans)
- Simon O’Brien, Liverpool City Region Cycling and Walking Commissioner
- Emily Cherry, Chief Executive, Bikeability Trust
- Trudy Harrison, Senior Advisor, Fusion, Chair of Trustees, Bikeability Trust
- Natalie Lindsay, Trustee, London Cycling Campaign
- Ed Clancy, Active Lives Commissioner, South Yorkshire, Managing Director, British Cycling Foundation
- Duncan Dollimore, Head of Campaigns, Cycling UK

Key London lessons, in one breath:
- Build connected networks, not isolated fragments
- Fix junctions and signals first, that’s where confidence collapses
- Reallocate road space boldly, then maintain and enforce it
- Do something usable now, improve it fast, do not wait for perfect

If you found this useful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who cares about how London moves.

Filmed in Paris on Lime bikes, with thanks to the hosts and everyone who shared their time and thoughts.

Links to organisations mentioned:
APPG Cycling and Walking - https://appgcw.org/
Lime - https://www.li.me/
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans) - https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/
Bikeability Trust - https://www.bikeability.org.uk/
London Cycling Campaign - https://lcc.org.uk/
Cycling UK - https://www.cyclinguk.org/
British Cycling Foundation - https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/foundation
Fusion - https://www.fusion-media.co.uk/
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, active travel - https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/
Savoir rouler a velo (France) - https://www.sports.gouv.fr/savoir-rouler-velo-609

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Ranger Emily joins members of RSPB Croydon for a birdwatching walk in Happy Valley and Farthing Downs in South Croydon. We spot and hear a whole range of birds, including redwings, gold crests, kites, and long-tailed tits, and learn about why citizen science is so crucial for tracking patterns in bird numbers. You can be a citizen scientist too by taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch on 23-25 January - all it takes is an hour of your weekend. Sign up and get an info pack at rspb.org.uk.

Speakers:

Emily Langston, LNPC Ranger Croydon
John Birkett, Environment Committee, RSPB Croydon
Special thanks to volunteers and attendees for their birdwatching expertise!

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London gets reimagined as a virtual orchard stitched together by back gardens, street trees, parks, and the people willing to show up with a long pole and a tarpaulin.

You’ll hear how the Kensal to Kilburn Fruit Harvesters built a pickers list, gained access to hundreds of local gardens, and turned seasonal harvests into community benefit, from food bank donations to juice pressing, jam making, chutney workshops, and even school enterprise projects. (Brent Council)

Alongside that, Fruity Walks brings a different lens: mapping and guiding walks to find fruit trees across London, including the unexpected, like avocado, pomegranate, lemon, persimmon, and more. (London National Park City)

We also drop into Granville Community Kitchen in South Kilburn to explore what “good food” means during and after the pandemic, and why hyper-local, chemical-free fruit matters when you’re supporting people in crisis. (granvillecommunitykitchen.org.uk)

Guests and voices

• Michael Stuart – organiser, Kensal to Kilburn Fruit Harvesters (also part of Transition Town Kensal to Kilburn activity). (wemakecamden.org.uk)
• Divya Hariramani Herrero – creator of Fruity Walks, London National Park City Ranger (Ranger since 2021). (London National Park City)
• Leslie – Granville Community Kitchen (South Kilburn) team member, speaking about food aid, community meals, and longer-term empowerment through food. (granvillecommunitykitchen.org.uk)
• Dee Woods – referenced in conversation as a key figure in food justice and community cooking. (Good Food)
• Paul Wood – referenced for the line “London is a forest”, and for his writing and tree walks. (Penguin)

What you’ll take away

• Fruit harvesting is simple, but not simplistic: pole, hook, shake, tarpaulin, sort, share. Then comes the real craft: permissions, organising volunteers, storing info, and building trust street by street.
• Back gardens are social infrastructure: fruit trees become conversation starters, memory portals, and neighbourhood glue.
• Street harvests are public theatre: drivers slow down, windows open, questions fly, fruit gets handed out, and suddenly the idea spreads.
• Food waste meets food justice: local surplus fruit can move fast from tree to community kitchen, supporting emergency provision and community meals.
• Replication is the point: the episode points towards training, templates, equipment support, and helping more neighbourhoods start their own harvest groups.

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Football is the world’s biggest cultural language, and climate change is the biggest challenge we face. In this live Nature of Things salon (Paddington Development Trust), Dan Hall, Communications Manager at Football for Future, explores what happens when those two worlds collide.

