For our first anniversary, we are holding a special online event to showcase 100 voices making London greener, healthier and wilder.
Would you like to hear 100 voices from the London National Park City?
A series of quick fire talks from inspirational people taking positive action to inspire us all to re-imagine London as a greener, healthier, wilder city.
London is full of millions of people who have ideas and projects to make life better in our city. What if we shared those ideas more and inspired other people to do them too?
To celebrate the first anniversary of London becoming the world’s first National Park City next month, we are going to hold a special online event to showcase 100 people who are doing things to make our National Park City greener, healthier or wilder.
We will showcase 100 diverse voices, speaking on a wide range of topics and from every corner of our beautiful city. The stories will cover gardening, nature photography, walking, cycling, trees, climate change, parks and green spaces, green recovery, local volunteering, storytelling, arts and crafts, fungi, fitness, campaigning, parkour, skateboarding, community action....and many other creative ideas.
Join us for this online celebration filled with positivity to re-imagine what London can be. The event will be hosted by the National Park City Foundation and will include stories, videos, songs, poems and plenty of time to connect and continue the conversation.
Would you like to speak? Be one of a hundred voices from the London National Park City?
London is full of millions of people who have ideas and projects to make life better in our city. What if we shared those ideas more and inspired other people to do them too?
To celebrate the first anniversary of London becoming the World’s first National Park City next month, we are going to hold a special online event to showcase 100 people who are doing things to make our National Park City greener, healthier or wilder.
Please get in touch if you have a story to share that could inspire others.
It could be to do with gardening, fitness, nature photography, walking, cycling, trees, outdoor sport, climate change, parks and greenspace, green recovery, local volunteering, storytelling, arts and crafts, fungi, campaigning, parkour, skateboarding, community action....or any of your own creative ideas.
We want to showcase 100 diverse voices, speaking on a wide range of topics and from every corner of our beautiful city.
What if your story inspired others? What if you were one of our 100 Voices?
You can present live for a few minutes at the online event or share your story in advance through a video, animation, song or poem.
We are inviting friends groups, nature groups, schools and other organisations to create their own #NationalParkCity Local Gathering during a week in late Spring.
A Local Gathering is a local version of our regular Gathering which your group organise:
It is an event to which your community are invited
It may be an event you already had planned
It can be really small - really!
It has 2 or more speakers speaking about local groups and local actions, or about wider topics. Those speakers may be local or perhaps from further afield.
It promotes and shares the good things people are doing
It shares ideas from beyond your community
It is free to attend (but donations are ok)
Not already a member of a group? Why not set up a National Park City Group at work, in school, with colleagues or friends. A NationalParkCity Local Gathering is a great way to get a new group together.
So how about it?
Would you be interested in organising one ?
What would you do?
When would work best for you?
How could London National Park City help you make them a success?
Organise an Event during the #NationalParkCity Festival in July
To celebrate the one year anniversary of the #NationalParkCity Launch we will be running a #NationalParkCity Festival throughout July.
We are inviting you to organise an event during this time. It can be anything that helps people to enjoy London’s great outdoors or helps make the city greener, healthier and wilder. It may be a Local Gathering as above.
We will help you reach as wide an audience as possible, especially people who do not know or feel that green spaces and outdoor places are for them.
Let’s promote and share the good things people are doing locally!
Would you be interested in running an event for the Festival?
What would you do?
How could London National Park City help you make it a success?
London National Park City Gathering - Sat 29 Feb 2019
The London National Park City Gathering including the Greener, Healthier & Wilder London - The London Mayoral Hustings was held on Saturday 29 February 2019 at the UCL Christopher Ingold Theatre, 20 Gordon Street, Bloomsbury, WC1H 0AJ
Photos and Videos of the Day
You can see lots of photos from the event over on our FLICKR page and we've been uploading videos of our speakers from the day on our YouTube channel for those unable to be there in person. We will keep adding on there over the next few weeks, so do check back!
