Explore every episode of the podcast Do London Differently by London National Park City

Sixty years on from the opening of the BT Tower, and with its redevelopment into a hotel and leisure complex now underway, this audio walking tour explores Fitzrovia and the neighbourhoods living in the shadow of the tower.

Cultural historian David Anderson and artist researcher and London National Park City ranger Jordan Rowe trace a series of sightlines to the tower across twelve stops, from the Building Centre on Store Street to the summit of Primrose Hill. Along the way they reveal a little known story: how the BT Tower, originally the General Post Office Tower, relied on clear microwave paths to function, and how that invisible network quietly acted as a brake on tall development across the West End and Bloomsbury, shaping the skyline and our relationship to London's parks, squares and incidental green spaces.

Taking in wartime deep level shelters, post war planning fantasies, London clay, POPS (privately owned public spaces) and the fight for a scrap of green in one of the capital's most deprived neighbourhoods, Signals and Sightlines asks how public space is really produced in the city, and what we stand to lose as a once public icon passes into private hands.

You can walk the route yourself through the Go Jauntly app, or find it on the London National Park City website. Physical maps are available to pick up from venues in the area (check the website for details).

Made possible through a grant from London National Park City with support from the UCL Department of Geography, and released to coincide with the 2026 edition of London's Open House Festival.

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How does a scientific society founded in 1788 end up funding teenagers to build ponds and paint murals?

Michael sits down with Dan Simonsen, Education Manager at the Linnean Society, to unpack the Our Local Nature Grant and its Youth Panel. These are grants of up to £1,000 for youth-led nature projects, awarded by young people, for young people. We get a rare look at funding from the funder's side of the table: how the money is decided, what makes an application stand out, and why handing real budgets to 16 to 18-year-olds changes everything.

If you are 16 to 18, or you work with a group of young people who have an idea for their local patch, there are two live opportunities here and two fast-approaching deadlines. London projects this year come with a blue infrastructure focus through the Mayor of London's Green Roots Fund, so expect ponds, rain gardens and a fair bit of talk about water.

Guest

Dan Simonsen, Education Manager, the Linnean Society.

Key deadlines

• Youth Panel applications close 20 September 2026, 23:45
• Grant applications close 25 October 2026, 23:45 (applicants hear back in early December, projects run from winter into summer 2027)

Links and resources

• Our Local Nature Grant: https://www.linnean.org/the-society/medals-awards-prizes-grants/our-local-nature-grants
• Youth Panel: https://www.linnean.org/learning/beyond/youth-panel
• Green Roots Fund (Mayor of London): https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/parks-green-spaces-and-biodiversity/green-space-funding/green-roots-fund
• Free bucket pond guide: https://nationalparkcity.london/mini-ponds-for-pollinators-workshop-and-resources

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Walking artist, activist and academic Morag Rose, founder of the Loiterers Resistance Movement, explores how walking can be a creative art form and an act of resistance. Drawing on her book The Feminist Art of Walking, she makes the case that the streets belong to everyone, and that keeping public space open, accessible and free is something worth fighting for.

Recorded at the University of Westminster on 15 May 2026 as part of the London Walking Festival Conference.

More about Morag: http://thelrm.org/morag-rose
The book (Pluto Press): The Feminist Art of Walking

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Recorded at the University of Westminster on 15 May 2026, introduced by Dr Tom Cohen. A Do London Differently production.

Iain Sinclair arrived the way he always travels. On foot. That morning he set out from his front door in Hackney, followed a Footways route across the city, and treated the keynote itself as a pit stop before walking home by some longer, odder way. For more than fifty years he has read London by walking it, and in this hour he turned one morning's route into a portrait of the whole city: its ghosts, its wildlife, its surveillance, and its small daily miracles.

Highlights

The map as an old friend. Sinclair's method is simple and strange. Read a map at home like a book or an artwork, picture the journey, then put it away and set off without it. Carry the route in your head, divert freely, and come home to argue with the map like an old friend. Do that, he says, and the city renews itself.

The ghosts come out. Walk the same streets long enough and the dead walk with you. Passing a block of once neglected flats, Sinclair found himself back in conversation with the poet Barry MacSweeney, minutes after bumping into the poet and publisher Tom Chivers in the tea room. The map, by choosing one route, brought a decades old exchange flooding back.

