Emotions, connection and equity in green spaces
Katie Mills’ Ranger story
Ranger Story
Katie Mills is based in Brent, she has been a Ranger since April 2020. She focuses on designing and delivering innovative nature connection, forest school and nature-centred programmes, services and campaigns. By day she is the Founder of social enterprise Forest & Family and Co-founder of Natural Places, a nature-based urban solutions consultancy.
Q1
what inspired you to become a ranger?
Eight years ago, I visited the Eden Project in Cornwall with my daughter, who took part in a forest school session. At the time, I was working in a high-pressure city job and spending those two weeks in nature highlighted how different my childhood had been from my daughter’s urban upbringing. Watching her play freely outdoors was a wake-up call – I realised how disconnected we were from nature. Upon returning to London, I started seeking green spaces during my lunch breaks and discovered forest bathing. Eventually, I left my secure job to pursue a career in nature-based solutions, Forest School, and eco-therapy.
Q2
How are you making London greener, healthier, and wilder?
I founded Forest & Family, which began as a forest school and has expanded to include eco-therapy, forest bathing, and nature-based solutions. We run programmes and workshops aimed at reshaping our relationship with nature. I’ve also launched campaigns such as Stories by Moonlight, which works through schools to promote outdoor family wellbeing through bedtime stories, and the Nature Connection-Centred Parks initiative, which seeks to redefine the role of urban parks. My work spans grassroots community engagement and large-scale advocacy to influence national dialogues and policies on urban nature.
Q3
What do you think has the single most positive impact of the environmental initiatives you’ve been part of?
The most rewarding aspect is witnessing individuals’ transformative experiences with nature. Whether it’s a child realising it’s okay to get muddy or an adult rediscovering the joy of the outdoors, these moments create lasting change. Parents have shared how their children now insist on revisiting outdoor storytelling spots and carrying their own books, demonstrating a newfound sense of place and connection. These deep, meaningful interactions inspire long-term behavioural shifts.
Q4
What have you gained from being part of the LNPC Community?
Being part of a network of like-minded individuals has provided credibility and support for my work. It reassures me that the challenges I see are real and shared by others. The network has helped me access funding and partnerships, such as the Nature Connects Project, and connect with talented individuals like a former Ranger Georgia who worked with me for several years. The moral support from the community has been invaluable, particularly during difficult times. Ranger Paula Harvey has also been a great sounding board.
Q5
Describe your proudest moment as a ranger
One memorable moment occurred at Roundwood Park’s Nature Connection Centre, where we hosted an open day with climate workshops, biodiversity sessions, forest school and storytelling. At the end of the event, a mother approached me in the cafe and shared how the day had made her feel like herself again for the first time in years. Her emotional gratitude reinforced the impact of our work, reminding me why I do this.
Q6
Describe your most challenging moment as a Ranger and how you overcame it
The biggest challenge has been securing permissions to use London’s parks to connect people with Nature. Bureaucratic processes, financial barriers, and park authority resistance mean many valuable nature connection initiatives never materialise. While some boroughs are more progressive, my work in Brent and beyond shows most urban park systems need a fundamental rethink. We need a new conversation across the UK about the role of urban parks in supporting urban wellbeing. This is the work I’m leading now: reshaping urban systems and thinking to enable, not obstruct, access to nature.
Q7
What’s next for you as a ranger?
I am focusing on taking our two brilliant campaigns, Stories by Moonlight and Nature Connection-Centred Parks, national. I have also launched Natural Places, a nature-based solutions consultancy with my husband, targeting developers and councils to influence policy at a systemic level. Additionally, I am co-authoring a book with a medical doctor on integrating nature into daily life, offering practical principles for living in harmony with the natural world. Balancing grassroots engagement with national-scale impact remains a priority.
Q8
What continues to motivate you on your Ranger journey?
The growing momentum behind urban nature initiatives keeps me inspired. Since the pandemic, public awareness of nature’s benefits has increased, and climate action discussions have gained traction. The shift towards embracing nature-based solutions suggests we are no longer pushing against a closed door. The urgency of urban transformation over the next few decades makes this work increasingly relevant and impactful.
Q9
What has been your most memorable encounter with nature in London?
For seven years, I’ve run a forest school at Alexandra Palace, a stunning park where we operate within a beautiful former deer enclosure. Early mornings there are breathtaking – mist rolling across the landscape, light filtering through the trees. Setting up the Forest School in such a serene environment, knowing this is my ‘office’, is a privilege. These moments encapsulate the awe and wonder of urban nature.
Q10
How can we encourage more people to ‘Do London Differently’?
We must make nature connection personal and emotional, rather than purely informational. Creativity, storytelling, and metaphor can help people relate to nature on a deeper level. Our Forest Bathing sessions really incorporate these elements, enabling participants to see themselves as part of nature. Empowering individuals to engage with urban green spaces – without needing expert knowledge – helps them build meaningful and lasting connections.
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?
It’s 2029… what do you hope LNPC will have achieved by its 10th anniversary?
I hope the network will help address the systemic issues around park management and accessibility. Parks are still viewed primarily as recreational spaces, but they should function as living laboratories for community health and well-being. The Nature Connection Centre at Roundwood Park is a step in this direction, but broader support is needed to scale up such initiatives. LNPC’s diverse network of professionals – from gardeners to community leaders – has immense potential to drive ambitious, forward-thinking urban nature strategies. We must lean into tools such as tech and AI and anticipate future challenges and develop progressive solutions that position urban nature at the heart of city life.
Learn more about the work that Katie is doing at @katiemills_nature. www.forestandfamily.com and www.forestandfamily.com/campaigns and www.naturalplaces.co.uk
Read more Ranger Stories here.
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