It incorporated a hustings event with London Mayoral candidates where you’ll be able to ask them questions about how they’ll make London greener, healthier and wilder.
Our Gatherings bring people together from every borough across London: Across interests, skills, experiences, problems solved and "What Ifs?" made a reality.
We celebrate the whole of London's great outdoors: from big projects transforming places alongside tiny, quiet, local successes by hard-working, imaginative, caring people
All these drive London as a National Park City.
Welcome 11am
Welcome - Paul de Zylva, chair, National Park City Foundation
Every Person is Capable - Savan Shah, EPIC
The importance of a vision for future flourishing - Jerome Lewis, UCL Centre for the Anthropology of Sustainability (CAoS)
Greener, Healthier & Wilder London - The London Mayoral Hustings 1130 - 1pm
11.30am to 1pm Hosted by London National Park City and presented by Ebs Akintade.
Mayoral candidates:
Shaun Bailey, Conservative - confirmed
Siobhan Benita, Liberal Democrat - confirmed
Sian Berry, Green - confirmed
Sadiq Khan, Labour - invited
Rosalind Readhead, Independent - confirmed.
Mandu Reid, Women's Equality Party - confirmed
Rory Stewart, Independent - confirmed.
Gathering in the Afternoon 130pm - 430pm
Throughout the day, watch and listen to a variety of speakers and performers who will explore ideas and topics from the point of view of those making a difference in their local community. Arrive thinking "What If?" and leave thinking "Why Not?!"
Network with new and existing contacts on bringing London National Park City alive in 2020
Give your feedback on London National Park City plans for 2020 beyond, including our brand new National Park City Rangers programme and share your ideas on how we can make London a better National Park City
On Stage
Our three main sessions are as follows (time approximate and subject to change - Gatherings are intentionally a very relaxed event!)
130pm - Kabir Kaul's Rewilding London Together
Designed and introduced by Kabir, hear young people’s perspectives on how we can make London wilder together. Kabir Kaul is a 14 year old conservationist and wildlife writer, passionate about protecting London's biodiversity. He has created an interactive map, 'Nature Reserves of London', and has been featured in several publications, including the Big Issue, Evening Standard and the Guardian. He is an ambassador for the Cameron Bespolka Trust, and an RSPB Youth Council member. Hear from young people from:
Action for Conservation
Cameron Bespolka Trust
and more to be confirmed...
230pm - Outdoor Culture – Using hip hop, creative arts, fashion, food in urban spaces for social change
Flourishing Diversity - By creating a platform for wisdom traditions, the Flourishing Diversity Series seeks to inspire appreciation and support amongst Western leaders and the public for the vital role Indigenous people play in resisting ecological collapse. We can all be Flourishers.
EPIC (Every Person is Capable) - People from different cultures, backgrounds and ages come together to engage in positive urban arts. Expect some surprises.
Time and Talents - More than a Party – celebrating community outdoors. For 133 years, T&T has been working to make sure that nobody is left out. This presentation will feature outdoor fashion and creativity.
May Project Gardens - Hip Hop Garden - an award-winning CIC, working across South London to address poverty, disempowerment, access to resources and influence. Working with marginalised groups, mostly young people, people of colour and refugees, using what we consider universally connecting tools - nature, food and creative arts - for social change.
330pm - Lightning Talks Fast paced introductions to people helping Make Life in London Better
CycleSisters - Cycle Sisters is a thriving Muslim women’s cycling group based in Waltham Forest. Formed in October 2016, it now has over 50 members and volunteer ride leaders.
Plogolution - How plogging can transform communities - Once upon a time, not so long ago, two friends sat down and moaned about the state of the world and the barrage of plastic and rubbish blighting our rivers and oceans. But what could two people do?
Forest & Family - Walking The [nature] Talk. Forest & Family run outdoor nature connection experiences for urban families in London.
Greg Packman - Life and work amongst the trees of London
5 National Park City Commitments and 99 ideas for the next Mayor of London
We asked our network for ideas to put to the mayoral candidates and we have produced 5 top asks and 99 What If ideas on how the next Mayor can make life in London better. You can read and download them all over on our IDEAS page.