Dan shares why football is such a powerful place to shift attitudes, how extreme weather is already disrupting matches and grassroots pitches, and how football itself contributes to emissions through travel, infrastructure, kits and sponsorship. He also unpacks what “sustainable football” could look like, from better tournament planning and fan travel, to club-led community action and player climate leadership.

We also dive into Football for Future’s work with clubs and players, the adidas Move for the Planet project, and the landmark Pitches in Peril report, which maps climate risk for football ahead of the 2026 Men’s World Cup.

Paddington Development Trust Presents - Nature of Things - A Salon for Curious Minds.  Supported by Mason & Firth

Links and projects mentioned:
Football for Future - https://footballforfuture.org/
Pitches in Peril - https://footballforfuture.org/pitchesinperil
Fields of Change handbook - https://footballforfuture.org/fieldsofchange
Move for the Planet (Common Goal) - https://www.common-goal.org/Project/Details/Move-for-the-Planet
Met Office, football and climate change - https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/getclimateready/football
Green Football - https://greenfootball.org/
Pledgeball - https://pledgeball.org/
Fossil Free Football - https://fossilfreefootball.org/

Follow:
 Football for Future (Instagram) - https://www.instagram.com/ftblforfuture/

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Put your earphones on, step outside, and notice what most people glide past: who can actually get here.

In this interview, I’m joined by Hounslow Ranger Tarek Mrad, who’s delivering a clear message: accessibility has to be built, not just said. Tarek shares why many green spaces still aren’t properly wheelchair accessible, why transport is often the biggest barrier (sometimes starting at the bus stop), and what his survey revealed about everyday access challenges in Hounslow.

We also talk about what happens when you design events with access in mind, including one standout moment when a participant who doesn’t usually speak began communicating at Tarek’s event. With councillors attending, growing local interest, and the council asking about funding future sessions, Tarek’s ambition is expanding: more accessibility-focused events that include transport for a wide range of needs, and even a regular monthly group for disabled residents to share experiences and keep accessibility on the agenda.

This is an episode about practical change, stubborn hope, and the difference between saying “accessible” and making it real.

If you’re in Hounslow (or beyond) and care about inclusive access to nature, please like, comment, and share, and tell us what would make local green spaces genuinely reachable for you.

See Tarek's Project Accessibility to Nature

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Football is community, identity, ritual, and emotion at scale. It also has a footprint, from travel to sponsorship to tournament design. Recorded live at Nature of Things, A Salon for the curious mind, this episode is a practical, honest Q&A between Lola May (Paddington Development Trust) and Dan Hall (Football for Future) on what “sustainable football” could actually look like, and how fans, clubs, and players can help shift the game.

IN THIS EPISODE
- The projects that inspired Dan most, and why local, community-led work matters
- “There is no apolitical sport”, and what football teaches us about power and values
- The money question, what could football fund if it tried?
- Common Goal, and how 1 percent pledges can unlock real change
- Fans and supporters’ trusts, how asking the right questions can move clubs
- Player influence, especially among young supporters
- The hardest contradictions, sponsorship, travel emissions, and sportswashing
- Concrete actions listeners can take this week

LINKS AND REFERENCES
London National Park City
https://nationalparkcity.london/a-salon-for-curious-minds-football-and-climate-change

Football for Future:
https://footballforfuture.org/

Common Goal:
https://www.common-goal.org/

Move for the Planet:
https://www.common-goal.org/Project/Details/Move-for-the-Planet

Fossil Free Football:
https://www.fossilfreefootball.org/

Suggested further reading:
Wolves, One Pack One Planet:
https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/sustainability/20250318-one-pack-one-planet-green-football-2025/

TAKE ACTION
1) Check your club’s website, is there a sustainability plan?
2) If not, write and ask. If yes, ask what’s next, what’s measured, and who leads it.
3) Get involved with fan groups or supporters’ trusts, evidence and collective voice matter.
4) Push on travel, because it’s both a fan experience issue and a carbon issue.

CREDITS
Host, Lola May, Paddington Development Trust
Guest, Dan Hall, Football for Future
Recorded live at Nature of Things, A Salon for the curious mind

TAGS

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London isn’t just a city with parks, it’s a city that is wild.

In this episode of Do London Differently, host Michael Shilling is joined by Kassondra Cloos, author of An Opinionated Guide to Wild London, published by Hoxton Mini Press. We talk about the hidden places that make you feel miles from the capital without ever leaving it, from reed beds behind King’s Cross to wetlands near The O2.