A howl, a donkey and Van Gogh. By the canal he passed a schoolboy walking alone and making an unearthly howling noise. It looped him into his newest project, a series of walks in the footfall of Vincent van Gogh, ending at Auvers-sur-Oise and the Wheatfield with Crows. There, above a bench, a real donkey made the same noise, and led to the story of Theo's gravely ill baby, also named Vincent, saved and thriving on donkey milk. A howl of despair answered by a howl of survival.

Divert, and you'll find treasure. Thrown off the canal by a barrier at New North Road with no explanation, Sinclair offered the practical heart of the talk. Take the information that is available, then divert. The diversion delivered Arlington Square, a green oasis, and the reminder that London is not one park but a series of them, revealed only by walking. Set against that is the constant privatising and fencing off of space. You move between the dystopian and the utopian, and the movement makes you new.

Loud ghosts on Duncan Terrace. The literary dead crowd the route. The street where Joe Orton was murdered. Peter Ackroyd, once dragged home over his own doorstep. Kathy Acker, who told Sinclair she blamed the Regent's Canal for everything after drinking from a bottle she had dropped into it.

How a walker was made. From Brixton and film school in 1962, walking in obedient straight lines along the Northern line, to the 1966 return and the first proper London walk: Freud's ashes at Golders Green, Marx at Highgate, Rimbaud's house on Royal College Street. Later, a line of energy drawn from Bunhill Fields, where Blake, Bunyan and Defoe lie together, across the river to Greenwich, with St Anne's Limehouse framed dead centre. From then on, walking and writing were the same act.

Lights Out for the Territory. The book that made his name, published in 1997, found its shape by turning everything into walks. He closed by reading its credo from the first chapter: walking as the best way to explore the city, drifting purposefully, and above all noticing everything the rest of us stride past.

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Episode type: London Walking Festival 2026 Special (final episode)

Recorded at: Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, London

Guest: David Harrison, co-founder of Footways and creator of the Historic Ways map

In the final walking festival special of the series, Michael talks to David Harrison at St Bartholomew the Great about the deep history of walking in London. David traces the surviving evidence of the city's pedestrian past, from Portland stone pavements at Lincoln's Inn to an 18th century "low traffic neighbourhood" at Queen Anne's Gate. He tells the remarkable stories of Ben Jonson and John Taylor, who both walked from London to Scotland in 1618 by entirely different routes, and maps out the lost medieval pilgrimage route from London to Walsingham. The conversation takes in Chaucer's Canterbury pilgrims, Dickens and Bob Cratchit, 400,000 Victorian commuters, the wealth of medieval monasteries around Smithfield, and the modern revival of pilgrimage walking through the London Walking Festival.

In this episode:

• Early pavements surviving in London at King's Bench, Lincoln's Inn and St Paul's
• Queen Anne's Gate as an early low traffic neighbourhood
• Samuel Pepys' walking commute across London
• Lancelot Andrews walking from Cambridge as a student
• Ben Jonson's 1618 walk to Edinburgh via the east coast
• John Taylor the Water Poet's Penniless Pilgrimage via the west coast
• The Canterbury Tales route along the A2
• The lost medieval pilgrimage route from London to Walsingham
• The Greenlink Walk from Epping Forest to Peckham Rye
• Walking Post's London Diagonal route
• The Essex Way from Epping Forest to Harwich
• 400,000 people walking into the City of London daily in the Victorian era
• Bob Cratchit and Dickens walking from Camden to the City
• The monasteries of Smithfield and Clerkenwell
• Filth and Health conference, 26 June at Bart's Hospital

Footways 

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Walking is London's most common form of transport, but it rarely gets the attention it deserves. In this London Walking Festival special, Michael Shilling sits down with Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, to unpack TfL's new Walking and Wheeling Action Plan.

Will explains why wheeling is now named alongside walking for the first time, what the plan's three new targets mean for Londoners, and how half a million daily car trips could realistically switch to walking. They discuss the Oxford Street pedestrianisation, the push for 1,000 new pedestrian crossings by 2031, side road zebra trials, the transformation of School Streets across 800 schools, and the creative approaches needed to get more children walking independently.