Looking Back to Our Autumn Gathering* - 19 Oct 2019
Lots of people joined us to discover ways and things to make life better. They left inspired and ready to help bring the London National Park City to life in their own lives and in their neighbourhoods.
We all met Londoners, Do-ers, Makers, Champions & Rangers - The people making London National Park City a reality. We listened to challenging and inspiring speakers, connected, met and discusssed, and most importantly had fun!
We were proud to host a wide range of exciting and inspiring speakers
Elliot Newton - Conservationist. Naturalist. Campaigner. Elliot started his conservation career after founding the Kingston Biodiversity Network in his home town, then becoming a director within the Kingston Environment Centre and the Nature Conservation Manager for the Environment Trust. Elliot is involved with multiple conservation organisations: Elliot is a non- executive director for Citizen Zoo, which hopes to encourage the general public to proactively engage with conservation. Elliott is also Creative Director at AFON (A Focus on Nature) whose mission is to connect, support and inspire young people across the UK with an interest in nature and conservation, and provide a voice for the youth conservation movement.
Dami Solebo of VOYAGEYouth – Voice Of Youth And Genuine Empowerment is a social justice charity that aims to EMPOWER marginalised black young people and provide them with the self-awareness and motivation to TRANSFORM themselves and their communities. The mission of VOYAGE is to encourage and assist young people bridge the gap between their schools, communities and criminal justice system whilst supporting young people to SUSTAIN successful partnerships and meaningful relationships.
Leif Bersweden - author of The Orchid Hunter and Winter Trees and has had a lifelong interest in nature, focusing on plants from the age of seven. He grew up in rural Wiltshire where he taught himself how to identify the local flora and now regularly leads plant identification training courses for The Species Recovery Trust. Leif is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and is currently doing a PhD at Kew Gardens, where his research focuses on orchid genetics. In a world where an interest in botany is becoming increasingly rare, he wants to help put plants back on the map and is endeavouring to do this through his teaching, research and publications.
Brenda Puech - Brenda Puech is recognised for transforming a parking space outside her home into a mini park - or ‘parklet’ - creating a game-changing innovative use of street space which was immensely popular and eventually led to parklet permits being made legal in her borough. As a result, the council has now launched a trial that allows Hackney residents to turn kerbside parking spaces into parklets, with other London boroughs looking at their own schemes.
Kuumba kids, Project Yogi & Nicstars - Mindful Arts Family Fun Day was created by Creative Director and Workshop Facilitator Biancha Samuel-Reid of Kuumba kids, an African Centered Arts organisation; Amani Eke, Founder of Project Yogi, a non-profit mindfulness and yoga community organisations; and Nicola Harvey, Published Author or "Mindful Little Yogis" and founder of Mindful Nicstars. Collaboratively, these experienced practitioners use Mindfulness, mindful movement, holistic education and the creative arts and crafts to encourage Young Londoners to spend more time in nature.
Kabir Kaul - 14 year old birder, wildlife enthusiast, conservationist, National Park City Champion and WeBS counter. Ambassador for @cameron_b_trust. Obsessed with London and its wild side. Londoner.
Neal Underwood from The SharksCanoe Club - Helping young and old get onto the water and looking back to the land with different eyes. A 10 year old major participation canoe club with sites in Harefield, Harleseden, Southall and Osterley. Mass participation is key: As well as getting people active, we have a serious competitive side: Marathon, Sprint Slalom, Wild Water Racing and Canoe Polo.
Ella Fleetwood - A dance artist exploring our relationship to the environment and climate change through outdoor dance. Ella creates work that is relevant and reflective of the societies in which we live. A socially engaged practice that connects people.