We also get into the bigger picture, how brownfield sites become brilliant habitats, why walking culture feels so different in the UK vs the US, and how getting onto the water (kayak, SUP, canoe) can completely rewire your relationship with the city. Expect foxes at sunrise, herons on the canal, and a few practical ideas for turning “nature appreciation” into “nature participation”.

Mentioned in this episode

Camley Street Natural Park (King’s Cross)
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park (near The O2)
RSPB Rainham Marshes and London’s transformation stories
Hampstead Heath, Green Chain Walk, Capital Ring
Slow Ways, Right to Roam, access, and why tiny gates tell big stories
Leaside Trust, paddling on the River Lea, and finding adventure in London

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In this episode, we hear from Aneel, a member of Heston Action Group, volunteer at Heston Community Garden, and National Park City Ranger. He talks about being there from the early days of the garden, helping create its wildlife pond, and seeing it become home to newts and other species.

Aneel also shares the story behind Moth Night, an event designed to bring people into the garden and help them learn about local wildlife, sometimes without even realising it. It is a conversation about curiosity, community, and how learning more about nature can change the way we see the places around us.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The early days of Heston Community Garden
• Creating a wildlife pond and seeing nature return
• Organising Moth Night as a community event
• Why moths deserve a better reputation
• Education, local action and connecting people with nearby nature
• Different perspectives on nature and community
• Why curiosity is such a powerful starting point

Featured guest:
Aneel, Heston Action Group, Heston Community Garden volunteer, and National Park City Ranger

Quote from the episode:
“The more you learn about something, the more you scratch the surface, the more there is to it, and the more fascinating and interesting it becomes.”

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Lola May sits down with Hana Sutch, founder of the walking app Go Jauntly, for a conversation about the joy of getting lost in London, the hidden histories you can discover on foot, and why the UK is one of the least nature-connected countries in the world.
They cover:
🚶 Why urban walks are the best walks (and how to start if you're not a confident walker)
🗺️ The French art of flânerie and discovering London on your own terms
🚂 Go Jauntly's TfL Overground walking tours along the Windrush, Suffragette and Mildmay lines
🌊 London's lost rivers and the stories hidden in place names
♿ Accessibility barriers that most walkers never notice
🌿 Why the UK is nature-depleted despite its green spaces
🏫 The case for greening school playgrounds


🔗 Explore Go Jauntly's walks: https://gojauntly.com
🔗 Learn more about London National Park City: https://www.nationalparkcity.london

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A special roundtable edition recorded at the London National Park City Visitor Centre, 80 Mortimer Street, London

In this episode, London National Park City director Mark Cridge sits down with four community food growing leaders to explore how the Right to Grow movement is taking root across the capital. From housing estates in Tower Hamlets to empty greenhouses in Newham, the conversation covers why Londoners need greater access to land for food growing, what it takes to start a community garden from scratch, and how the campaign is building political momentum borough by borough.

Guests

Kalpana Arias, co-organiser, Right to Grow London Network Victoria (Tori) Sherwin, director, Incredible Edible Lambeth Carmen Ho, Right to Grow Tower Hamlets Selene, Transition Newham and Right to Grow Newham

What we talk about

The Right to Grow as a policy framework: what it asks of councils and why it matters for London's food security. The barriers communities face when trying to access public land for growing, from complex leases and absent points of contact to fear among councils of losing development potential. The tension between housing need and green space access, particularly in boroughs like Tower Hamlets. How food growing connects people across cultures and generations, from Bangladeshi grandmothers sharing growing knowledge to nursery children planting their first seeds. The role of seed swaps, cookbooks and walking tours in drawing new people into the movement. Why food growing belongs in the school curriculum. The intersection between food growing, biodiversity, wellbeing and London's identity as a National Park City. What success looks like in five years: every London borough adopting or working towards a Right to Grow policy, dedicated funding for community food growing, and training programmes to support new garden leaders.

Links

Right to Grow campaign (Incredible Edible): incredibleedible.org.uk/what-we-do/right-to-grow Right to Grow London Network sign-up: capitalgrowth.org Capital Growth (London's food growing network): capitalgrowth.org Incredible Edible Lambeth: incredibleediblelambeth.org Incredible Edible Lambeth Right to Grow page: incredibleediblelambeth.org/right-to-grow-campaign Southwark Council Right to Grow announcement: southwark.gov.uk London Assembly recommends Right to Grow (April 2025): incredibleedible.org.uk/news/london-assembly-recommends-right-to-grow We Are Grow (Barnet farm): wearegrow.org London National Park City: nationalparkcity.london Do London Differently Podcast (all episodes): nationalparkcity.london/podcast Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7xzEmzAQ8L94xI2V9qOGMq

Credits

Hosted by Mark Cridge. Filmed and produced by Michael Shilling. Recorded at the London National Park City Visitor Centre, Westminster.

