Practicing artist-led ecological stewardship in England
Becky Lyon's Ranger story
Ranger Story
Becky Lyon is based in Barnet and has been a Ranger since March 2022. Her focus is around broadening our understanding and practices of ecological stewardship in England. By day, she is an artist, PhD researcher (side hustling as a brand consultant!)
Q1
what inspired you to become a ranger?
As a born-and-bred Londoner from Croydon now living in Colindale, North West London, I’ve developed a deep affection for this city and its overlooked ecologies. ‘London’ often exists as a set of familiar stereotypes – a concrete jungle devoid of nature. But…I’ve walked the end of the Jubilee Line alongside cows in the fields…been in awe of secret lakes on the fringes of zone 6, walked 10 mile stretches through ancient woodlands and come eye-to-eye with foxes and bunnies. Becoming a Ranger was a delightful invitation to tell renewed stories of ‘urban’ ecologies.
Through my art practice and research I’m interested in nature as a teacher that can illuminate other more equitable and flourishing ways of living. I wanted to become a Ranger as a means of not only connecting with nature but helping people connect with the politics of place, form their own sense of rootedness in London (and England) and form relationships with nature on their own, not predetermined terms.
This work can feel overwhelming but I love being part of a lively network and generous address book of people invested in taking care of ecology and each other through whatever skills and gifts they have. It feels like a problem shared – I don’t need to know everything around plant species or local planning regulations or how to set up a tool library initiative but through the network I can find the intel or expert I need – that’s the power of this community.
Q2
How are you making London greener, healthier, and wilder?
Through my art practice I create experiences, installations and exhibitions which invite people to think critically about our relationships to ecology with a focus on sensory and bodily knowledges, generally working in London. For example, recent projects have included exploring ‘Britishness’ through the spread of the ‘invasive’ Muntjac deer (Microscope Gallery, 2024); a heat-reactive installation for visitors to embody the uneven distribution of rising temperatures (RAINBOWCUBE, 2024) and a performance for London’s polluted waters (Metroland Cultures, 2024). I also run Ground Provisions, a ‘schooled-by-the-forest’ for adults through artist-led practices.
Through my PhD research, “Performing objects, tactile data, sense-ative documents and feelwork: touch as method for critical ecological stewardship in England” I am playing an active role in assessing and reimagining how we take care of nature in England which I have explored through several London National Park City supported projects like The Department of Artecology, a space for transdisciplinary conversations about transforming the conservation sector and Working Party! exploring the role of volunteer culture.
I am also directly involved in conservation activities and community building across Barnet, Brent, Harrow and Ealing and I am part of the All The Elements network dedicated to broadening participation in the outdoors.
Q3
What do you think has the single most positive impact of the environmental initiatives you’ve been part of?
I am putting my energy into reaching audiences who are not already engaged and connecting people together who should be having conversations but aren’t. This feels really important – I’m interested in how the methods we use can be cascaded across others so they can start conversations in their own sphere of influence.
Q4
What have you gained from being part of the LNPC Community?
The Ranger network is incredibly generous. We amplify each other’s work and help connect each other to insights and resources. Being a Ranger is also a morale booster – this work can be difficult, relentless and sometimes it feels like those with the power are frictioning against us but seeing what everyone is doing in their neighbourhoods restores and replenishes me.
Q5
Describe your proudest moment as a ranger
I created a project called More-Than-Human Architecture for the London Festival of Architecture in Barnet. This was a wonderful exercise in collaborating across community growing spaces; local authorities; art institutions and the LNPC network. It brought culture to the borough, involved multiple stakeholders in the art-making process and contributed something for our more-than-human kin too!
Q6
Describe your most challenging moment as a Ranger and how you overcame it
Less a challenging moment, more a challenge for the moment. There is considerable work to be done into creating experiences and opportunities for inclusion for those with diverse physical abilities and sensory perspectives. This will take substantial and sensitive consultation, funding and sector-wide infrastructure. This is something I am committed to actively contributing to and working through within the wider LNPC network.
Q7
What’s next for you as a ranger?
This summer a whole bunch of projects and activations are blooming to life so best to head to my Instagram @elastic_fiction to keep up to date! For now you can expect….
…Touchpoints, an evolving sonic assemblage weaving together voices discussing the relationship between ecological stewardship and touch in England. Broadcasting as part of London Festival of Architecture in June, across venues in Barnet.
…Forista, an experimental concept cafe inviting guests to connect with neighbourhood and planetary soils, airs and waters through sipping, munching and sniffing, as part of the Brent Biennial 2025
….The Language of a Landscape, an installation exhibited as part of the Voices of Harrow exhibition celebrating the launch of the new Art Park Harrow
Q8
What continues to motivate you on your Ranger journey?
Amidst incredibly volatile and hostile conditions which are slipping away from climate justice and towards division and oppression, there is an undercurrent of folk demonstrating leadership and creating a much needed sense of agitation and resistance. When I connect the dots between the work we are doing in our communities, neighbourhoods and spheres of influence – we are doing something, and that means something.
Q9
What has been your most memorable encounter with nature in London?
All my work is shaped by encounters with nature. The Muntjac project and exhibition was born from repeated encounters with the muntjac deer, a so called ‘invasive’ species that kept looking at me eye-to-eye on my solo walks. There’s something profound about coming eye to eye with a wild animal – a moment of kinship and I saw it as a sign that I had a story to tell! And for that to happen in London, where people least expect it, makes it even more powerful.
Q10
How can we encourage more people to ‘Do London Differently’?
By asking them to ‘do you’.
Don’t hand them a list of shoulds – instead, find out what makes their hearts sing. Whether that’s music, cooking, Marvel – use that as a pathway into finding a space and place for them.
Q11
It’s 2029…as a community, what do you hope LNPC would have achieved by our 10th anniversary? And what might London look like as a result?
I hope we’ve helped stitch together community in a time of division — countering fragmentation with deep, local connection. As the political tide shifts rightward and climate goals are struck off the to-do list, our role becomes ever more vital. Grow what we can, compost what we need and nurture spaces of solidarity. I hope we keep showing up.
Learn more about the work that Becky Lyon is doing over on Instagram @elastic_fiction.
Read more Ranger Stories here.
Find out more about London National Park City and how you can get involved by visiting our About Us page
Together, we can make London greener, healthier, and wilder..