Alexandra Petropoulos - Alexandra is a journalist, comedian, editor and musician. Originally from midwest America she moved to the UK ten years ago. She has recently completed the Creative Writing MA at Birkbeck, a degree she’ll proudly add to the growing pile of impractical qualifications that already includes a BM in flute performance and an MA in ethnomusicology. When she’s not writing weird stories about trees falling in love, Alexandra is the deputy editor at the music magazine Songlines. Her journalism has appeared in Songlines, the Guardian and Wanderlust, among others.
Wildlife Gardeners of Haggerston (Gideon Corby)- We are a dozen like-minded local residents who are planting up the Kingsland Basin and Regents Canal to create a haven for nature between the Kingsland Road and Whitmore Road bridges. This stretch of the Regents Canal is a pilot scheme for the Canal and River Trust to show what is possible to achieve in just a few years. Eventually the entire Regents Canal can connect the various parks and green spaces along its route and act as a green corridor for our wildlife. We already have herons, swans and an occasional kingfisher but there is the potential for water vole and otter too!
We Enjoyed...
Rapid talks and longer debates
Joining in our Q&A
An Ideas Fair - Help develop ideas for the next year of the London National Park City
Entertainment
A unique exploratory National Park City Walk
Networking and making new friends.
Meet the speakers
Help us promote the Gathering*
Please print off and put up these posters in your office, cafe, school, university, gym, shop, library. You will find a A4 version and a version with 2 A5 posters per page.
Looking Back to Our Autumn Gathering* - 19 Oct 2019
Lots of people joined us to discover ways and things to make life better. They left inspired and ready to help bring the London National Park City to life in their own lives and in their neighbourhoods.
We all met Londoners, Do-ers, Makers, Champions & Rangers - The people making London National Park City a reality. We listened to challenging and inspiring speakers, connected, met and discusssed, and most importantly had fun!
We were proud to host a wide range of exciting and inspiring speakers
Elliot Newton - Conservationist. Naturalist. Campaigner. Elliot started his conservation career after founding the Kingston Biodiversity Network in his home town, then becoming a director within the Kingston Environment Centre and the Nature Conservation Manager for the Environment Trust. Elliot is involved with multiple conservation organisations: Elliot is a non- executive director for Citizen Zoo, which hopes to encourage the general public to proactively engage with conservation. Elliott is also Creative Director at AFON (A Focus on Nature) whose mission is to connect, support and inspire young people across the UK with an interest in nature and conservation, and provide a voice for the youth conservation movement.
Dami Solebo of VOYAGEYouth – Voice Of Youth And Genuine Empowerment is a social justice charity that aims to EMPOWER marginalised black young people and provide them with the self-awareness and motivation to TRANSFORM themselves and their communities. The mission of VOYAGE is to encourage and assist young people bridge the gap between their schools, communities and criminal justice system whilst supporting young people to SUSTAIN successful partnerships and meaningful relationships.
Leif Bersweden - author of The Orchid Hunter and Winter Trees and has had a lifelong interest in nature, focusing on plants from the age of seven. He grew up in rural Wiltshire where he taught himself how to identify the local flora and now regularly leads plant identification training courses for The Species Recovery Trust. Leif is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and is currently doing a PhD at Kew Gardens, where his research focuses on orchid genetics. In a world where an interest in botany is becoming increasingly rare, he wants to help put plants back on the map and is endeavouring to do this through his teaching, research and publications.
Brenda Puech - Brenda Puech is recognised for transforming a parking space outside her home into a mini park - or ‘parklet’ - creating a game-changing innovative use of street space which was immensely popular and eventually led to parklet permits being made legal in her borough. As a result, the council has now launched a trial that allows Hackney residents to turn kerbside parking spaces into parklets, with other London boroughs looking at their own schemes.
Kuumba kids, Project Yogi & Nicstars - Mindful Arts Family Fun Day was created by Creative Director and Workshop Facilitator Biancha Samuel-Reid of Kuumba kids, an African Centered Arts organisation; Amani Eke, Founder of Project Yogi, a non-profit mindfulness and yoga community organisations; and Nicola Harvey, Published Author or "Mindful Little Yogis" and founder of Mindful Nicstars. Collaboratively, these experienced practitioners use Mindfulness, mindful movement, holistic education and the creative arts and crafts to encourage Young Londoners to spend more time in nature.