The conversation also explores how walking connects to London's green and blue spaces, the role of grassroots community groups, the promise of a new strategic waterway walking route, and why Will has become addicted to the Merlin Bird ID app on his walks through the city.

Will shares his top three London walks and reflects on nearly a decade of quietly making active travel the new normal.

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Filmed on location along the route by Michael Shilling, with Lola May (Community Climate Action Coordinator, Paddington Development Trust) and Eman Asir (Library Officer, Westminster Libraries).

What is The Natural Way? A fully accessible, six-mile circular walking route through North Paddington, inspired by the Camino de Santiago and Europe's pilgrimage trails. Walkers collect stamps designed by local children at stops along the way, visiting libraries, community centres, gardens and places of worship across Westbourne, Queen's Park and Harrow Road.

In this episode, Lola and Eman walk the route and discuss:

• How the Camino de Santiago inspired a walking trail through one of London's most deprived neighbourhoods
• The Europe Challenge and how libraries and community groups are collaborating across Europe
• Why local young people didn't know the Grand Union Canal was on their doorstep
• Meanwhile Gardens: frogs, frogspawn and the first skateboard bowl in London
• Gerry's Pompeii: a secret sculpture garden 30 years in the making
• Swift nesting boxes on the Amberley Estate and what swifts symbolise about migration and belonging
• Wildflower meadows, bat forests and the biodiversity growing out of the concrete
• The Nature of Things salon nights at Mason & Fifth hotel
• Why "starting to notice" is the most important skill the walk teaches
• The right to joy: reclaiming a neighbourhood's story through walking

Libraries on the route (maps and stamps available): Paddington Children's Library | Paddington Library (reopening soon) | Maida Vale Library | Queen's Park Library

Key stops mentioned: Grand Junction (Grade I listed church and community centre) | Grand Union Canal towpath | Meanwhile Gardens | Gerry's Pompeii sculpture garden | Beethoven Centre | Queen's Park | Urban Wise (urban study centre)

Digital route: Available on the Go Jauntly app

Upcoming events: Guided walks, bat walk and planting session, bird song walks, trip to the urban beaver sanctuary. Check Eventbrite and Instagram for dates.

The Natural Way is a project of: Paddington Development Trust and Westminster Libraries, supported by The Europe Challenge (Arts Council and European Cultural Foundation).

Links:

• The Europe Challenge project page: theeuropechallenge.eu/north-paddington-nature-pilgrimage
• Go Jauntly: North Paddington Nature Pilgrimage

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Episode: Walking Festival Special Recorded at: London National Park City Visitor Centre, Mortimer Street Host: Michael Shilling

Guests: Catherine Woodhead, CEO, Living Streets Emma Griffin, Co-founder, Footways

Episode Summary: A National Walking Month special exploring the state of walking in London and beyond. Catherine Woodhead shares the near-100-year history of Living Streets and its current campaigns around school streets, women's safety and pavement parking. Emma Griffin makes the case for strategic walking networks and shares findings from the Footways pilot project across five English cities and towns.

Key Topics and Takeaways:

Living Streets is approaching its centenary in 2029. The charity created the zebra crossing, contributed to the Highway Code and the introduction of drink driving offences.

The Pedestrian Pound (third edition) demonstrates the economic value of walkable high streets. A monthly market closure in Swansea drew 3,000 people per day and led to new shop openings.

Walk to School Week runs 18-22 May with a secret agents theme. 130 London schools signed up so far. Happy Shoes Day falls on the Tuesday.

Walk Out on 29 May encourages women to walk for themselves, not just for errands or other people. Nine out of ten women and girls feel unsafe walking in the dark.

Pavement parking prohibition is moving forward in England, following Scotland's lead. Transport Minister Lillian Greenwood confirmed moves towards giving local authorities the power to act.

Footways' pilot project across five English cities and towns has produced findings around walking network hierarchies: strategic routes (train stations, hospitals, workplaces), secondary routes (GP surgeries, schools), and wider networks.

Side road zebras are being trialled in Westminster. They are inexpensive, do not require Belisha beacons, and reinforce pedestrian priority at side road junctions.

