Do London Differently by London National Park City

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:

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 ma...

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:

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 v...

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 grow...

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 –...

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 sho...

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

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. 

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 w...

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 p...

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 s...

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 e...

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, tr...

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 so...

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 yo...

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 Palac...

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 em...

We interrupt our Walking Month content with a special episode featuring... lambs!

Ranger Emily was invited to meet lambs and sheep at Old Lodge Farm in Carshalton, South London, hosted by the Downlands Trust. She got to have her fingers nibbled by Lenny the lamb, and found out more about what the amazing volunteers and team get up to.

A huge thank you to volunteer Elspeth Pringle and Grazing Officer Sean Grufferty for chatting to us.

Go to www.downlandstrust.org.uk to find out more about the vital work done by the Downlands...

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.

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

El...