Kabir Kaul - 14 year old birder, wildlife enthusiast, conservationist, National Park City Champion and WeBS counter. Ambassador for @cameron_b_trust. Obsessed with London and its wild side. Londoner.
Neal Underwood from The SharksCanoe Club - Helping young and old get onto the water and looking back to the land with different eyes. A 10 year old major participation canoe club with sites in Harefield, Harleseden, Southall and Osterley. Mass participation is key: As well as getting people active, we have a serious competitive side: Marathon, Sprint Slalom, Wild Water Racing and Canoe Polo.
Ella Fleetwood - A dance artist exploring our relationship to the environment and climate change through outdoor dance. Ella creates work that is relevant and reflective of the societies in which we live. A socially engaged practice that connects people.
Alexandra Petropoulos - Alexandra is a journalist, comedian, editor and musician. Originally from midwest America she moved to the UK ten years ago. She has recently completed the Creative Writing MA at Birkbeck, a degree she’ll proudly add to the growing pile of impractical qualifications that already includes a BM in flute performance and an MA in ethnomusicology. When she’s not writing weird stories about trees falling in love, Alexandra is the deputy editor at the music magazine Songlines. Her journalism has appeared in Songlines, the Guardian and Wanderlust, among others.
Wildlife Gardeners of Haggerston (Gideon Corby)- We are a dozen like-minded local residents who are planting up the Kingsland Basin and Regents Canal to create a haven for nature between the Kingsland Road and Whitmore Road bridges. This stretch of the Regents Canal is a pilot scheme for the Canal and River Trust to show what is possible to achieve in just a few years. Eventually the entire Regents Canal can connect the various parks and green spaces along its route and act as a green corridor for our wildlife. We already have herons, swans and an occasional kingfisher but there is the potential for water vole and otter too!
We Enjoyed...
Rapid talks and longer debates
Joining in our Q&A
An Ideas Fair - Help develop ideas for the next year of the London National Park City
Entertainment
A unique exploratory National Park City Walk
Networking and making new friends.
Meet the speakers
Help us promote the Gathering*
Please print off and put up these posters in your office, cafe, school, university, gym, shop, library. You will find a A4 version and a version with 2 A5 posters per page.
We got together at Conway Hall on 29th June 2019 and explored new futures for life in the capital by asking “what if….?”.
You can watch videos of all the talks on YouTube. We've created a Playlist of them all in sequence, or scroll down and watch each of the individual talks below.
"Great to talk with those who have been contributing to nature and people for years and even greater to those just starting their contribution - Lesley Wertheimer
"Get your children out of the classroom into the outdoors. 13% kids never go outside with class. - Martin Crabbe, London National Park City Schools Network
"Wonderfully diverse group of Londoners calling for a wilder, greener, healthier and happier #city. People need, demand and a have a right to #nature! - Russell Galt, ecologist and director of IUCN Urban Alliance
"What if #TrafalgarSquare fountains were wildlife ponds? 50 million visitors per year could enjoy thriving wildlife! - Rory Harding
"What if we lifted the filters over our eyes and looked at urban London differently? London has always been changing what is the next evolution of Trafalgar Square. Seasonal wildlife! - Rory Harding
"The London #NationalParkCity is for everyone. Yesterday at our Talks it was so inspiring to hear voiced such a strong desire to freely share passions, ideas and knowledge and reach as many people as possible. Everyone can be a #NationalParkCity Maker - Steve Pocock
"What if environmentalism wasn't a word but a value that lived within us. Wasn't a sticky label to wear. What if nature wasn't a privilege? What if eco habits were not called 'eco' and instead a normal way of life? What if access to green spaces was talked about along safety & learning.