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Michael is joined by Paul Wood, co-founder of the Urban Tree Festival and author of Tree Hunting, and Sarah Hayes, festival director and public artist, for a conversation about the festival's ninth year, its new home at Art Hub Studios in New Cross, and the growing movement to celebrate and protect London's urban trees.

Key topics

The origins of the Urban Tree Festival, growing out of the GLA's London Tree Week in 2017. The festival's growth during lockdown from a three-day weekend to a nine-day programme. The transition to a Community Interest Company (CIC) in December 2024. This year's first-ever physical base at Art Hub Studios, New Cross. The Urban Forest art exhibition with 65+ submissions. Paul's Tree Hunting walks in North and South London. Peter Coles' always-sold-out mulberry tree walks. Community Stewardship of Trees panel discussion at Camelford House, 13 May. The Grapefruit Tree heritage walk in Battersea. The Happy Man Tree film screening in Vauxhall. Partnerships with the Woodland Trust, Trees for Cities, City of London Corporation, and Street Trees for Living. Goldsmiths University student internship programme. Events for City of London housing estate residents with Age UK. International and online events reaching beyond London. Fruit tree harvesting and the London National Park City training programme. The dream of a borough-based festival model for the 10th anniversary. Self-guided tree walk resources including Go Jauntly, Tree Talk and Footways. Tree-themed meditations opening and closing the festival with Mel Sutton.

Urban Tree Festival: urbantreefestival.org

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Episode summary: Michael Shilling talks to Dr Tom Cohen, Reader in Transport Policy at the University of Westminster, about the London Walking Festival Conference 2026, the work of the Active Travel Academy, the evolving language of "walking and wheeling," road safety, delivery riders as the new folk devil, and why Disney World might be the most walkable place on earth.

Guest: Dr Tom Cohen, Reader in Transport Policy, Active Travel Academy, University of Westminster

Recorded: May 2026

Key topics covered:

London Walking Festival Conference 2026: Friday 15 May, University of Westminster Marylebone campus, 10am to 6.30pm. Free. Organised by the Active Travel Academy in association with Footways.

Conference speakers and programme: Keynote from author Iain Sinclair. Panel with Morag Rose, Harriet Thomas, Katie Penwick, and Syra Nisey. Participatory workshops on art, research, and campaigning. Afternoon panel featuring Andrew Gilligan, Councillor Rowena Champion, Steve Gooding (RAC Foundation), and Bronwyn Thornton (Walk21 Foundation), chaired by David Harrison. Showcase of London walking schemes including Regent Street, Silvertown Way, and Camden projects at Holborn and Bloomsbury.

Walking and wheeling terminology: Why the active travel community has adopted the phrase. How it promotes inclusivity and higher standards in public realm design. Katie Pennick's choice to use "walking" as a wheelchair user.

The Active Travel Academy: Founded in 2019, directed by Professor Rachel Aldred. Research on low traffic neighbourhoods, the Propensity to Cycle Tool, the Near Miss Project, and the Travel Well project. Open-access journal Active Travel Studies with lay summaries.

Safety and walking: The difference between collision safety and personal safety. Why people feel deterred from walking by dark or lonely streets. The role of "eyes on the street." Michael's Disney World comparison.

Delivery riders and road justice: Why riders have become the latest folk devil. Precarious working conditions in the gig economy. The need to address systemic problems rather than blame individuals.

Current research: The Hierarchy of Road Users and whether it has changed behaviour since its 2022 introduction to the Highway Code. A new Active Travel England-funded project on level of service, aiming to compare the experience of walking versus driving on the same street.

Links:

Book your free ticket to the London Walking Festival Conference: https://www.ticketsource.com/active-travel-academy-university-of-westminster/london-walking-festival-conference-2026/e-jzqvjr

London Walking Festival: https://nationalparkcity.london/london-walking-festival

Active Travel Academy, University of Westminster: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/active-travel-academy

Footways: https://footways.london

Active Travel Studies journal: https://activetravelstudies.org

Walk21 Foundation: https://walk21.com

There's a Walk for That podcast (Harriet Thomas): search on your podcast platform

London National Park City: https://nationalparkcity.london

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