Q1
what inspired you to become a ranger?
It was through COVID. I don’t think I’m alone in that, really. I grew up in the West Country, directly by nature. Moving around London, I ended up in East London, attracted by the parks. During COVID, stuck at home, I explored my borough more and found a patch of bare earth. I started a guerrilla garden there. People started talking to me, and it ended beautifully with a call out from National Park City. It was a virtuous circle – learning, discovering, and realising it aligned with my core beliefs. It became almost a mantra for me.
Q2
How are you making London greener, healthier, and wilder?
I’m involved in projects with the London Borough of Newham and Poplar HARCA – an award-winning housing association – in Poplar. My projects intersect greening, illustration, graphic design, and education. For example, I mapped all the green spaces in Poplar and distributed the maps to 3 – 4,000 houses, much of which was social housing. I conduct workshops on how these spaces can be co-created with the community. Another project I’ve helped support is the Beckton Parks Wildflower Meadow, transforming a big piece of grass into a buzzing wild meadow, collaborating with the council and local schools.
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Q3
What do you think has the single most positive impact of the environmental initiatives you’ve been part of?
The most positive impact has been the signage and adding colour. These signs encourage people to explore, sit down, and travel. They are placed around Newham and along the Greenway – a 7-kilometre long footpath and cycleway in London, mainly in Newham – guiding people through wildlife and wildflower meadows. The goal of these is to get people out and about, exploring, chatting about and appreciating nature.
Q4
What have you gained from being part of the LNPC Community?
Meeting like-minded people, gaining confidence, and learning more. I’ve met great friends like Helen Simms and Katie Blake. This community has allowed me to work on larger projects, bringing in more Rangers and making a bigger impact. It’s about community action, information, and activism – acting, getting things done, and having deeper conversations to drive policy changes.
Q5
Describe your proudest moment as a ranger
Opening the Wild Bee garden along the Greenway with other Rangers was an incredibly proud moment for me. The Rangers were utilised well – spreading the word, getting involved, and having positive conversations. The event had significant attendees, including the MP for West Ham & Beckton James Asser. It was a proud moment for National Park City, mentioned in speeches and celebrated by the community.
Q6
Describe your most challenging moment as a Ranger and how you overcame it
Sometimes – and understandably – the public misunderstand what a volunteer Ranger does, thinking we are professional park Rangers. So when I was out at a tree planting event in my local park, wearing the Ranger T-shirt, people asked me specific questions about identifying trees or gardening tips. At that point I explained the movement, that I was learning about the planting on the day itself and passed on the question to the council Parks team on site at the time. It’s inspiring that in these events, people are intrigued, and to have the opportunity to say that these themes are London wide is great.
Q7
What’s next for you as a ranger?
I want to take on bigger projects, potentially influencing policy changes. Over the past three years, I’ve been freelancing, allowing me to work on projects I love. I aim to continue this, choosing projects based on my core beliefs and making a long-term impact.
Q8
What continues to motivate you on your Ranger journey?
The broader picture of how people’s lives can be changed by greener places and spaces to meet and explore. This fundamental belief drives me to continue my work and inspire others to engage with nature.
Q9
What has been your most memorable encounter with nature in London?
Bats in Beckton Park. Just after dark, they come out, and it’s always surprising and delightful. Another memorable moment was seeing swifts flying around the park for the first time, indicating increased biodiversity. These encounters bring joy and highlight the positive impact of our work.
Q10
How can we encourage more people to ‘Do London Differently’?
We need to allow people to discover and learn for themselves. More signage and free opportunities to get involved – whether gardening, joining groups, or simply enjoying nature – will help. These nudges can be placed in libraries, supermarkets, and other accessible locations, inviting people to explore and connect with nature.
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 Londoners will be proud guardians of their green spaces, feeling evangelical about getting into parks and knowing their local areas. This pride will make the movement sustainable. Ideally, London will be recognised globally as a green city, intertwined with nature despite being a major urban centre. Practically, I envision parks full of people meeting, helping out, and volunteering, with more seating and invitations to explore. This widespread engagement will make London a truly green and proud city.
Read more Ranger Stories here.
Learn more about the work that Matt is doing by following him on Instagram @doodling.around. Find out more about London National Park City by visiting https://nationalparkcity.london/
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..