Khadijah and Izzy from @Action4Conserv asked What If Londoner were Greener? "use the space we have already while being more conscious of how we're using it." Our place as young people is often dismissed but we will have to live in the future. - Action4Conserv
Mar learned as a girl that in Spain a squirrel could travel from one end of the country to the other without touching the ground? Now Heston Action Group are asking if we could cross London without touching concrete ? - Mar Pelaez-Muñoz
"What if we all did small acts of defiant beauty? What if we all planted seeds? - Karen Liebreich
"What if we abolished the difference of work time and leisure time...? We need to spend less time consuming and more time noticing and enjoying nature. - Farhana Yamin
"What if YOU KNEW your story today could impact someone 200 years in the future? How may that change your story today... How you live your life today? Nicola White Tide Line Art
"What if there were ELEPHANTS in London?! Peak District volunteer ranger @chamukuppuswamy on bringing diversity and sharing Indian culture and stories into our National Parks! - Chamu Kuppuswamy
"What if every school in London signed up for our London National Park City Schools Network? - Martin Crabbe
"Trees are threatened. What if we are the answer to the problem. What If we all took someone to a tree and told them your story of that tree... Tell it your way! Art. History. Anything! - Simon, @TiclMe
Lightning Speakers
We listened to and then enjoyed great Q&A and conversations with the following speakers.
Introduction
Jasmine and Dani, our co-comperes, introduced the Talks and the power in asking "What If?" with Jasmine exploring "What if we understood the value of all urban wildlife?" and Dani asking "What if the closet door led to the forest? A brief look at Queers in Nature."
Scroll down to see the rest of the talks from our speakers.
Jasmine Kamal-Pasha
What if we understood the value of all urban wildlife?
Artist and photographer, Jasmine Kamal-Pasha, is inspired by nature and wildlife. The coexistence of man and nature is a topic of great breadth and depth, and it is the adaptation of wild animals to the man-made environment that she finds fascinating. In her own words, Jasmine explains, “The dispute between those who believe urban wildlife are a nuisance and those who believe they are a pleasure, is intriguing, as are the consequences that come with wildlife’s attempt to adapt.” With a background in fine art, Jasmine often creates conceptual photography, encapsulating the relationship between humans and the natural world.
What if the closet door led to the forest? A brief look at Queers in Nature
Dani is a campaigner and community organiser within LGBTQIA+ rights, and a very keen gardener. They are committed to unearthing Queer histories, and nurturing an understanding of the deep-rooted link between LGBTQIA+ culture and the great outdoors.
For video see introduction
Josh Gaillemin
What if we told more stories?
Josh is a founding partner at theWholeStory who, since 2015, have been helping all sorts from CEOs to volunteers apply and benefit from storytelling to their working lives.
What if... everyone believed they could be an adventurer?
‘It’s not about planting flags, it’s about planting seeds’ that’s Team #WeTwo’s motto. Known for their solo escapades – Dwayne was the first black Briton to walk to the magnetic North Pole and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London, while Phoebe has raised over £42,000 for young homeless people with her Extreme Sleep Outs, suspending herself from UK landmarks and walking across Britain as Wander Woman – they are now working together to, quite literally, change the face of adventure. In November 2019 they aim to complete a world first in Antarctica walking Penguins to Pole.
But there’s more. They intend to take a group of under-privileged young people to Antarctica in 2020 on a specially chartered expedition ship. Together #WeTwo can change the world. Because while we can all fight for our corner individually, the only way we make things happen is by working together. So that #WeTwo will eventually become #WeToo.
What if we knew more about London’s geological past? Would that change how we live in the Anthropocene?
Ruth Siddall is a geologist and geoarchaeologist based at University College London. She is passionate about increasing the understanding of the Earth Sciences in the urban environment whether that is the geology of building materials or the underlying bedrock of cities. Earth Sciences tells us the truth about climate change and how the Earth responds to changing environments, it also tells us how living in the Anthropocene will impact our planet; this is information that we all need to know and better understand – the past is the key to understanding the present
What if the Trafalgar Square fountains were wildlife ponds?