Central London's walking conditions have been transformed by connected improvements: Seven Dials, Holborn, Covent Garden, Mansion House. Bank Junction and a Regent's Park to St James's Park route are currently under consultation.

Links:

livingstreets.org.uk 

livingstreets.org.uk/walk-to-school 

livingstreets.org.uk/walkout 

footways.london

londonwalkingfestival.com

Credits:

Do London Differently is a London National Park City podcast. Hosted by Michael Shilling. Recorded at the London National Park City Visitor Centre, Mortimer Street.

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London Rivers Week turns 10 this year, and we are celebrating with a special episode. Liz Gyekye, Communications Manager at Thames 21, joins host Michael Shilling to talk about the festival, the charity's work protecting the River Thames and its tributaries, and how you can get involved.

Running from 23 to 31 May as part of the London Walking Festival, London Rivers Week features around 40 events across the capital, from guided riverside walks and low-tide explorations to citizen science surveys and family creative days.

We talk about how Thames 21 has evolved from pulling shopping trolleys out of rivers in the 1990s to running large-scale restoration projects and water quality monitoring. Liz shares the story behind the successful campaign to ban plastic wet wipes, backed by 142,000 wet wipes collected from the Thames foreshore over five years. We also discuss wildlife surprises in the tidal Thames, favourite London rivers including the Wandle and the Hogsmill, the water vole reintroduction near Tolworth, and what individuals can do to make a difference.

Events are filling up fast. Visit thames21.org.uk for the full programme.

Links: London Rivers Week 2026: thames21.org.uk/joinacampaign/london-rivers-week-2026/ London Walking Festival: nationalparkcity.london/london-walking-festival Thames 21: thames21.org.uk London National Park City: nationalparkcity.london

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Episode summary: Michael Shilling talks to Scott Oughton-Johnson, founder of The Proper Blokes Club, about how a single walk in Southwark in September 2020 grew into a network of 25 to 30 walk-and-talk groups for men across London. They discuss men's mental health, the power of walking side by side, how to start a new group, and plans for a new Pimlico walk as part of the London Walking Festival.

Guest: Scott Oughton-Johnson, Founder, The Proper Blokes Club

Recorded: May 2026

Key topics covered:

Origin story: Scott's personal experience with mental health, getting NHS support, and realising that walking and talking to people he did not know was the combination he needed. The first walk in Southwark where only one person turned up 15 minutes late. The founding motto: if two turn up, the walk happens.

Scale and ambition: Around 25 to 30 walks a week across 12 London boroughs, with plans to reach every borough. Registered as a Community Interest Company. Scott now works on the project full time.

How the walks work: Informal format. Meet at a start point, walk for about an hour, no pressure to talk. Walking side by side and avoiding eye contact helps bring barriers down. No advice given, just listening and signposting to professional services.

Who attends: Predominantly men aged 45 to 65. A mix of backgrounds. Common ground in shared experiences: family, relationships, work, money. Friendships that extend well beyond the walks themselves.

Starting a new walk: One hour a week at a regular time. Scott recces the route, does risk assessments, runs a launch campaign, and attends the first walk. No red tape for volunteer-led walks.

The magic number: Three is ideal for walking conversation. Two works, but three means the conversation can flow naturally even if one person is quieter.

Seasonal patterns: Summer brings new members, winter is when people need it most. Men who discover the benefits in summer tend to keep coming through the colder months.

Work-life balance: Scott working long days, learning to trust his walk leaders, and the quote from London National Park City: "A movement is not a movement until it moves on its own."

Pimlico pilot: Eight walks funded as part of the London Walking Festival, stretching into June. Riverside route, well lit, with the aim of building a permanent group.

Drop-in spaces: New daytime sessions for men who are less mobile, retired, unemployed, or on shift work. Dad's groups also running during the day.

Links:

The Proper Blokes Club: https://www.theproperblokesclub.co.uk

Find a walk near you: https://www.theproperblokesclub.co.uk/walks

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

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

The Proper Blokes Club on the London Walking Festival: https://nationalparkcity.london/walk-talk-connect-join-the-proper-blokes-club-this-may

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.

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📌 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

Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

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

Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

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

Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

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

Explore more London National Park City Podcasts

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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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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