Rory is an urban conservationist and works on greening projects across London. He has worked to engage Londoners with the wildlife on their doorstep, and improve access to nature for all. While working with the charity Trees for Cities, Rory has worked on projects including hedge and tree planting in school grounds, new woodland creation in parks and pollution busting hedge and street tree planting across over half of London’s 32 boroughs.
What if we all used a network of green corridors to connect with our neighbours across London?
I am a translator by profession, and a busy beekeeper. I am from Spain originally and have been in the UK for the last 20 years. I have a very keen interest in all things green and how we can use the environment to bring communities and nature together. Heston Action Group is one of my passions – we have achieved so much in just a year and we are all inspired to do so much more.
The aptly named Paul Wood is the author of two books about London’s urban forest, ‘London is a Forest’ and ‘London’s Street Trees’. He has been exploring and documenting the city’s nature and our relationships with it for many years. He was a trustee of the London Wildlife Trust for six years until 2017. You can find him on social media as @TheStreetTree.
What if your story could inspire someone two hundred years from now?
Nicola White worked full time in the corporate world for 25 years until she gave up her job in 2016 to pursue her passion of creating art with objects which she collects along the River Thames.
Nicola Hughes is a policy nerd turned community gardener, and a serial trustee. Nicola has worked in government, at the housing charity Shelter and at the think-tank the Institute for Government. She now advises charities, councils, and the good folk of Westminster on how to make better policy. Recently she has worked with Crisis, HMRC, LB Newham, the Cabinet Office, the Greater London Authority and 38 Degrees. Nicola studied organic horticulture at OrganicLea in Chingford, and works on several community growing sites in East London. She is on the board of FRP, the Forest Recycling Project, a Walthamstow-based social enterprise working with brilliant volunteers to help make London a greener place. She is also a trustee at Fat Macy’s Foundation, which supports young homeless people into housing through food and supper clubs.
Dr. Chamu Kuppuswamy is a London resident and award-winning ranger at the Peak District National Park, and was named in the 2014 Independent Happy 100 List for the top people in Britain who enrich our lives.
Small Acts of Defiant Beauty - creating tiny spaces for nature and aesthetics. What if everyone did the same?
Karen is co-director of Abundance London and an author. She set up the Chiswick House Kitchen Garden for which she received an MBE in 2013 for services to horticulture and education. She is also trustee of several environmental charities, including Cultivate London.
What if we abolished the distinction of work & leisure? Rights of Nature - legal and Extinction Rebellion activism around London
Farhana is an international environmental lawyer; specialist in international politics and law of climate change; adviser to small islands states for the last 25 years including at the 2015 Paris Agreement; strategist and adviser to foundations and NGOs working on the links between sustainability, nature connection and social justice. She is also an Extinction Rebellion activist.
Programme Coordinator, Action for Conservation explored pressing questions like.. What if environmentalism wasn't a word but a value that lived within us. Wasn't a sticky label to wear. What if nature wasn't a privilege? What if eco habits were not called 'eco' and instead a normal way of life? What if access to green spaces was talked about along safety & learning.
What if everyone had a pot of lavender in their front garden?
Penny Metal is a graphic designer, insect photographer and author of Insectinside: life in the bushes of a small Peckham park. She has an interest in habitats for insects in small urban spaces.
We also had a number of groups give rapid "1 minute" talks.
Simon Edwards from TiCLM
Sally Long from Friends of Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill, London
Joe Pecorelli from ZSL
Chris King's Our City London
#NationalParkCity Makers, Radicals, Geologists, Tree Huggers, Optimists ... Just some of our volunteers who made the day possible.
The Day's Schedule
National Park City Talks 13:00 - 16:30
Let’s dream the possible as we explore the power of asking “What if…..?”. Come to hear short, inspiring and thought-provoking talks from over 20 activists, adventurers, growers, photographers and more as they share ideas and dream the possible. After hearing the talks we’ll open the conversation into a forum for anyone to ask questions and exchange thoughts.
Two sessions with plenty of time for making friends, connecting and enjoying the day.
Our talks are presented in partnership with the very kind support of Conway Hall.
We’ll adventure with Dwayne Fields and Phoebe Smith who will ask “What if... everyone believed they could be an adventurer?” as they plan their #WeTwo Antarctic Expedition in November 2019. Known for their solo escapades they have decided to team up together to show that anyone – from any background, sex or race – can make their wildest dreams come true.
“What if you are a super hero?” will ask Pernille Moeller from the Forest Recycling Project. Author Paul Wood (@theStreetTree) will take a different look at London in “What if London were a forest?”. Mar Pelaez-Muñoz of the Heston Action Group will be asking “What if we all used a network of green corridors to connect with our neighbours across London?” Josh Gaillemin of theWholeStory will take us on a journey and ask “What if we told more stories?”
We’ll think about what National Park City Rangers can bring to London with Chamu Kuppuswamy, and how London can respond to the climate emergency with climate change lawyer & Extinction Rebellion activist Farhana Yamin. Then "What if the Trafalgar Square fountains were wildlife ponds?" with Rory Harding. Karen Liebreich of Abundance London will argue for "Small acts of defiant beauty."
We’ll hear about the hidden geology all around us in pavement and buildings from Ruth Siddall, find out about what can be found in the Thames’ mud with Nicola White, and get to know the lifes of London’s amazing secret population of insects with photographer and DJ Penny Metal. Jasmine Kamal-Pasha will continue her investigation at the boundary of those who believe urban wildlife is a nuisance and those who believe it is a pleasure….
And even more to be announced ...
Pop-Up Picnic 11:30 - 12:45
Bring some food along and join in with our Pop-Up Picnic Fair in Red Lion Square. There will be lots of groups coming along to share opportunities for helping to make London greener, healthier and wilder or to get outside and enjoy London more. Feel free to chat to people in these groups, explore the gardens, enjoy some interactive art or simply fill yourself up ahead of the National Park City Talks. Red Lion Square is a beautiful small park, is right outside Conway Hall and has its own cafe, Pistachios in the Park, too! With the hard work of Friends of Red Lion Square and Camden Council and its new signs, new benches, and flowers it is looking great!
If you represent a group and would like to be part of the pop-up fair, please apply for a space here.
National Park City Walks 17:00 - 18:00
Join free walks guided by experts.You will be able to book them on the day.
Urban Geology in Midtown: the building stones of Holborn and Bloomsbury with Dr Ruth Siddall, UCL, @PavementGeology
This walk will introduce the architectural history of this area of London through the geology of its building stones. Discover the ecology of Jurassic seas and ancient Scandinavian granites on the walls of London’s buildings. Starting at Conway Hall and ending at a local pub.
Urban Forest Exploration: Midtown Trees with author and street tree fanatic, Paul Wood, @TheStreetTree
A chance to discover the surprising diversity of trees found in the inner city: on the streets, in the squares and growing between the cracks. From grand London Planes to opportunistic Trees of Heaven with some rare and exotic species along the way too. Starting at Conway Hall and ending at a local pub.
Building on the success of last year, the National Park City Talks and Pop-up Picnic Fair 2019 took place at Conway Hall in Red Lion Square, Holborn on Saturday 29th JUNE.
Conway Hall & Red Lion Square • 25 Red Lion Square • London • WC1R 4RL • Saturday 29th JUNE 2019
• speakers • inspiration • free walks • what if? • free National Park City Maker guides • maps • volunteering • picnics • makers • friends • connections • wilder • greener • healthier •
We hope you will come along for a new view of London, and to meet lots of fantastic and lovely people. And leave knowing to how to make a difference!
[Most photos by Jasmine Kamal-Pasha and Justin McDermott]
Last year's Fair was a great success. See all the photos and read all about the speakers, the exhibitors and events over on our London National Park City Fair 2018 pages.
Jasmine Kamal-Pasha
Khadijah and Izzy 
Paul Wood
